Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright
601 W. Jefferson Street
(502) 574-1103
Email Councilwoman Parrish-Wright

Ben Harlan
Legislative Assistant
(502) 574-3452
Email Ben

Jocelyn Walker
(502) 494-6663
Jocelyn.Walker@louisvilleky.gov

Links

District 3 Website

Request a Meeting

Request Event Attendance

Find City Services by Address

In this Issue...

• Metro Council Recap
• REMEMBER: Interstate 65 WILL BE CLOSED THIS SUMMER
• PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW
• CW Parrish-Wright Out & About
• Do you remember Lois Morris?
• Upcoming Events & Programs

Metro Council Recap

Councilwoman Parrish-Wright was thrilled to present the Rosie the Riveter Award to her dear friend, Carla Wallace, at yesterday's Women's Caucus Awards. The Rosie the Riveter Awards, in its third year, celebrated 11 Louisville women doing excellent work in our community. Carla Wallace has dedicated over 40 years of her life to activism for those most marginalized, and was recognized for her lifetime of commitment to fairness, equity, and liberation. Councilwoman Parrish-Wright has worked alongside Carla for over 20 years, and she was so proud to be able to award one of her closest allies. 

Louisville – The Louisville Metro Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Below is a summary of key legislative actions and recognitions.

Top Actions from Last Night's Meeting

• Street lighting safety initiative approved to evaluate bus stop safety in partnership with JCPS and LG&E.
• Approved Neighborhood Development Funds supporting housing, social services, and local events.

Old Business

Approved

• R-028-26 – Street Lighting Safety Initiative A partnership between Metro Government, JCPS, and LG&E to study the safety and placement of school bus stops in relation to street lighting.

• O-032-26 – Change in Zoning at 5417 Valley Station Road A zoning change from C-1 to C-2 to allow the continued operation of a four-bay automotive repair shop with binding elements.

• Neighborhood Development Funds:
• South Louisville Community Ministries for annual dinner
• Office of Social Services for the purchase of portable a/c units
• Young Men’s Christian Organization for the Black Owned Business and Excellence Awards Program
• Metropolitan Housing Coalition for the Housing and Utility Affordability Conference

Recognitions and Proclamations

• Councilman JP Lyninger introduced the District 6 Page, Petra Lyninger.

Consent Calendar

All items passed unanimously

• R-022-26 - Street Name Dedication for Shawn Donigan Sponsored by Councilwoman Hawkins, dedicating the corner of South 34^th Street and West Magnolia Street in honor of Shawn Donigan, a youth mentor and football coach.

• R-023-26 – Street Name Dedication for Al J. Schneider Sponsored by Councilman Herndon, dedicating the corner of 140 N. 4^th Street and 141 N. 4^th Street in honor of Al J. Schneider, a local businessman and owner of the historic Galt House Hotel.

• R-026-26 – Remedial Action at Jefferson Memorial Forest A $107,000 contract with Shield Environmental Associates for consulting services at the Jefferson Memorial Forest Drum site.

• O-059-26 – Approving the Shively Area Plan Adoption of the executive summary to the Plan 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

 Watch the Meeting

Tonight’s Council meeting and attachments may be viewed online and on the Louisville Metro Council Facebook Page.

Next Meeting

The next regularly scheduled Council meeting is on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The meeting will begin after the Mayor’s Budget Address to Metro Council at 4:00 p.m.

For more information, please visit this website: https://louisvilleky.primegov.com/public/portal

If you have legislative ideas, please reach out to the office and let us know! 

REMEMBER: Interstate 65 WILL BE CLOSED THIS SUMMER

Navigating the I-65 Closure: Sign up to stay informed!

The I-65 Central Corridor Project is a major Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) initiative to replace aging interstate bridges and rehabilitate pavement between I-264 (Watterson Expressway) and Muhammad Ali Boulevard in downtown Louisville. Several bridges in this heavily traveled corridor are more than 60 years old and in poor condition, serving key destinations like UPS, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, the Fair & Exposition Center, UofL, and the medical district.

To complete critical bridge replacements, a section of I-65 will be closed in June and July 2026, with interstate traffic detoured. I-65 is expected to reopen with reduced capacity by August 1, 2026.

Residents, commuters, and businesses are strongly encouraged to stay informed. Sign up for email and text alerts and view detour maps at: https://i65centralcorridor.com/

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW

Please join us for our second BOB! We are so excited for residents of South Louisville to attend the second Building Our Blocks (BOB) Community Resource Fair on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the South Louisville Community Center, 2911 Taylor Boulevard.

Building on the success of the first event, BOB continues its mission of connecting residents directly with Metro services and community resources, right in their own neighborhood.

The free event will take place indoors and outdoors and will feature Metro agencies, community organizations, food, music, and inflatable games for children and families.

Participating departments include Metro Animal Services, Housing, South Louisville Community Ministries.

CW Parrish-Wright Out & About

Last week, with several other Louisville Metro Council Members, Councilwoman Parrish-Wright attended the National League of Cities (NLC) Conference in Washington DC. This annual event brings together local government elected officials from across the country to discuss needs pertaining to cities, best practices, and connections across states to better serve our folks. This included mayors, commissioners, council members, and any other person elected to serve a local/city government. Councilwoman Parrish-Wright made and strengthened connections across the nation, and is excited to bring more of what she learned to our city. 

Councilwoman Parrish-Wright attended several community events over the weekend, including the Tiny Tycoons exhibit where kids practiced business, the Derby Hat Exchange with Dress For Success, and the Elevate Her Women's Empowerment Event, which celebrated Black Women in Business. Councilwoman Parrish-Wright presented a proclamation to the Elevate Her event to honor the experience of Black Women in business. Councilwoman Parrish-Wright also attended and presented a proclamation to the Passing the Baton Youth Action Summit, which celebrated and recognized our youth, their experience! 

Do you remember Lois Morris?

According to Jet Magazine, "history was made in Louisville, when Lois Morris, former alderman, announced her candidacy for mayor". Lois Morris, born in Mississippi in 1919, moved to Louisville with her husband in 1955 after working for the federal government in foreign relations. She was appointed by the then-mayor to serve on Louisville's first iteration of the Human Relations Commission. In the late 1960s and early 1970s she served as an alderman for Louisville's 12th Ward, making history by being the first alderman to self-fund an office within her own ward, serving the community with youth reading programs, and helping bring cable TV to the city. 

In 1977, she was the first Black woman to run for mayor in Louisville, Kentucky. If she wasn't already impressive enough, she was first elected in 1969, less than five years after the passage of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965 that guaranteed Black Americans the right to vote.

This year is the 49th anniversary of her historic run, and the District 3 Office wanted to take the time to honor her work and her legacy. Mrs. Morris, in 1977 predicted merger, which wouldn't happen until well after she passed away in 1989. In her time, she presciently suggested that such a merger could limit political opportunities for residents of the city.

She is remembered as a dedicated community servant, a holder of two master's degrees and a formidable resume, a businesswoman, and a woman with impeccable style. Let's take the time to salute Mrs. Morris, and thank her for her work to building our city and caring for our residents. 

Upcoming Events & Programs

What is a Change of Use permit?

A change of use permit is required in Louisville whenever a property’s use shifts from one type to another – like converting a retail space into a restaurant or a warehouse into offices – even if no construction is planned. These permits are issued by Construction Review, a division of the Department of Codes and Regulations. 

Why is it needed?

• Different uses have different safety, building code, and zoning requirements.
• Examples: Turning a house into a short-term rental, a warehouse into a gym, or a church into an event venue.

How to apply?

Apply online through Louisville Metro’s Accela Citizen Access portal. City staff will review for code, zoning, and safety compliance before approval. If you are not a licensed contractor with Louisville Metro, please visit the Construction Review office at 444 S. 5th Street to apply. Questions? Visit LouisvilleKY.gov/Construction or call (502) 574-3321.

DEADLINE EXTENDED! The Councilwoman Parrish-Wright and the Metro Council Clerk's Office have extended the deadline for their clothing and supply drive! If you would like to donate any of the listed items to those being released from LMDC, please drop it off at City Hall (601 W Jefferson Street)! 

You are receiving this email because you have signed up for the e-News or have contacted my office for assistance.  If you would like to be removed from this communication please click the below "Unsubscribe" link. 

PLEASE feel free to copy any of this information for use at your meetings or in your newsletters!