Louisville Courant

Who will be the 1st Republican State Senator to oppose tolls?

2012-02-02T18:57:00.002-05:00

On January 31, 2012, Louisville State Senators Perry Clark and Denise Harper Angel, both Democrats, reintroduced a bill from last year in the Kentucky Senate called the Keeping Kentucky's Freeways Free Act of 2012. (SB128) Here's the summary:

Activists protesting tolls in Louisville (2010)
"AN ACT relating to the imposition of tolls or fees on federal interstate highways.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 177 to prohibit the imposition of tolls or user fees on any portion of the interstate highway system currently in existence; name the Act the "Keeping Kentucky's Freeways Free Act of 2012."

Let's face it. Tolls are tax, and they aren't simply a "use tax" as Wall Street likes to call them. They're a disproportionate tax on the working families in our community. With tolls, those who have no choice but to use the infrastructure to get back and forth will bear the full burden of the costs of the infrastructure. While the rich and those benefiting from a regional economy infrastructure creates, get off scott free.

What this bill needs now, desperately, is Republican co-sponsors, and this is why we need 10 minutes of your time. If you are opposed to tolls on the Kennedy Bridge, this is one of the few shots you have left to prevent them.

There are 22 Republicans in the Senate, and I've listed them below with a link to their contact information and the counties they represent.

Contact as many as you can, but ideally the ones you have a regional connection with first, like if you have family or business in their district, for example. You don't have to live in a Senator's district, or even Kentucky, to contact them and give them your opinion. And you don't have to write them some long letter, copy/paste this and email it if you like:

Please support the Keeping Kentucky's Freeways Free Act of 2012 (SB 128). Tolls on existing roads and bridges will cause an unacceptable hardship to my family and my community.

Obviously, Senators within a rock's throw of Louisville best understand how important a toll-free Kennedy bridge is to our region's vitality, so I listed them below first. But don't think tolls won't pop up all over Kentucky if citizen's don't lobby their legislators to stop it, while we still can!
Louisville area:
Senator Julie Denton Jefferson
Senator Dan Seum Jefferson (part)
Senator Paul Hornback Boone (part), Carroll, Gallatin, Henry, Jefferson (part), Shelby, Spencer
Senator Ernie Harris Jefferson (part), Oldham, Trimble
Senator Vernie McGaha Bullitt, Nelson

The rest of Kentucky:
Senator Joe Bowen Daviess, Ohio
Senator Tom Buford Boyle, Fayette (part), Garrard, Jessamine
Senator Jared Carpenter Estill, Madison, Rockcastle
Senator Carroll Gibson Breckinridge Butler Grayson Hancock Hart Meade*
Senator David Givens Adair, Barren, Edmonson, Green, Larue, Metcalfe, Monroe
Senator Jimmy Higdon Casey, Lincoln, Marion, Mercer, Taylor, Washington
Senator Tom Jensen Laurel, McCreary, Whitley
Senator Alice Forgy Kerr Fayette (part)
Senator John Schickel Boone (part)**
Senator Brandon Smith Bell, Breathitt, Johnson, Leslie, Magoffin, Perry
Senator Katie Stine Bracken, Campbell, Pendleton
Senator Robert Stivers Clay, Jackson, Knox, Lee, Menifee, Owsley, Rowan, Wolfe
Senator Damon Thayer*** Grant, Kenton (part), Scott
Senator Jack Westwood Erlanger**
Senator David Williams Clinton, Cumberland, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne
Senator Mike Wilson Warren (part)
Senator Ken Winters Calloway, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Trigg

*Many Meade County residents use two Ohio River Bridges to get to work daily. They'll cross over the Matthew E. Welsh Bridge from Brandenburg to Mauckport en route to I-64, then they'll cross back into Kentucky on the Sherman Minton when they get to Louisville. Obviously if tolls were allowed to be placed on either of those bridges, a double hardship would be felt for some of Senator Gibson's constituents.
**Governor Beshear and the Governor of Ohio, whoever that is, have already got a little commission working on how to create more cross-river connections between Florence/Union/Covington/Newport and Cincinnati. It's only a couple years in the future that tolls on existing bridges will be proposed to burden Senator Schickel's and Senator Westwood's constituents.
***Might be a good one to ask because he has no problem standing up to his party's leadership.

A special thanks to Say No to Bridge Tolls co-founder Shawn Reilly for his lobbying on behalf of SB128, as well as to Senator Clark and Senator Harper Angel for sponsoring the bill.

Louisville gay bar owner screws up, BIG TIME

2012-02-02T13:19:00.003-05:00

Not one day into 2012's African American History month, as First Lady Michelle Obama plans her visit to the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage for a February 23rd, 2012 fundraiser for the Obama Victory Fund, we are reminded by a member of our own community just how insensitive we can be.

One of the owners of a local gay bar known as Tryangles, Mike Flatt, posted the following image on Facebook late Monday night:

Screenshot from Facebook Feb. 2, 2012, 12:05 PM

Now is a good time for us all to take a deep breathe and realize there is a difference between what one does, and what they are...
The easiest thing is to grab pitchforks and torches and charge Flatt as our town racist. Is it okay to profit from the patronization of one oppressed group while laughing at the expense of another?
I don't think so.

I remember our local Fairness Campaign didn't think it was okay in 2009 after Woody's Tavern owner David Norton's made racist remarks during one of his tantrums. To quote their Director, Chris Hartman, at the time:

“We, at the Fairness Campaign, believe a stand must be made against this series of injustices, which will undoubtedly persist if Mr. Norton continues to operate his business. We demand Mr. Norton cease ownership and operation of Woody’s Tavern, or, if he will not, that its doors close.” (Fairness to Announce Boycott of Woody’s Tavern)

From Flatt's perspective, this image made him laugh and he wanted to share it. His ignorance to the insensitivity and hurtfulness of his humor probably started in his upbringing and we all know he wasn't alone. But I don't have to speak for Flatt, of the 23 comments currently below this offensive image, six are Flatt struggling to rationalize why the humor is okay:

(posts by other people)

So what happens now?
It's not up to me. But I propose we let all let him know how insensitive and offensive his action was, and explain to him why it is offensive, because it appears he doesn't really 'get it.' Something like, well here's my attempt, something tells me he'll be reading this post:

"Mike. It's offensive to interchange images of a monkey and an African American because the inference, the reason it makes you laugh, is the idea that Africans are less evolved than Non-Africans. That's a belief rooted in our racist history, not from fact. But even if it were a fact (which it's NOT!) laughing at another form of life because we think we're better, isn't that the height of arrogance?"

Okay, maybe someone else should try. This video gives good ideas.

No one should be judged by their worst act, either. Flatt has repeatedly demonstrated extreme generosity to the Louisville AIDS Walk, as in thousands of dollars, and we all know that AIDS affects the African American community disproportionately. Flatt stepped up to the plate in times when Connection co-owners George Stinson and Eddie Lewis "could not find it in their budgets."

Publisher's note: Flatt was a Facebook friend who I have ever met, but ironically he liked one of my posts this morning even. In the past, I have been one of his customers as well. Pursuant to his instruction, I just deleted him as a Facebook friend. And before the 10-15 people call me to tell me why I shouldn't have published this, be prepared to format your call with:
"Hi, I'm _______, and I'm calling to defend racism against African Americans because ____________."

Occupy update / Van De Rostyne campaign is on it

2012-02-01T22:50:00.001-05:00

I learned today Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell's office is who advised IPL's Jim Mims to extend Occupy Louisville's tent permit with conditions. Conditions were related to paying for electricity and the number of required portapottys.

At this afternoon's Occupy Louisville GA, the first and last one I'll ever be allowed to keep minutes, occupiers decided to authorize our legal counsel, Chris Harrell, to accept the clarifications to the tent permit extension with clarifications. This permit will expire March 31, 2012.

Since part of this includes a $500 deposit for the cost of electricity for the 3 months of 2012, contributions be made via credit card by calling Harrell's secretary.

The GA also gave Harrell authorization to drop the lawsuit he had filed on behalf of participants.

This is undoubtedly a win for Occupy Louisville, regardless of the motivation behind it.

Kinda barely related:
The Jefferson County Attorney primary race should prove interesting. Tom Van De Rostyne has the early support of some folks in the social justice community I really respect.

And I just noticed while at Kinko's, Van De Rostyne is having paper signs printed already. Of all the races out there, I haven't seen signs from anyone.

I'm not looking forward to signs everywhere really, even if some of them have my name on them. But alas, that's how democracy works. Let Spring begin!

Kentucky's 99% protests Mitch McConnell

2012-02-01T13:48:00.001-05:00

Publisher's note: Below are the contents of a press release from the Occupy Louisville Direct Action Work Group, which I completely support but am not a member:

Occupy Louisville will "Occupy Mitch McConnell" in observance of the National Day of Action against NDAA 2012 on February 3
LOUISVILLE (January 30, 2012) – Occupy Louisville has heeded the nationwide call to action against the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act by organizing a protest demonstration titled "Occupy Mitch McConnell" to take place at the Gene Snyder Federal Courthouse, 601. W. Broadway, on February 3 at 12:00 noon.

The NDAA 2012, signed into law by President Obama on December 31, 2011, contains two sections (1021 and 1022) which many argue have repealed the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Many legal experts and law scholars across the country believe that the language of the act will allow for Americans to be indefinitely detained by the military without access to an attorney or a trial by jury on orders of the executive branch.

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h1540/text

When signing the Act into law, President Obama released a signing statement which, in part, said: I want to clarify that my Administration will not authorize the indefinite military detention without trial of American citizens. Indeed, I believe that doing so would break with our most important traditions and values as a Nation. My Administration will interpret section 1021 in a manner that ensures that any detention it authorizes complies with the Constitution, the laws of war, and all other applicable law.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/12/31/statement-president-hr-1540

Two of Kentucky's representatives, Senator Rand Paul and Congressman John Yarmuth, were alarmed enough to vote against the NDAA 2012 in order to protect their constituents' Constitutional rights. The other Kentucky Senator, Mitch McConnell, placed his vote in favor of it, which Occupy Louisville and thousands of citizens across the nation view as a betrayal of the American people.

In order to spread the word on the need to repeal the NDAA 2012, Occupy Louisville's Direct Action Working Group has organized a creative protest demonstration to take place in front of Senator McConnnell's office in the Snyder Federal Court House. They invite all the citizens of Jefferson County, southern Indiana, and adjoining counties to come "Occupy Mitch McConnell" by joining them as they line the sidewalk outside McConnell's office and raise their voices against this injustice. There will be street drama, songs and chants and a few surprises. Along with signs, participants are invited to bring drums, whistles, kazoos or other musical instruments because it is time for the citizens to be heard. A march will follow the rally, traveling up 6th Street, past the jail and Hall of Justice, ending at the Occupy Louisville site at 5th and Muhammad Ali.

Occupy Louisville works in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and all the countless Occupy groups across this nation and the world, which believe that the people, united, will never be defeated.

Switching tracks.

2012-01-31T23:01:00.003-05:00

On January 31, 2012 at 2:15 pm, I withdrew my candidacy for Louisville Metro Council. With 3 other candidates on the ballot, voters have choices. I believe we deserve choice in who we send to Frankfort, too.

So at 4 PM, I was in Frankfort at the Secretary of State's office, filing to be a candidate in the Democratic Primary for State Senator District 35. (Secretary of State)
Also, Dan Johnson did file for the 37th. He was leaving as I arrived.

If anything, this race will not be boring.
My campaign website? SenatorAwesome.com. This is the website I had for the Metro Council race, only I kept the issues up that apply to Frankfort, but I expect to be adding more issues in the coming weeks so please check back.

The twitter name, @SenatorAwesome, of course.
Facebook: http://m.facebook.com/morrison4senate
I haven't got it all together yet, but be patient. You know I will.

Occupy Louisville News: IPL has made a permit offer to Occupy Louisville that they were considering at tonight's GA, which I couldn't make. My friend Lark, who was there, says there was a lot of input and discussion, so much in fact they didn't finish and there's another GA tomorrow at 4 pm.
CJ: Occupy Louisville protesters get extended permit to camp in park

Permit possible for Occupy Louisville

2012-01-30T14:54:00.001-05:00

It looks like IPL Director Jim Mims is presenting the city's change of heart to the media, before presenting it to Occupy Louisville directly.

ow.ly/1FaYWa

The 1% support their minions

2012-01-30T00:30:00.001-05:00

Councilman Jim King has joined in my call for defunding Greater Louisville, Inc., albeit a month after he and the Council voted unanimously to fund them $500,000. Mayor Fischer went along with it, even though all "sky is falling"-stuff he talks about now, we knew then.

Would this defunding talk lead GLI to work on their image? Certainly. I've seen more about those scholarships they're giving to African American high school students in last few days than I have in last few years.

But alas, they're still in the business of connecting the rich and powerful together with our without our tax dollars, so they're going to slip up.
Like this tweet:

@GLIchamber: GLI welcomes new member Harmony Landing Country Club! http://t.co/SMj7utNX

Original Message:
http://twitter.com/GLIchamber/status/162995810705997824

Sent from HootSuite for iPhone
http://ow.ly/7trFE

Dan Johnson considering 37th Senate

2012-01-28T23:30:00.001-05:00

Shortly before 11 pm Friday evening Louisville's 21st District Metro Councilman Dan Johnson who is a Democrat, let his Facebook friends know that he's considering filing for Senator Perry Clark's vacated 37th District Senate seat. Redirecting moved Clark into the 35th with Denise Harper Angel (And a couple dozen other Democrats who would make great state legislators.)

I was recently impressed with Johnson for introducing a resolution for the Louisville Metro Council to let Congress know that we want the re-instatement of the Glass-Steagall Act through HR 1489. Glass-Steagall was repealed in 1999, but only in the last year has it become crystal clear that bankers and gamblers shouldn't be doing business with one another. This is just one of the issues Occupy Louisville, and Occupy Wall Street, are all about.

Chris Thieneman, a Republican and former mayoral candidate who successfully led the charge against a proposed library tax a few years ago, filed for the Republican primary for that seat earlier this week. (http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120125/NEWS01/301250081/Chris-Thieneman-state-senate-filing)

Public Works eliminating 16 parking spaces from Deer Park neighborhood

2012-01-28T20:41:00.007-05:00

The house fire on the 1800 block of Stevens Avenue last November may be extinguished (LC: Wednesday before Thanksgiving), but a spark from that fire may have lit another.

Seven people rescued from the fire, many with help from neighbors Randall and Gaia Bohannon before Louisville Fire and Rescue arrived, were taken to the hospital. One victim, Benjamin Rau, 88, died two weeks later.

Mistakes may have been made.

"No trucks" sign on 1900 block of Steven's Av

On their way to the fire, Louisville Fire and Rescue chose to ignore the posted "no trucks" sign on Stevens, thus scraping the right front corner of an unoccupied car parked on the corner of Stevens and Fernwood.

At least some of the ambulances responding to the fire that morning were perhaps overly intimidated by the "no trucks" sign, choosing instead to park in the Gate's Automotive parking lot, and wheeling victims of the fire an entire block.

The delay Louisville Fire and Rescue experienced by scraping the car or by the ambulances parking a block from the scene is unknown.

Also unknown, is why emergency vehicle drivers did not take advantage of access to the 1800 block where the fire was located directly from Norris Place.

While emergency vehicles they would have needed to travel down a way down a one way street for a few hundred feet, it was about 6 AM. There likely was no traffic.

No one would ever find fault with the route chosen by the driver of an emergency vehicle. Emergency responders must choose routes quickly, under unimaginable stress.

But in what happens next, this author sides with the Deer Park neighborhood.

On January 11, 2012, Ashley T. Sells, a Traffic Engineer with the Department of Public Works, sent a letter only to the 10-12 homes closest to the intersection Fernwood Avenue and Stevens Avenue. The letter starts:

"This mailing is being sent to inform you of a parking change on Stevens Avenue."

Specifically, Sells was notifying residents they were losing what appears to be, from a graphic she provided, 16 parking spaces. The sacrifice is for fire lanes.

Approximately 8 parking spaces will be taken from the 1900 block of Stevens.

Approximately 8 parking spaces will be taken from the 1800 block of Stevens.

The parking changes are needed, Sells claimed in the letter, because:

"...the fire apparatus cannot make the turn if vehicles are parked along this section of the roadway. The change (see attachment) would be to install NO PARKING ANYTIME FIRE LANE in these areas."

Any of the 10-12 residents who received Sells letter, had until January 25 to contact her, "if they had any questions." There was no offer for Public Works to consider public input from the community, or even to notify all the affected parties in the community before the change.

Area residents, especially on Stevens, are already scrambling for parking as a result of the recently remodeled Seviche-A Latin Restaurant's success. Stevens is parallel to Maplewood Place, where some homes actually have no parking spaces at all. Those residents typically park on Fernwood, Stevens, Bardstown Rd, or Bonnycastle Avenue. Like the Seviche customers often do.

After one of the alerted parties notified the rest of the neighborhood of the change, including Seviche, emails were exchanged, and Councilman Tom Owen was asked to intervene.

Sells email to Councilman Owen

Sells responded to Owen's intervention in an email where she illustrated just how little influence Owen had in the matter:

"The Fire companies want the fire lane as marked to remain the same with no changes."

Sells did offer to notify all the residents of Stevens Avenue, "if need be," she wrote.

In a previous email to concerned Deer Park residents, Owen wrote, "We need the wisdom of Solomon."

Multiple residents have pointed out there are countless intersections in Louisville with even more narrower passages than the one being targeted.

"There needs to be some kind of compromise, because taking both sides of both blocks seems extreme." says Marilyn Belak, a Stevens Avenue resident.

An aerial view of the effected intersection:

View Larger Map

'Barefoot Campaign' targeting Frankfort

2012-01-28T15:55:00.001-05:00

On February 7, University of Louisville students and their sympathizers will be headed to Frankfort. Only barefoot.
The Barefoot Campaign is described on signs around campus as a rally for higher education that characterizes Governor Beshear's proposed cuts to education as "Kentucky's attempts to fulfill its own stereotypes."
Registration is at http://UofLSGA.org/Register
I'm hoping someone checked to see if admission into the Capitol is permissible barefoot...Where's Tyler Hess? He would know.

Nuttall house: River Field's latest weapon

2012-01-28T09:15:00.001-05:00

See today's CJ? River Fields is trying to use additional properties, like the Nuttall House, to hold up the East End bridge. (New ruling sought on historic...)
The Nuttall house formerly belonged to, that's right, a Brown. Someone get the Pope involved because surely that alone makes it sacred.
I told you they were going to try that in August. Shouldn't I get donuts for predicting future and stuff? Cream-filled with chocolate icing, please.
http://louisvillecourant.blogspot.com/2011/08/is-river-fields-going-to-ask-for-more.html

Reader threatens to jaywalk

2012-01-27T21:58:00.002-05:00

To the 'educated' reader who recognizes my role in promoting the idea to de-fund GLI:

1) thank you.

2) It's going to be okay, really. Please don't put yourself in harm's way.

{virtual hug}

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "GLI Joe Reagan's salary revealed: $369,268":

An overwhelming number of companies and educated jobs have been brought to this city thanks to GLI and Joe Reagan. UPS, Humana, and most every other large employer in this city is a partner with GLI...but perhaps they should be spending their time with you instead in all of your wisdom. The largest tax payers in this city support GLI. Our average education level is a joke and our unemployment is partially a reflection of that. Defunding GLI will only increase unemployment and shift funding from job creators to the inefficient government. The day that our economic development efforts are driven by polls of the uneducated and the "will of [our mediocre] public" is the day that I step into oncoming traffic...or better yet, move.

Posted by Anonymous to Louisville Courant at January 27, 2012 8:12 PM

'Holding the line' on deficit spending

2012-01-26T23:28:00.002-05:00

Republican candidate for Louisville Metro Council District 19 Marilyn Parker wants to "hold the line on deficit spending that ultimately hurts the private sector."
Putting aside my lack of compassion for the oppressed billionaires of the private sector, I'm going to be mean here and point out that the city of Louisville doesn't do 'deficit spending.'
Also, the "limited government" Parker's proposing on the local level would mean decreased city services. The courage to ask for change isn't enough. Which city services does she want to cut?
I commend Parker for her interest in transparency and ethics, though.
Parker is challenging the incumbent Councilman Jon Ackerson as well as the first candidate to file, Teague Ridge.
So far, District 14 is the only other council seat with a 3-way race in the Republican primary.

Southern Indiana legislators betray union workers

2012-01-26T22:38:00.002-05:00

Below is an email I received tonight from John Sodrel indicating the fate of Indiana's unions lies in (gulp) Governor Mitch Daniel's hands.

"See link below to find out how your representative voted. It has now passed in both chambers and will likely become law in Indiana.
The two people (Representative Ed Clere and Senator Ron Grooms) representing me in Indiana's legislature are Republicans and, not surprisingly, voted for "right to work." Here is the message I sent them today:
'VERY disappointed (but not surprised) with your vote on the so-called right to work bill. Why do Republicans ALWAYS side with big business at the expense of average workers?
There's not one shred of evidence this bill will help Indiana's economy, but there's plenty of evidence it will depress wages. In a nutshell, it's a crummy deal for hard-working Hoosiers....'

...

http://www.indystar.com/article/20120125/NEWS05/120125041/How-Indiana-House-members-voted-right-work-"

Another victim of redistricting releases statement

2012-01-25T19:52:00.004-05:00

My friend Shawn Reilly, who was hoping to run in the upcoming primary to represent his 19th District found out last Friday that the 19th District moved, without him. His statement, with very helpful maps of where Louisville's senate districts are now located (provided by Reilly), are below:

It is with great regret that I must inform you that I will not be a candidate for the State Senate in the 19th District.
Based on the redistricting of the State Senate map, I now live in the 35th district that is for now represented by two incumbent Democrats; Sen. Perry Clark and Sen. Denise Harper-Angel. These two will have to face a primary against each other. Therefore, I will not be a candidate for the 35th district either. Early in November I committed to each of them that if I were placed in their districts I would not challenge them in a primary and I will not break that commitment.
This year's bloody redistricting has been one of the worst on record, but it has become a unifying force. Republicans and Democrats alike are now expressing outrage at the arrogantly political decisions and the secretive way they were reached. The worst example of this is how Republicans in the Senate disenfranchised more than 100,000 Lexington residents by moving Sen. Kathy Stein's district to northeastern Kentucky.

Democrats and Republicans are saying there has to be a better way, and they are right. In the coming days I will calling for changes to the way redistricting is conducted before the 2020 census. I will also be announcing my support for a bill filed by Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, that would create a seven-member Committee on Redistricting appointed by members of the Supreme Court to draw legislative and congressional boundaries after the 2020 census

Thank you for your support of these past few months.

--
Shawn Reilly
Louisville, KY

Editor's note: The House Bill filed by Rep. Wayne, was co-sponsored by Rep. Bill Farmer, a Republican no doubt, and is HB304. More info on that bill at: Kentucky.com
Click on maps to make them full-size:

Police raid Occupy Lexington

2012-01-24T16:48:00.007-05:00

After 118 days of continued protest on the corner of Main St and Esplanade, Lexington, Kentucky police, under the supervision of Mayor Jim Gray, came by Tuesday between 12:30-1 PM and confiscated occupiers' tents and canopies.

The police brought more trailers than they needed. All in all, it only took 5-10 officers to confiscate the property. No arrests were made and they left no officers on the scene.
Protesters were allowed to save what personal items they could quickly grab and throw in the back of Ford Ranger belonging to a huge longtime supporter, the owner of Natasha's Bistro on Esplanade.
According to occupier Steven Burt, the police have been less than cordial over the course of the occupation.
"They've complained about our sidewalk chalk. They've said we were dirty and we looked disgusting," Burt said.
Occupy Lexington is located adjacent to a 14-story Chase JP Morgan bank, on the sidewalk. The rumor is that the raid was justified by Lexington police because the protest was on the sidewalk,but that leaves protesters puzzled since that had been the case for 118 days.
Passing motorists are honking and making eye contact just a few hours later, a show of solidarity that is lacking today from Mayor Gray.
"We're not going anywhere. We're needing solidarity from our supporters tonight though," says Stacie Catlett.
A General Assembly (GA) is planned by the occupiers for 630 PM tonight at the site.

1.24.2012 7:16 PM Update: Photos of chalk messages outside Chase:

Update 01/25/2012, 8:17 PM:

Lexington's WKYT is reporting on yesterday's eviction/ raid/ confiscation, whatever you want to call it, with a detail provided by the police that was not mentioned to me at the scene yesterday by any of the protesters.

The police officer who allegedly made the decision for the raid told WKYT's Melissa Etezadi:

"...I called in a couple of trucks to start cleaning up the mess assuming they'd left."

If this was truly the intention and trigger behind the confiscation, then how were occupiers allowed to salvage their personal items, and why wasn't the confiscation abandoned altogether when occupiers were identified at the scene?

Also, curious that Etezadi did not identify the source she was quoting. Since that particular police officer is attempting to shoulder the responsibility for the decision.
The WKYT story here: Occupy Lexington protesters say they have a new plan

Kentucky House Distraction #2 = Miss America

2012-01-24T14:43:00.001-05:00

This legislative body is so desperate to take our minds off their performance, first they offer a penguin, now Miss America.

Frankfort General Assembly = ZOO

2012-01-24T14:14:00.001-05:00

For reasons I'm not really sure about, there's a penguin lobbying on the house floor seven minutes after this General Assembly was scheduled to convene.

01.24.2012 Update A few minutes later we learned that the African penguin's name was Paula, and she was there because the House was voting on a resolution (HB96) of appreciation for Newport Aquarium. Another image: http://ow.ly/i/qAOd

Senator Greg Fischer?

2012-01-22T15:38:00.000-05:00

The hosting of the domain FISCHERFORSENATE.COM was all set to expire with Godaddy.com nine days ago. But alas, that didn't happen.

The hosting of the domain was renewed by Iceburg Ventures, at Greg's home address, for one year.

I can think of lots of reasons why someone just wasted $9.99, but this is the one I've written on already today: LC: Fischer supporter: '...let the truth guide him...'

Fischer supporter: '...let the truth guide him...'

2012-01-22T15:20:00.003-05:00

I swear. I'm about more than holding Mayor Greg Fischer accountable. My big vision for Louisville can be summed up in one sentence: I want us to have inclusive and transparent local government, aimed at being the most environmentally conscious and socially responsible city we can be.

But as my Metro Council campaign moves along, I'm getting press mostly for my efforts with transparency and accountability. (WFPL) (Courier-Journal) So I'm going to do a quick recap of where all this stands, and then not think about it for days.

One of Mayor Greg Fischer's most-enthusiastic supporters, activist Harold Trainer, offered up some advice for the mayor in a WFPL comment this morning:

While I agree with Harold, Greg should "let the truth guide him completely," I don't think Harold understands the scope and risks for his friend to follow that advice. Rather than the matter going away,
the consequences that could follow 'the truth' may be much dire, indeed. Let me explain...

Already, the KREF has my complaint, Greg's response to my complaint, and Ed Hart's testimony and evidence. (Any individual citizens who want to quickly submit their input/evidence to the KREF, contact Emily.Dennis@ky.gov)

The next step is for KREF's General Counsel, Emily Dennis, to investigate, and report findings to the Registry with a recommendation.

The current members of the Registry are Craig C. Dilger, David R. Martin, Rosemary F. Center, Ken Harper, Leigh A. Jones, Terry Naydan, and Thomas B. Stephens. They were appointed by a very confusing system.

Dilger, an attorney with Dilger, Stoll Keenon Ogden, is the Chair of the Registry. He was also on the same 2011 GLI trip to Toronto with Greg. So they're likely acquainted. However, Dilger is also a former member of the Jefferson County Republican Party Executive Committee, and (gasp) a St. X man. So I wouldn't say Greg's future before this Registry could easily be predicted based on Dilger's past.

If the Registry determines a civil violation did occur, then they'll instruct Dennis to enter into "conciliation negotiations" with Greg. If they can't reach one of them, only then is the matter referred to hearing before a retired or former judge appointed by Kentucky Supreme Court Justice John D. Minton Jr..

And then there's possibly referrals for prosecution. If the Registry determines violations of KRS 121 occurred knowingly, then the case is also referred to Attorney General Jack Conway, who can prosecute the case himself, I believe in Franklin County Circuit Court, or appoint the Registry's counsel, Emily Dennis, or Commonwealth Attorney Mike O'Connell to prosecute the matter in Jefferson County.

The "worst case scenario" for Greg and/or his fundraisers, is if they are found guilty in court for knowingly violating election law, because that is a Class D felony, and the prison sentencing for Class D felony offenses are statutory:

Not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years.

Justitia's scales may be missing, but the moral force of our judicial system is not.

CJ misrepresents union support of Keystone

2012-01-22T10:11:00.003-05:00

Dear Courier-Journal,

It was distressing to read your article "Pipeline Issue will not go away." (http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012301220026)

I understand it's necessary to have a Washington correspondent, but are you paying James R. Carroll or is the GOP and/or Transcanada? I ask because he's apparently copy/pasting their press releases on the Keystone XL pipeline rejection without fact-checking.

Keystone XL has arguably more union opposition than support, but Carroll ignored the union opposition to the pipeline in his story completely, because it was inconvenient for his story.

He ignored little unions, like this one:

"Obama has acted wisely."- the UAW (http://ow.ly/1Ey6OH)

One of the organizers of Ottawa's civil disobedience uprising action opposing the pipeline Ottawa was President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, Dave Coles. In fact, he was the first to climb the fence and be arrested that day. (http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/09/30-6)

The Domestic Workers Union, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and two other AFL-CIO unions, the Transport Workers and the Amalgamated Transit Union, oppose Keystone as well. (http://peoplesworld.org/domestic-workers-united-occupy-wall-street-oppose-keystone-xl-pipeline/)

I did not spend 3 nights in jail for opposing this pipeline so that my hometown paper could go back to spewing news only from the oil industry's point of view without fact-checking it.

A printed clarification would be appreciated. Thank you.

peace,

Curtis Morrison

Candidate for Louisville Metro Council

Publisher, http://LouisvilleCourant.com

502.403.9498

Mayor Fischer slammed on sustainability

2012-01-20T14:19:00.001-05:00

Here's what Jackie Green has to say today:

"The Mayor's Office of Sustainability
by Jackie Green, former mayoral candidate
20 January 2012

Sour Grapes
Late 2010 it was erroneously believed that I had traded a mayoral endorsement for the directorship of the Office of Sustainability. Hear clearly. I have no interest in serving this Office of Sustainability. To begin with, I have my hands full shepherding three bicycle shops through yet another year of recession. But more to the point, I long have maintained that Louisville cannot recruit a Director of Sustainability currently serving in another city because they, like me, want nothing to do with Louisville's current land use, transportation and energy policies. The following critique is not of the Director of Sustainability, but rather it is a critique of the office, the structure, the priorities, scope, authority and resources of the Office of Sustainability as determined by the mayor. It is also a critique of the mayor's selection criterion for the directorship. The mayor's selection criterion informs what the mayor expects from the office. The selection should leverage leadership-by-example. The Director of Sustainability should be held to a higher standard than most people in the private sector. It is analogous to expecting members of Louisville Metro Police Department not to drive drunk.   Again, the following critique is not of the Director of Sustainability, but of the Mayor's Office of Sustainability and his choices relative to the office.

Congratulations
I immediately extended congratulations to the mayor's selected director and extended an invitation to dialogue.   She responded with an acceptance of the invitation. I will do what I can to help the director and the mayor focus the Office of Sustainability and the city of Louisville on sustainability priorities. That help begins with speaking plainly, honestly of the mayor's Office of Sustainability and of his selection.

Critique
Mayor Fischer's first mistake was in burying the newly created Office of Sustainability within the Department of Economic Growth and Innovation. For several reasons the Director of Sustainability should have direct access to and answer directly to the mayor.

The mayor's statement in the announcement of the office raised real concerns. "Having a point person for sustainability will not only lead to cost-saving efficiencies in city government, it will help make Louisville a more environmentally friendly city and serve as an economic development tool by attracting new green industries and jobs."

Again, Louisville's Director of Sustainability should not be an 'economic development tool', an economic booster, buried within the Department of Economic Growth. Louisville's path to becoming a sustainable ("environmentally friendly") city is by developing a strong public transit system, by becoming walkable, more compact, more bicycle-friendly, by protecting local farms, fields and forests, by developing superior schools and adequate housing in clean, peaceful neighborhoods.

Further, Louisville's Director of Sustainability should not focus on "cost-saving efficiencies in city government". Public Works & Assets' office of Facilities Management already monitors energy contracts with Johnson Controls that result in desired cost-savings. Let Public Works and other departments do their jobs in making city government more efficient.

Further analysis of the mayor's selection illustrates how he on several accounts compounded his mistakes.   First, by selecting a director of whom a long-time, local Sierra Club activist asked: "Who is she? And what work has she done?", the mayor lost an opportunity to build strong local allies needed to forward sustainability.   If the mayor were determined to tap local talent for the city's Director of Sustainability, that person should have long, deep connections with the local environmental community, particularly in light of the new director's consulting work with Shell and Halliburton.

While it is encouraging that the mayor selected someone with Green Building Council experience and whose home sports solar panels his overall score on establishing the Office of Sustainability is, at least initially, weak.

This lack of understanding of sustainability comes as no surprise to many. In the mayoral race of 2010 the three mayoral candidates (Greg Fischer, Jackie Green and Hal Heiner) were invited to address the Louisville Sustainability Forum.   Heiner did not show up - he knew this was not his audience. Fischer did not show up either, he sent a lieutenant while he attended a fund raiser. All three candidates were told in advance that they would be asked their definition of 'sustainability'. Fischer's lieutenant said that he and Fischer 'googled' sustainability and then defined sustainability as "diversity and productivity over time". Breath-taking as the admission was that they had to 'google' the word to define it, the quadratic equation as definition confirmed all doubts - the Fischer camp had/has no real understanding of sustainability. Confidence within the forum was restored only after Green defined sustainability as "meeting one's needs, as a city or as a species, without reducing the ability of others to meet their needs".

Sustainability is about meeting our population's needs (food, shelter, energy, transportation) in an environmentally friendly manner. Louisville will not make progress on the sustainability front until we address the basics. While the questions: How can you save the city money? What businesses can you attract? may be appropriate for some positions, the questions the mayor should ask of all interviewees for the Director of Sustainability should be: What are your primary forms of transportation? What do you know of gardens and orchards? What kind of neighborhood do you live in? How energy intensive is your life?

Pledge
Pledge with me, to reach out to the mayor and the Director of Sustainability in making Louisville a sustainable city. They need our help. We need their help.

Jackie Green
--

Bike Couriers Bike Shop

2132 Frankfort Av - 259 9000

107 W Market St - 583 2232
2833 S Fourth St - 635 2900

Bianchi, Breezer, Dolan, Jamis, KHS, Marin, Masi, Xtracycle

www.bikecourier.org"

Louisville's Occupy the Courts a huge success

2012-01-20T13:19:00.000-05:00

Former mayoral candidate Tyler Allen was in attendance, as were over a hundred of my closest friends!

Rand Paul is right about something

2012-01-18T18:02:00.000-05:00

Senator Rand Paul is on the right side of history by pledging to filibuster PIPA and SOPA. Republican or Democrat, we owe him thanks and our support for him standing up for constitutionally protections on due process.

Piracy is wrong, but it can be policed without actually creating a police state.

Jeffersontown- Thursday night- treehugger alert!

2012-01-18T15:28:00.001-05:00

FLOYDS FORK ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION

Cordially invites you to attend and hear:

Arthur "Art" Williams, Attorney
Director Kentucky Conservation Committee

"Legislative Update"

on
An opportunity to learn about proposed environmental laws that will be proposed in the 2012 Legislature/General Assembly on

January 19 (Thursday), 2012

Social Time: 6:30PM - 7PM(snacks & refreshments)
7:00PM announcements
*7:10PM Presentation in Building at Floyds Fork Park *

Directions: Behind Shell Gas Station at 14305 Taylorsville Road ,

Turn Right (from Lou./J-town) onto South Pope Lick Road to park and parking lot

RSVP: 267-6883 orFloydsForkCreek@aol.com

FFEA Mission : Protect, preserve and conserve Floyds Fork Creek and its watershed.

To join FFEA or for other information, contact Co-President Teena Halbig teenahal@aol.comor 267-6883. www.floydsfork.net
& facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Floyds-Fork-Environmental-Association/259755579497

KFTC tearin' up Frankfort today

2012-01-18T11:26:00.001-05:00

It's a good time to be a Kentucky activist. Events:

2012-01-18T00:16:00.002-05:00

Have you RSVP'd to these events for Wed, Thurs, Fri, and Saturday?

When: 8 am, Wednesday, January 20
Where: Frankfort, but carpool departs at 8am from KFTC Office, 901 Franklin St. Louisville, KY 40206 (Corner of Franklin and Campbell Sts.)
What: KFTC's Economic Justice Lobby Day
Join us for our Economic Justice Lobby Day to tell the legislators: "Kentuckians deserve good schools, college affordability, and safe and healthy communities. The revenue is up to you!"
I'm going & there's room in my car for 4 others, just show up & it will work out, or text at me, 502-403-9498.

When: 12:00 noon, Thursday, January 19
Where: 640 Barret Ave. Louisville, KY MAP
What: Yes He Can? Speakout / Petition Drop off. MoveOn sponsored action to deliver 226,000 petition signatures (over 1,400 from Kentucky) to President Obama via the staff at the Democratic Party HQ on Barret Ave. Occupy Louisville cordially invited.
Bring: Good signs for this event would be "99%", "Stand with the 99%", "Stand with the People", "President Obama, Investigate the Banks Now!", etc. Or print some out.
Why: The petition urges the President to NOT sign a negotiated settlement between the 50 state Attorneys General, the administration, and the biggest banks because, as the agreement stands, it provides too little relief for the victims of the banks' frauds, it blocks any further investigation into bank malfeasance, and it will provide immunity for banks and bank executives from charges of criminal misconduct. There can be no possible excuse for not investigating and prosecuting crimes. As with any other crimes, the perpetrators must be held accountable. The banks are working overtime to protect themselves from accountability for the crimes they have committed. This action is us making sure the President knows that standing with the people means, in this case, standing up to the banks.

When: 12:00 noon, Friday, January 20th
Where: 601 W. Broadway, Louisville, KY MAP
What: Occupy the Courts. Mock wedding and rally. "Corporate America" will marry "The Government" unless enough of the 99% show up and OBJECT! Wedding followed by rally
Bring: Signs that say "We Object!", "Banks Are Not People", "Money Is Not Speech", etc.
Why: Occupy Louisville is protesting the Citizens United decision with a rally and a sure-to-be-fun mock wedding between Corporate America and The Government. The action is in coordination with over 80 Occupy the Courts events being conducted at federal courts nationwide, including one at the Supreme Court in Washington DC. The mock wedding will feature a bride (not exactly blushing) representing the government, a groom covered in corporate logos, and will be officiated by a Supreme Court Justice. As is customary in weddings, although not so much in Supreme Court decisions, there will be an opportunity for those in attendance to object... Make sure your voice is heard!

When: 12:00 noon, Saturday, January 21st
Where: Founders Square MAP
What: Open Forum on Citizens United.
Bring: Yourself!
Why: January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court declared that because corporations are people and have the same rights as people and because money is equal to speech, that corporations could spend as much money as they want on political campaigns. This includes foreign-owned corporations and corporations that won't disclose whose funds they are spending. We can do something, but it may require a constitutional amendment. This will be a good opportunity to share what you know, and learn what you don't, about the damaging impact of the Citizens United decision and corporate influence as a whole.

Oh, you like to plan weeks in advance eh? Fine:

When: February 22, 2011
Where: Frankfort, KY, but 8:00 a.m. ET Carpool from the Fairness Campaign office (2263 Frankfort Ave)

What: KY Statewide Fairness Lobby & Rally Day Feb. 22!

"Join Fairness supporters from around the state to lobby & rally for Statewide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Anti-Discrimination & Bullying Laws Wednesday, Feb. 22!"

(Note to Chris: Change FB event settings to show who is coming- makes it easier to get people involved.)

Councilcritters Attica Scott, Brent Ackerson and Dan Johnson all fighting the man

2012-01-17T16:23:00.001-05:00

Was excited to see a couple of exciting resolutions before Thursday's Labor and Economic Development Committee meeting of the Louisville Metro Council.

"R-299-12-11 A RESOLUTION RESTORING THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, RELATED AFSCME SERVICE SUPPORT POSITIONS AND THE HISTORIC AFSCME BARGAINING UNIT AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CODES AND REGULATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH KRS 67C.107." -Sponsored by Councilpersons Brent Ackerson and Attica Scott

From Day 1 of Occupy Lousiville
"R-298-12-11 A RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO PASS REPRESENTATIVE MARCY KAPTUR’S BILL HR 1489 KNOWN AS THE RETURN TO PRUDENT BANKING ACT. THIS WOULD REINSTATE THE SEPARATION OF COMMERCIAL AND INVESTMENT BANKING FUNCTIONS WHICH WERE IN EFFECT UNDER THE BANKING ACT OF 1933, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE GLASS-STEAGALL ACT."- Sponsored by Councilman Dan Johnson

Members of this committee include the following Councilpersons:

(D) – David Tandy (4), (D) – David James (6), (R) – Kevin Kramer(11), (D) – Marianne Butler (15), (R) – Glen Stuckel (17), (D) – Attica Scott (1)

Their contact info can be found here: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroCouncil/Members/

Let these committee members know if either of these resolutions are important to you before 3 PM on Thursday, especially if you are one of their constituents or have a personal relationship with them.

Sorry 1%, Occupy Louisville survives storm

2012-01-17T14:54:00.000-05:00

MoveOn uses 99% term like they're Occupying or something

2012-01-16T18:01:00.003-05:00

In a mass email MoveOn.org just sent out, they used the term 99%, not once or twice, but six times, without even mentioning the Occupy movement that coined the term in modern dialogue.

To make matters more confusing, across the country this week, Occupy movements across the country are planning "Occupy the Courts"-events for Friday, January 20th's anniversary of the Citizen's United decision. So MoveOn is planning their events on Thursday.

Occupy Louisville, for example, decided by consensus at last Saturday's General Assembly, following Congressman John Yarmuth's visit, to participate in a mock wedding between the US government and corporations

The event Occupy Louisville is participating in is scheduled for this Friday at 12:00pm-1:00pm at the Federal Building at 6th and Broadway. The Facebook event for this event, Occupy the Courts Louisville, was set up by Linda Jaggers Mitchell.

(Don't click, just a screenshot)
"Dear MoveOn member,

We have a problem.

Maybe you've heard about the "sweetheart" deal that would let the biggest banks avoid a full investigation for their role in causing the housing crisis. Some in President Obama's administration are supporting this bad deal.1 So we're calling on the president to take bold action to hold Wall Street accountable and demand a real investigation.

To make sure the president gets our message, on Thursday we're going directly to local Obama campaign offices to deliver more than 226,000 petition signatures supporting a full federal investigation of Wall Street. By taking just one hour out of your day, you'll join with thousands more to make sure the president hears from the 99%.

Can you help fight Wall Street by attending an event in Louisville on Thursday?

Yes, I'll be there and I'm a homeowner who is underwater or facing foreclosure.

Yes, I can be there to support the 99%!

I can't make it to this event, but i'll fill out a homeowner survey.

Momentum is building for an investigation. More groups—including Russ Feingold's Progressives United—are joining the call for a "full federal investigation" every day. Can you maximize our impact by attending an event in Louisville on Thursday?

Yes, I'll be there and I'm a homeowner who is underwater or facing foreclosure.

Yes, I can be there to support the 99%!

I can't make it to this event, but i'll fill out a homeowner survey.

The 99% can't take more of a system that's rigged for the 1%. With more Americans disgusted that those who crashed our economy haven't been brought to justice—and given that it's an election year—we can change the status quo. The president has taken important steps to stand up for the 99%, but we need more bold leadership from him. Let's seize this opportunity and get a victory for all of us.

Thanks for all you do.

–Elena, Stephen, Sarah, Mark, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "On the Trail of Mortgage Fraud," The New York Times, January 15, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269574&id=34775-20843721-4XcD5jx&t=8
Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to curtis morrison on January 16, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here."

I believe the folks co-opting the term here are also part of the 99%.

But I do think it's disrespectful, and downright mischievous. for them not to reference the Occupy movement as a separate movement for which they do not make decisions. If MoveOn so desperately wants to distance themselves from the Occupy movement, might I suggest they use their own terms?

U of L Hospital headed away from coal, toward natural gas

2012-01-16T00:12:00.005-05:00

In the realization of a plan that was originally laid out in 2010 (Agreed Board Order pdf), our downtown hospital complex is headed one step closer to gas from coal.

But, is this the right direction toward sustainability?

As windmill and solar technologies continue to advance, our neighboring state, Ohio, is questioning the wisdom of the fracking procedures that are being used to get at natural gas.

Specifically, the waste water bi-product of fracking injected into Ohio ground is suspected to be responsible for recent earthquakes there. Other states where earthquakes have been blamed on fracking include Arkansas, Colorado and Oklahoma.
(Huffington Post: Ohio Fracking: Earthquakes Could Incite Policy Shift)

These Ohio earthquakes follow an admission in December of 2011 from the EPA that fracking may be to blame for causing groundwater pollution. (USA Today: Fracking may cause...)

But let's forget about fracking, water and earthquakes...after all, that's in Ohio. Instead lets look to our planet's climate in general. In November 2011, the International Energy Agency had this to say:

"The world is likely to build so many fossil-fuelled power stations, energy-guzzling factories and inefficient buildings in the next five years that it will become impossible to hold global warming to safe levels, and the last chance of combating dangerous climate change will be 'lost for ever.'"(the guardian:World headed for irreversible climate change in five years, IEA warns)

Natural gas is a fossil fuel. When we burn it, it may burn cleaner than coal, but that may be too little, too late. There are other options. Louisville doesn't have to ALWAYS be 20 years behind the rest of the world.

The "Windspire" wind turbine technology draws on technology used thousands of years ago in Egypt, and uses no fossil fuel:

A single wind turbine installed seven years ago at a hospital in the United Kingdom not only supplies all the power needed at night at that hospital, but 2/3rds of the power needed during the daytime! (Hospital Wind Turbine Makes Profit)

And in Phoenix, Arizona, the VA Hospital is getting 20% of it's power from solar panels atop it's parking structures:

But in Louisville, this notice was sent out Friday by the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District:

"Notice of Action on a Title V Construction Permit
The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (District) proposes to issue a construction permit for Louisville Medical Center Steam Plant (steam production and distribution plant), 235 Abraham Flexner Way, to convert a coal-fired boiler to natural gas combustion, in accordance with Regulation 2.03. The 30 day public comment period starts January 16, 2012, and ends on February 14, 2012. A public hearing may be scheduled if the District determines that there are germane, unresolved issues or substantial public interest, in accordance with Regulation 2.07.

Drafts of the permit are available at the District office, 850 Barret Ave., Louisville between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, by calling Paul Aud at (502) 574-6000 or emailing airpermits@louisvilleky.gov. Copies of the application are available upon request. Written comments will be accepted at the District office until 5:00 p.m. on February 14, 2012."

1.16.2011 Update:
My friend Tyler Hess brought this study to my attention:
"Fracking" Shale Gas Emissions Far Worse Than Coal For Climate - Cornell Study
I love it when writers do not mince their words:

"Gas is not just a 'bridge to nowhere,' it turns out to be a highway to hell."

Congressman Yarmuth receives Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Occupy Award

2012-01-14T19:20:00.003-05:00

Louisville's own Congressman John Yarmuth is doing his part to remedy how Citizen's United has screwed up our country's democracy. In the bill he's co-sponsoring, "financial expenditures and in-kind contributions do not qualify as protected speech under the First Amendment."

The bill also will enable Congress to establish a public financing system to serve as the sole source of funding for federal elections. (Yarmuth Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Get Money Out of Politics)

Today, Occupy Louisville participant David Barfield presented the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Occupy Award to Yarmuth.

I'm especially proud of Yarmuth today for taking on Mitt Romney's assertion that we shouldn't talk about economic inequality in public.

After Yarmuth accepted the award from Barfield, he fielded expressions of gratitude from individuals present for individual accomplishments and votes, then fielded questions. I didn't get all that on video but Eric did, and it will be up on Occupy Louisville's website soon enough: http://occupylouisville.org/.

Occupy Louisville has been under siege of Mayor Greg Fischer's threatened eviction by denial of our tent permit. A complaint originally filed in state court is now awaiting a court date in Federal Court, and the Mayor's office has agreed, verbally, not evict the occupation until the result of that due process. (LC:Occupy Louisville may be 'well suited' for federal court anyway)

Fischer amending KREF reports

2012-01-13T11:02:00.117-05:00

Respondents to my KREF complaint, represented by attorney Jennifer Moore, say they're innocent of the allegations they misled contributors/donors to Greg Fischer's Inaugural Fund.
"Confusion" was due to the Courier-Journal's reporting (by Dan Klepal), per the response.
The campaign will be amending their reports as a result of the complaint, however. More later...

01/13/2012 5:15 PM
Finally, I'm home. Don't go outside, it's colder than Ann Coulter's heart out there!

I've uploaded the full response from Moore, and Joe Meyer: Fischer response to KREF complaint. I've also posted the response on the Mayor's Facebook page, and put it out there in a tweet. Because transparency is what it's all about folks. Now I've had some hours to process this response, here's some thoughts to ponder:

>Fischer campaign treasurer Jon Meyer admits to the the violation of using Iceburg Ventures resources for the campaign, but in the next paragraph maintains they have not violated campaign finance law... (scratching head) Did Moore proof this with him? He's making contradicting statements...under oath, and with penalty of perjury. Jesus Christ, I'm glad I don't have a lawyer.

>Despite attempts to downplay the violation they have admitted to, it's going to take until February 17, 2012 to prepare the amended KREF returns. This could mean:
1) They have some other details they're planning to amend now they realize they're under a higher standard of scrutiny, OR
2) Iceberg Ventures, LLC is indeed not a wholly-owned by Mayor Greg Fischer, and he has a partner he hadn't planned on publicly disclosing OR
3) Someone doesn't know what the hell he is doing?

>The response did not address the emails from Tommy Elliott to Ed Hart, which Phillip Bailey questioned the mayor on last week, or the inaugural program which gave Hart and Lunsford both credit for participating in the financing of the inauguration.

Finally, nothing says "I'm innocent!" like employing a lawyer to respond to a complaint written by a citizen who has been rejected admission to U of L's Law School, twice.

Honestly I'm not bitter, just making the point...someone is creating their own "David and Goliath" problem. Nothing to hide, why do you need counsel?

And one last thing...
RE: Jake's Fischer’s Crew Still Don’t Get Campaign Finance
Jake does a good job putting the response in context, but the accusation that I'm 'meddling' presumes that legal resources from Hart & Lunsford are even necessary. It's the KREF's duty to appoint a special investigator if they see evidence of wrongdoing. What would help here, is if my loyal readers could step up to the plate and provide what Mayor Fischer, clearly, is not.

Who has one of the Fischer Inaugural Programs listing Hart and Lunsford, and others, as contributors to the inauguration when their money went into election campaign coffers? Please throw that puppy in a white envelope, with a stamp, and mail it to:

ATTN: Emily Dennis
RE: Case No. 2011-203

KREF

140 Walnut Street
Frankfort, KY 40601-3240

Or, do you have an email from Tommy Elliott or Christy Brown asking anyone to write an inaugural contribution check out to Fischer for Mayor? Forward that puppy to: emily.dennis@ky.gov. Reference Case No. 2011-203 in the subject line. Hells yes, you can CC me, but it's not necessary. Thank you!

Shigellosis even sounds scary

2012-01-13T01:16:00.003-05:00

Preservation Kentucky license plate, neat-o!

2012-01-12T23:50:00.002-05:00

There's now a license plate that supports the noble efforts of Preservation Kentucky. You can reserve yours online for only $27!: www.kypreservationlicenseplate.org.

Specifically:

"Preservation Kentucky collects $10 from each plate sold, once we have received the necessary 900 applications. PK will use donation proceeds to establish a grant fund for historic preservation projects in the state of Kentucky.
Grants will be offered to certified nonprofits and city/county governments in the Commonwealth for the purpose of preserving historic buildings, using the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatments of Historic Properties, or hiring a qualified preservation consultant to identify and/or nominate properties to the National Register, using the Secretary's Standards & Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation. The grants will leverage public and private funds, as a 50 percent local match will be required. Grants will be reviewed by a panel of preservation experts from the PK Board, PK membership, and the Kentucky Heritage Council twice a year."

I recommended to both Tyler Allen and J.C. Stites they sell one for 8664 about a year ago but I couldn't convince them. Guys, it's never too late...

Fischer launches c̶l̶a̶n̶d̶e̶s̶t̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶i̶v̶a̶t̶i̶z̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶s̶c̶h̶e̶m̶e̶ Task Force

2012-01-12T17:26:00.003-05:00

BREAKING! From Metro Newsroom: Fischer names Utility and Public Works Task Force

Wendell Wright was appointed by Jerry back in the day.

Joe Wise is a good guy so I'm told.

Pete Mahurin wrote $30 million in bonds for Yum! center. He’s no doubt going to be a key player in the c̶l̶a̶n̶d̶e̶s̶t̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶i̶v̶a̶t̶i̶z̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶s̶c̶h̶e̶m̶e̶ group to explore merger options.

So who is this “national consultant with experience in utility management and operations,” and how bright is the red flag that they already know who it is, but aren’t disclosing it?

Let me save everyone time, there's no value in consolidating these two entities unless we're preparing to sell them. Greg's experience at bCatylist wasn't in creating jobs, people. It was doing screwed up mergers and acquisitions that made his friends rich. Like this one will.

I have class in 4 minutes. No photo for you. Errrr.

James Mimms time sheets kinda funny

2012-01-12T12:19:00.002-05:00

Everyone keeps saying how wonderful Mayor Fischer has been in his attempts to evict Occupy Louisville. You may have noticed I have not. Because, um, he's trying to evict the occupation, people.

Anyway, before Christmas, circumstantial evidence and my own intuition, suggested the mayor's office tried something real sneaky and so I tried to catch them.

See, IPL Director James Mims had meetings with Occupy Louisville participants on December 22 and December 22, 2011, and told us he'd get us the rejection of the permit quickly so we could appeal it, then Mims skipped out on vacation before he provided what he said he would provide.

This could have given a legal opportunity for Mayor Fischer to evict Occupy Louisville without threat of media oversight, had our attorney Chris Harrell valiantly filed a legal complaint anyway, without the rejection. For more info on all that, see: open records request from Friday

So now the open records request is back, what do we know now? Metro Louisville could find no records of communication regarding Mimms vacation, except on his own time sheets for the two weeks in question, and here they are:

We know that Mimms furlough/vacation followed a work lunch with Lion Heart(?) and Jon Goldberg. The former, I assume was not King Richard I of England, but who knows who it was.

The latter I assume was attorney Jonathan D. Goldberg, who represents on his law practice website he is chairman of the Jefferson County Waste Management District Board, even though Metro Louisville's website represents the person holding that position is:"Ms. Joyce St. Clair (Chair)."
Which leaves me more confused, so whatever.

In 2011, Mimms signed as his own supervisor. In 2012, he signs as an employee with no supervisor. Which strikes me as an auditing control, FAIL.

For me, the most frustrating part about citizen journalism is trying to obtain information from Metro Louisville government. When it's not misinformation, it's illegible chicken scratch.

Mayor Fischer's "Sky is falling"-address at 12:30 PM

2012-01-12T11:04:00.003-05:00

I'm hopeful, because he's a Democrat, he'll be offering up courageous solutions that don't place the budget shortfall's burden solely on our least fortunate. Let's find out at 12:30 PM:

http://louisville.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=2

Warning: Don't go early, or you'll see overpaid hospital executives making pitches for privatizing our public hospital. And it hurts the ears.

Also, I've given my 2 cents on our budget problems in the "Our Budget" section of my platform: http://morrison4metro.com

Economic Justice Lobby Day in Frankfort next Wednesday

2012-01-12T08:57:00.003-05:00

Editor's note: This was mostly a copy/pasted mass email which I agree with 100%.

KFTC is inviting Kentuckians to join us at the Economic Justice Lobby Day on January 18 to tell the legislators: "Kentuckians deserve good schools, affordable college degrees, and healthy communities. The revenue is up to you!" RSVP on Facebook: here.

Kentuckians deserve a good quality of life, and right now, today, we have common sense solutions that would make it possible to invest in smaller class sizes, college affordability, public health and safety, and better protections for our water and air. But a broken tax and revenue system is standing in our way.

Governor Beshear is delivering his Budget Address on January 17, and has warned Kentuckians that his budget will call for about $300 million in cuts, on top of the $1.3 billion in state budget cuts over the last four years.
Rally!

Come to the Capitol on Wednesday, January 18 to tell the legislators that Kentuckians deserve the good revenue solutions in the Kentucky Forward Revenue Plan, sponsored by Rep. Wayne. HB 127 would raise revenue and make our structure fairer by lowering taxes for low- and moderate-income families. We need the political will and leadership to stand with Kentuckians by choosing the solutions instead of the budget cuts.

We'll get things started in Capitol Annex Room 113 at 8:30 with a solid orientation and to break into lobby groups, but come when you can and we'll make sure you can jump in! Lobbying will continue until the legislators go into session at 2 p.m. If you have any questions, call or email Jessica at 859-276-0563 or jessicabreen@kftc.org

Can't make it out to Frankfort?

If you can't join us in Frankfort on the 18th, you can still make a difference by calling the legislative message line (800-372-7181) and leave a message for your State Representative and the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee asking them to not cut important state services and to support House Bill 127.

Talking about taxes:

Are you planning on talking with your legislator about tax reform, but not sure where to start? Here's one way to think about the story that you want to tell:

I live in _________ County and I’m _______. [Are you a parent? A student? A teacher? Someone who’s concerned about our water quality? Someone trying to afford rising energy costs? Someone looking for a job?]

I want to see __________. [Name the good things you want to see in your life and your community…Things that we all want, right?]

But right now_______. [What’s standing in the way? What do you see instead?]

That’s why, this session, I want you to pass/support/co-sponsor ___________ .

This bill would ______________ [How does this bill work toward your vision?]

Will you support/co-sponsor this bill?

Example:
I live in Jefferson County, and I’m a parent. I want every Kentucky child to have the opportunity for a world-class education, right here in Kentucky. But his school no longer has a librarian—she was laid off because of budget cuts—and there are 30 kids in the kindergarten classes. That’s why, this session, I want you to co-sponsor HB 127, the Kentucky Forward Revenue Plan sponsored by Rep. Wayne. This bill would let us raise the revenue we need to invest in education, and in making our communities healthy and vibrant. Will you co-sponsor HB 127?

Too shy to make a phone call for a better Kentucky? Fine. Email your legislator here.
Also, share this post on Facebook. Thanks.

Mayor Fischer appoints another campaign contributor

2012-01-11T16:43:00.002-05:00

Metro Newsroom: Maria Koetter Named New Director of Sustainability

Would I have preferred he appointed someone who doesn't boast about working for Shell Oil and Halliburton Energy Services, a couple of the most disgusting corporations on planet Earth? Yes.

Would I have preferred if the Mayor had chosen someone who wasn't a contributor to his campaign? Yes. (Especially someone who didn't give him money in the primary, for goodness sake. She could have voted for Tyler, Jim, Shannon, David, Lisa, or even Connie, instead)

The position has been funded since July, no word in the release on what took 1/4 of Mayor Fischer's term to satisfy his campaign promise.

Our city sucks so much with respect to sustainability, we need a physical human whose job it is to do say that out loud on a regular basis until the mayor himself, and department heads start listening.

Since the Climate Action Report was completed, the city literally has no records of any of the recommendations being adopted. (I've asked in open records requests.)

Ms. Koetter will have my support in everything she does to make our city more sustainable.

Tom Owen is alarmed, dismayed by first world problem

2012-01-10T19:39:00.009-05:00

Is this really happening?
News Release from Majority Caucus: Councilman Owen dismayed by garbage collection changes of Metro Public Works in the last two weeks
The Ville Voice: Deeper Look At Tom Owen’s Garbage Remarks
WHAS 11: NEWS RELEASE: Councilman Owen dismayed by garbage collection changes of Metro Public Works in the last two weeks
WFPL: Owen Alarmed by City Changes to Garbage Collection

Tom Owen, Greg Fischer, and Bill Burbank. Random: I've sold properties belonging to Owen and one belonging to Burbank.

Councilman Tom Owen is “alarmed” and "dismayed" by Mayor Fischer changing the garbage day.

To be specific, he's upset that a bunch of white people won't get their garbage picked up the week of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Not only does the Highlands have a large percentage of Monday pickups, which will be skipped, but it's a district, embarrassingly, with one of the lowest percentage of African American residents. I think we need to live with this little inconvenience, but Tom is picking now to disagree with the Mayor, which is interesting...
Remember when the Mayor promised if we couldn’t afford 2 bridges, then we’d build the East End one first? When we found out we couldn’t afford two bridges, though, the Mayor instead abandoned all responsibility for building the East End bridge altogether. No peep from Tom on that.

When the Mayor raised money for his inauguration party but put it in his pocket, Tom has no qualms with that.

The Mayor took $40,000 from Insight lobbyists while he’s negotiating with them, that’s okay.

The Mayor giving the same annual $1 million to GLI so they could facilitate the compromising of our politicians, while selling out our community, that’s so very cool, Tom let it go on the consent calendar.

Letting Tommy Elliott negotiate deals for the city when he’s not working for the city, that’s okay. Tommy Elliott appointing board and committee members? Confirmed every one.

And the Director of Sustainability position, still unfilled. It's been funded since July 2011, but it's just not a priority, and that's apparently just fine and dandy.

When the Mayor first wanted to shut down Occupy Louisville, like the day after it started, here's Tom's words:

"I certainly support peaceable assembly but do not support a long-term occupation of a public space..."

But heaven forbid anyone change Tom Owen's garbage day. Because that's creating a first world problem that he just handle.

Councilman, please.

We all know you won't REALLY challenge the Mayor, so don't fake it. Instead of discussing this non-issue a moment more, I'm going to turn my energy to Louisville's Climate Action Report, and see what I can learn about making changes for our future. More to follow soon.

LMPD, Division 4, Beat 2: Explain this

2012-01-08T19:55:00.010-05:00

From Germantown - Schnitzelburg Facebook Page

Louisville Metro Police Department, Division 4, Beat 2: Explain this image.

From the "Research and Development Unit"-logo on the bottom right corner on this flyer/image, it appears the image really might have been created by the LMPD.

On the image, between pictures of Donald Henderson and Stacy Dunn, the creator of the image has identified them not as suspects, but as"burglars."

The image encourages citizens to call the Metro Tip line "if you they see them again."

But the mystery behind this image gets stranger, still, because both suspects are already in custody with Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections. Go check for yourself: Henderson / Dunn

So well, who the hell made this image? And why?

The administrator of the Germantown - Schnitzelburg Facebook page represents it was the LMPD. (See screenshot to right.)

Understand that I'm not condoning crime. I am, however, asking that my local law enforcement agency refrain from violating the presumption of innocence guaranteed by the 5th, 6th, and 14th amendments to our U.S. Constitution.

Update: 1/09/2011
Received email back this morning from LMPD's Research and Development Department. They believe the map only was created by them in 2004, but they did not add the graphics or the picture to the map.

It's Friday night! =Open Records Request!!

2012-01-07T01:50:00.003-05:00

I have struggled to understand whether Chris Poynter is trying to keep Mayor Greg Fischer's administration as secretive as possible to protect him, or whether Mayor Greg Fischer just prefers privacy over transparency. Someday, one of them will write a book ~~from prison~~ and we'll find out.

In the meantime, if one wants to find out a simple detail about city government, like whether the mayor manipulatively ordered IPL Director Jim Mims to go on vacation for the opportunity to evict Occupy Louisville, this is what one must do to find out. File an open records request, and then file a second open records request. I've pasted below the entire request I just sent in. Just realized I addressed it to "Dee" instead of Ms. Dee Allen. I meant no disrespect by that, just missed it on my proof read. I'll be sure to keep readers in the loop on the outcome of this second attempt

"Dee,

I made the open records request below seven business days ago, on December 27, 2011. Pursuant to Kentucky Open Records Act, Metro Louisville had three business days to let me know when the requested records could be made available, and that has still not happened. I also recognize below that you rejected my request, and asked for a clarification. There are three reasons I believe this rejection, and request for clarification were an unwarranted delay:

First, I believe my request was simple enough it did not warrant a rejection or a request for clarification.

Secondly, I disagree with the statement you made in the correspondence. "Under the provisions of the Kentucky Open Records Act, no public agency is obligated to 'conduct research' on behalf of any requestor, or to provide 'information.'" To the contrary, the allowable exemptions for rejecting an Open Records request, under KRS 61.878(1), do not include an exemption to arbitrarily rejecting a request because the terminology of the request ("records" vs. "information"). The exemptions to the Open Records Act are meant as "a shield and not a shackle," meaning even if this was an allowable exemption, which I don't believe it is, Metro Louisville would not necessarily prohibited from sharing the requested records unless it would violate a law to do so.

Thirdly, I shouldn't have to beg. One of the first acts of the leader of our Metro Louisville government, Mayor Greg Fischer established the Louisville Metro Citizen's Bill of Rights. Article II of that Bill of Rights is titled "TRUTHFUL ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS," and states:

"Every citizen has the right to straightforward and honest information in connection with any significant decision made by the mayor. I will publish and make available the reasons behind my decisions on all significant public matters." (http://www.louisvilleky.gov/Mayor/citizen_bill_of_rights.htm)

In other words, you could have just sent me the information I requested.

In the interest of providing you the "clarification" you seek, I'll provide the context for my request:

On December 21, 2011, counsel for Occupy Louisville protesters specifically requested Mr. James Mims with IPL, if he could provide the group with a written rejection of their renewal permit so that we could move forward with an appeal for the rejection. Mr. Mims answered in the affirmative that it was not a problem to provide the written rejection for that purpose, and that he would have "CJ" prepare it for us. There was no mention that day that the Jefferson County Attorney's office still hadn't consented to the rejection.
(Video, go to 6 minute mark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzAyBm7TLPA&feature=player_embedded)

When I eagerly visited the IPL offices on Friday, December 23, 2011 at 2:30 PM, I learned that both Mr. Mims and CJ had left early for the day without providing the promised rejection of the permit. I was told by an IPL staff person then that Mr. Mims and CJ would both be back in the office on Tuesday, December 27, 2011.

When I again visited the office on Tuesday, December 27, 2011, CJ told me that only Mr. Mims would need to sign the rejection, and he was on vacation and would not be returning until Tuesday, January 3, 2011, precisely three days after Occupy Louisville's existing permit's expiration. I asked CJ to check with the deputy director when I was there to see if he could sign the rejection, and he confirmed to her that only Mr. Mims was to deal with that rejection.

Mr. Mims made no mention of his scheduled vacation in his meetings with Occupy Louisville participants on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 or on Thursday, December 22, 2011. If his vacation had been planned in advance, I consider that a curious omission since the first meeting was specifically focused on the city's refusal to renew the tent permit upon it's December 31, 2011 expiration. Mr. Mims, himself, had hosted the meeting between IPL and Occupy Louisville participants, and all were gathered to discuss the actions and consequences for the expiration, and Mims never mentioned he'd be unavailable due to a vacation.
Mr. Mims was conducting city business during his vacation, however, as he called an Occupy Louisville supporter, Tyler Hess, on Sunday, January 1, 2011 to discuss an email Hess had sent him.

If Mr. Mims did not schedule his vacation days until after the last meeting with Occupy Louisville participants on December 22, 2011, then the scheduling of his vacation days, while arbitrarily requiring his only his signature on the rejection, has the appearance of being a manipulative stall tactic to provide Metro Louisville with a window of opportunity in which an eviction could have legally taken place, with little notice from the media.

On December 27, 2011, I made the open records request below, and the rejection was cc'd to Mr. Chris Poynter even though the request, as it was previously worded, did not reference him, or the mayor's office. Partly to work around the delay and risk to the occupation caused by Mr. Mims unannounced vacation, a complaint for an injunction was filed, first in District Court, on December 28, 2011. Whether as a result of that complaint or the media attention on the planned eviction, or a confluence of both, Mayor spokesperson Chris D. Poynter is now giving assurances to the media that no eviction will occur until the complaint has due process in court.

Now that you have the context, I am quite confident you know which records I am seeking, but I will restate and have decided to expand the request as well. I make this request reserving the right to file an appeal with the Attorney General for review of Metro Louisville's actions in this last rejection.

Pursuant to Kentucky's Open Records Act, I am requesting the following records:

1) Any documents within Mr. James Mims personnel file which reference Mr. James Mims vacation days for the period of 12/21/2011 - 01/02/2012.
2) Any emails, either to or from, Mr. James Mims, Mayor Greg Fischer, Mr. Chris D. Poynter, Ms. Shonda Barlow, or any member of the mayoral staff, or any employee of the Human Resources department, or any member of the Jefferson County Attorney's office, which specifically reference Mr. James Mims vacation days for the period of 12/21/2011 - 01/02/2012.
3) Any memos, either to or from, Mayor Fischer, Mr. Chris D. Poynter, Ms. Shonda Barlow, or any member of the mayoral staff, or any employee of the Human Resources department, or any member of the Jefferson County 4) Attorney's office, which specifically reference Mr. James Mims vacation days for the period of 12/21/2011 - 01/02/2012.
4) Any emails, either to or from, Ms. Dee Allen, Mr. Chris D. Poynter, or Ms. Shonda Barlow discussing how to respond to Open Records Act request dated 12/27/2011 from Mr. Curtis Morrison.

I request the records be delivered digitally, however, I agree to pay reasonable duplication fees for the processing of this request if that is not possible. If my request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the act, including the full text of the exemption referenced.

Thank you for your assistance.

Peace,
Curtis Morrison
P.O. Box 4373
Louisville, KY 40204-0373
502.403.9498

On Dec 27, 2011, at 2:53 PM, Open Records wrote:

Mr. Morrison:

In response to your inquiry below, it does not appear that you have requested "records," but have simply lodged an inquiry. Under the provisions of the Kentucky Open Records Act, no public agency is obligated to "conduct research" on behalf of any requestor or to provide "information."

Louisville Metro Government is, however, fully committed to providing access to any and all non-exempt public records when such records are identified and requested with sufficient specificity to allow us to search for those records. We are respectfully requesting that you submit a request for a record or records that may contain the information you seek. We will wait for your clarification in order to process this request.

Dee Allen
Open Records Coordinator
Louisville Metro Office of Management and Budget
611 W. Jefferson St.
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 574-3576 direct
(502) 574-3211 main
Send open records submissions via this link: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/openrecords

-----Original Message-----
From: LouisvilleKy.gov@Louisvilleky.gov [mailto:LouisvilleKy.gov@Louisvilleky.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 2:41 PM
To: Barlow, Shonda; Poynter, Chris D
Cc: Open Records
Subject: curtis morrison - ORR - ipl - Personnel File - 12/27/2011

Date: 12/27/2011
Name: curtis morrison
Company/Business Name:
Media Organization: Yes
Address: P.O. Box 4373
City: Louisville
State: KY
Zip: 40204
Phone: () -
Fax: () -
Email: curtster3@gmail.com
Agency: IPL
Type of Record : Personnel File
For Commercial Purpose: No
Time Frame For Requested Records: 12/21/2011 - 01/02/2012 Preference on Review of Records: PDF Files Email (If Systems Allow)

Additional Information Pursuant to Kentucky's Open Records Act, I'd like to know what vacation days Mr. Jim Mims with IPL had scheduled as of December 19, 2011.

And if it's not the vacation days of 12/27/2011-01/02/2012, when were those vacation days scheduled?"

Update January 20, 2012, 9:36 PM:
Dee Allen, Metro Louisville's Open Records Coordinator, acknowledged receipt of this open records request Monday, January 9, 2012 8:06:21 AM EST. "You may expect a formal response within three Metro working days." Allen wrote.

look for bicycles and avoid them

2012-01-06T22:09:00.005-05:00

I'm probably not the only cyclist in Louisville who has frequent thoughts while cycling, of my own mortality.

Daring to cycle in a city where motorist believe they get points for hitting targets on two wheels, probably a factor.

One cyclist Facebook friend of mine, Andrew Kang Bartlett, took the time to articulate what he would want his legacy to be in the event of his demise as a projectile. I thought it was profound and worthy:

"If one driver is too eager to get to a next red light and swipes me and I fly through the air and smack my cranium against the curb and instantly (hopefully) die, I hope that my demise will be a reminder to people to (1) look for bicycles and avoid them and...no, i guess that's it. So that my life and commitment to live simpler would not be in vain, and other lives might be spared. Oh, and if they want to start commuting by bicycle too, my spirit will wriggle in delight, or do whatever ghosts do to express joy..."

Let's not wait until Bartlett's, or any other cyclist's demise before we, as Louisville motorists, take heed of his simple advice: look for bicycles and avoid them.

But there's other stuff we can do, too, to make the roads safe, and to keep Bartlett's cranium from hitting the curb. Mary Beth Brown NEVER misses an opportunity to suggest joining Bicycling for Louisville. You can do it online, I just did. Check out this cool urban bike lane I saw while I was in Ottawa. Doesn't it look safer than Louisville's bike lanes?

And the dudes in Ottawa, don't they look more like Mary Beth Brown's husband, Eric Brown, than most of the dudes here in Louisville? (Not a bad thing.)

If we want to be a compassionate community, and I believe we do, we need to really prioritize public safety. Not just give it lip service. I have a couple ideas to make streets safer for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians in my public safety platform: morrison4metro.com/public-safety.

OH,OH, OH, related to traffic calming, lookie what I found this morning...Bold ideas Nicholas Seivers has for Baxter and Broadway: Broken Sidewalk: Imagining Louisville: Circle at Baxter and Broadway

As long as I'm plugging Broken Sidewalk, there's a heated debate in the comments on another which hopefully won't end in a restraining order against me. Who is Neal Johnson, and do we think I can take him?: Hyatt Eroding Public Space on Fourth Street

Occupy Louisville may be 'well suited' for federal court anyway

2012-01-05T22:23:00.004-05:00

Our Occupy Louisville attorney got news Wednesday night that our complaint for an injunction, which could have allowed the renewal of the tent permit, will not be heard this Friday after all.

Judge Chauvin

The city explained how the Jefferson County Attorney thought the case should be heard in federal court instead, because it's about the First Amendment. So now we wait, until we are assigned a hearing date with a federal judge.

It's important not to forget that what initiated this crisis is Mayor Greg Fischer's wishes to effectively evict the protest via the forcible removal of tents, and possible arrests of those who resist to surrender them.

Because this is about Mayor Fischer's wishes, a hearing before Judge Arch Cox McKay Chauvin, who was originally set to hear the case Friday, might not have been ideal for us. Not at all. Here's why:

Chauvin graduated from Trinity High School in 1982, Fischer did in 1976.
Chauvin obtained his Bachelor's degree from Vanderbuilt University in 1986. Fischer got his there back in 1980.

Fischer and Chauvin, members of same Board

In 2004, the Courier-Journal Editorial Board had this to say about Chauvin:"A graduate of Georgetown Law School, he is well suited for the post he now holds. We favor his retention." (CJ 10/18/2004)

In 2010, the Board had this to say about Fischer:"...But his skill in organizing a campaign...reflects qualities that would be well suited to the top job in City Hall."(CJ 5/09/2010)

In 2007, Chauvin and Fischer served together as Advisory Members of the Trinity High School Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors. (Fall 2007 The Leader: News for the Trinity High School Family)

They have a few things in common, so what?

Probably true, but we can't forget about the money. Judge Chauvin is the son of former Assistant Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney Leonard Stanley Chauvin, Jr., who contributed the legal maximum of $2,000 to the Greg Fischer for Mayor during the 2010 election.

Whether Judge Chauvin would have delivered a verdict well suited to his father's benefactor's liking, or to Occupy Louisville's, we'll never know.

Having grown up in a trailer though, I generally don't underestimate the bonds between those who share the same elitist-white male-private school-privilege. I'm working that.

Other Occupy Louisville news:
>Our own Pam Newman will be a guest on the WHAS 11 program "Great Day Live" at 9 AM Friday.
> Louisville Courant: Jefferson County KFTC Chapter invites Occupy Louisville to lobby training

Jefferson County KFTC Chapter invites Occupy Louisville to lobby training

2012-01-05T20:17:00.002-05:00

People who feel a little uncomfortable doing one kind of activism, are often more comfortable doing another. Winning the hearts and minds of legislators, one at a time, is decidedly different than protesting/occupying public space. But it's still hard work to accomplish the same kind of goals, and it can be empowering.

So anyway, KFTC is inviting everyone, but especially Occupy Louisville participants, to come learn how to become citizen lobbyist this coming Monday night at 6:30 PM, 1st Unitarian Church. (on S. 4th St. by the library). Lobbying for this isn't much different than lobbying for that. Believe me, this is valuable training that will help you build relationships with your legislators that lead to change!

Here's the latest KFTC newsletter with info on Monday's training and 411 on other KFTC events:

"Hello Everyone!
It's been an amazing 2011 and we are really excited to get started on 2012. As usual, our chapter meeting is the 2nd Monday of the month. This month, it will be January 9th at 6:30 pm at the 1st Unitarian Church. Mary Love will facilitate a citizen lobbying training. Anyone is welcome to participate. Please bring friends! 2012 is going to be an incredible year. Folks, don't forget to register today for I Love Mountains Day 2012 at www.kftc.org/love. Here's something to motivate you:2.14.12 from Kentuckians For The Commonwealth on Vimeo.

Thank you everyone who came out to our December fundraiser. It was a great success and potentially recruited 200 more members for our growing chapter. We'll have some pictures to share by Jes Deis Photography at the end of this email. BIG thank you to all our volunteers, sponsors, and supporters without which this event would not be possible.

Other HUGE news! Our chapter signed on to a letter opposing the merger between U of L hospitals and Catholic Health Initiatives and Governor Steve Beshear has rejected the merger. If you have not done so, please,PLEASE, contact Gov. Beshear immediately to thank him for not signing the UL Hospital merger agreement. He is getting a lot of pressure from the proposed merging parties, and it would be nice for him to know that we appreciate him for carefully looking at the issues surrounding this merger. Call him at: 502.564.2611 or email him.

We've also been invited to attend a lecture by Tom Fitzgerald at Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church, on Sunday, January 29, 2012, at 11am. His topic is “A Conversation with My Children’s Children about the Environment & Justice.” Make a fun brunch date and head on over!"

Other Occupy Louisville news:
>Our own Pam Newman will be a guest on the WHAS 11 program "Great Day Live" at 9 AM Friday.
>Louisville Courant: Occupy Louisville may be 'well suited' for federal court anyway

Mayor Fischer: "These are silly questions"

2012-01-05T06:47:00.004-05:00

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer got some sobering advice from the Courier-Journal Wednesday, which I may or may not had framed for my mantel. In summary:

"There can be Tommy Elliotts in campaigns, but not in governing."- (CJ: Editorial | One job too many)

Only hours after getting hit with that advice, Fischer was in the hot seat explaining on air to WFPL's Phillip M. Bailey, how he was not influenced by the contributions he solicited from Insight. Fischer explained how his toughness in dealing with Insight was proof enough that he's not done anything wrong. (audio to full interview)

I tweet a follow-up question that Bailey courageously relays:

@wfplnews how do we know he wouldn't be pushing Insight harder if he wasn't getting their money?
— curtis morrison (@morrison4metro) January 4, 2012

(Let's take a moment of silence to reflect upon the years of hearing WFPL's Julie Credence ask Mayor Abramson questions like "What's your favorite color?" and "What your perfect Sunday?")

Mayor Greg Fischer, helpless to dispute the obvious merit of the allegation, responds:

"These are silly questions."

Let's review facts:

May 02, 2011: Insight lobbyist Bob Babbage donates $500 to Fischer's campaign

May 11, 2011: Babbage's wife, Laura Babbage, donates $1000 to Fischer's campaign

Aug 23, 2011: Fischer's campaign repays him personally $16,000*

Nov. 16, 2011: Insight outlines terms for renewing their contract with Metro Louisville in letter to city

Nov. 17, 2011: Jefferson County Attorney sends letter to Insight's new buyer Time Warner, notifying them of the termination of their contract.

Nov. 21, 2011: Fischer announces the letter has been sent: Mayor Newsroom

Nov. 22, 2011: Time Warner sends letter back expressing "surprise" and "dismay," and gives Fischer ultimatum:

"...either continue down a path of bitter, costly and prolonged litigation, an approach that will only harm consumers, or you can rescind the termination notice..."- google doc

Nov. 29, 2011 Insight Communications lobbyist David Whitehouse holds fundraiser for Fischer at his Lexington home, where about $40,000 is raised to pay down Fischer's campaign debt.

Dec. 19, 2011 Not even a month later, Fischer spokesman Chris Poynter tells the Courier-Journal:

“...we have not yet reached an agreement (on a new consolidated Metro Louisville franchise), but we are getting closer." (CJ, 12/19/11)

Poynter did not say just how much more slop Time Warner needed to put in Mayor Fischer's trough in order to get the agreement worked out, but Fischer made it clear in the WFPL interview that he was committed to continuing his quest to repay his campaign debt. He did make the distinction, however, that he wouldn't accept campaign contributions from any "local" Insight lobbyists. Only the out-of-town ones. Comforting.

Time Warner is not known for being stingy with their slop, by the way.

Both houses of North Carolina's legislature passed NC H129 in 2011, known by it's critics as the “Time Warner Cable Monopoly Protection Act.” The bill limits the ability of North Carolina cities to negotiate with cable franchises. Most people of North Carolina opposed the bill, and Raleigh's city council even passed a resolution opposing the measure, but all that didn't matter.

Time Warner, donated over $6.3 million to North Carolina politicians from 2007-2011.(followthemoney) (Joey Mornin) Asking if those contributions made a difference in the outcome, would be a silly question.

A related tip to incumbent Metro Councilmembers, Time Warner Cable Vice President Ed Kozelek, who has been sent to negotiate with the Fischer administration, is not above purchasing any game tickets government officials don't need. (Ohio.com)

When money from contractors doing business with the city ends up in the pocket of Mayor Fischer, and he's not even apologetic, I have to say enough. While I didn't support candidate Fischer for this office, that was more to do with his lack of experience with democracy. That he is seeking material gain through his service, is a revelation even to me.

In December of 1865, Louisville Mayor Philip Tomppert was caught accepting a $5,000 bribe to approve a street railway along Market Street. Had WFPL (and modern technology) been around at the time, there's little doubt Tomppert would have called a listener tweet about the impropriety of his actions "silly."

Although Tomppert, like Fischer in his dealings with Insight, ultimately didn't approve the railway, this didn't matter. The Board of Alderman still impeached him in a 10-2 vote. Whether Councilman Tom Owen was one of those dissenting alderman, doesn't matter now. But if he, and our other incumbent Metro Councilmembers, won't stand up to Mayor Fischer now, who will?

*Fischer told WFPL Wednesday that his campaign still owes him about $250,000. Since he originally loaned his campaign around $300,000, by deduction, the campaign has likely repaid him personally approximately $40,000 since the campaign finance report filed November 14, 2011.

Say who you are, new people trying to delist Drumanard

2012-01-04T01:17:00.002-05:00

Did you see where Denis Frankenberger has managed to get his petition to delist the Drumanard in the Chicago Tribune? Developer wants Louisville area estate removed from National Register of Historic Places

As the comm-dude for Say No to Bridge Tolls, the group who submitted the last petition that didn't get coverage in Chicago, or hardly anywhere, except well here, I'm impressed. (October of 2010).

However, Frankenberger's little website, http://www.eastendbridgeconspiracy.com/ needs some fixing.

Yes, they've put up River Fields tax returns from almost the entire last decade, and yes they are kind of as boring as you would expect them to be. Yes, Meme Runyon is paid to be a director of the organization. Um, did anyone think she was a volunteer? What's the point, here?

Yes, Bob Griffith has a conflict of interest by being on the Kentucky Heritage Council. I think I made that clear in September: (LC: River Fields 01, Louisville 01)
No, I don't remember why I named that entry so.

Yes, they've inserted an LOL-worthy line at the bottom:

"Copyright © 2011–2012 Louisville, KY East-End Bridge Conspiracy."

Because the first thing I wanted to do was steal the information, when the purpose of the site appears to be putting stolen information out there so that it can be spread around? Yeah, color me confused. Also, can someone copyright a website to an entity that kinda doesn't exist? I mean, technically, how does that work?

One of the worst characteristics of elitism is when pull levers are being pulled behind a secret curtain, It makes everyone think you're a shill for David Jones. Until you have that up, I've taken the liberty to put together what I know for people who may not have catched it all...
The domain eastendbridgeconspiracy.com, was registered by Gary Roberts, but I've been told the guy behind the website is Denis Frankenberger. (This may have been on the Mandy O'Connell show, you'll forgive me if I missed an episode or dozens of them.)

Frankenberger is a developer who owns 77 acres in Charlestown which will have a little better access after an East End bridge is constucted. However, that is irrelevant for two reasons:

1) Frankenberger's property is located 6 miles to the East of the proposed East End Bridge route, look at the maps for yourself:
http://www.charlestownlandingcommunity.com/Location.htm
http://www.kyinbridges.com/maps-features/default.aspx?ml=5
2) If Frankenberger knows anything about development and the time value of money, he'll have this land developed years before the East End bridge ever goes in.

So whether Frankenberger has another angle for submitting a delist petition, I don't know. Maybe he just sees that the Drumanard's historic value is a hoax.

I just know I don't like websites which do not clearly identify who is behind them. Especially when the purpose of the website is to expose secrets. FAIL.

1/02/12 Update:
After an exchange of a few emails, I am convinced the "anonymous"-looking nature of Mr. Frankenberger's website was an oversight, at worst, and I probably shouldn't have made a big stink about it.

Republic Building co-owner admits no harm from Occupy Louisville

2012-01-04T00:28:00.007-05:00

I accidentally scrolled through the comments of the Courier-Journal story on Occupy Louisville, Occupy Louisville stands ground amid wintry weather, to see my friend and former co-worker, Gant Hill, asking some questions about Occupy Louisville that are getting old after 3 months.

But he's redeemed himself with this:

"It does not hurt our property having the tents across from the Republic Building."- Gant Hill

So there are only 6 neighbors to Occupy Louisville's current location:
The parking lot on Muhammad Ali, which is only a parking lot.
Louisville Gardens, which is a big empty mess the city has forgotten about.
The Republic Building co-owned by Hill, who admits no harm is coming from occupation.
The Cathedral of the Assumption. (They're Catholic, they're all about the poor.)
Tower that is on opposite corner of people who, respectfully, part of the 99%, too.
And Jim Mims' IPL office.

Who is complaining that Occupy Louisville is causing them a problem again?

Update 1:29 AM: This post was dramatically offered following the useful information provided by Hill.
Update: 1/05/12, 6:50 AM: 2 Quick things
Talked to CJ w/IPL late yesterday afternoon and there's not a meeting with city and Occupy Louisville today as previously announced. Also: A couple letters in today's CJ regarding Occupy Louisville

LOLOLOL.

2012-01-03T23:17:00.002-05:00

Doing research on story for Friday and came across these campaign contributions to former Councilwoman Judy Green for first time. They made me giggle.

Who knew Greg Fischer's father and his sister took such a big interest in the outcome of the last 1st District Metro Council election? They must have an eye for potential, eh?

Mims speaks on Occupy Louisville Sunday

2012-01-01T17:35:00.012-05:00

Hess, debriefing after phone call with Mims.

James Mims the Director of Louisville's Inspections, Licensing and Permits (IPL), returned the call of Occupy Louisville supporter Tyler Hess, this afternoon. Hess is a UK student and writes at revolutionbytruth and also for the Kentucky Kernel.

Hess had emailed Mims a couple weeks back after hearing of IPL's plan to deny the renewal of Occupy Louisville's tent permit.

After clarifying that IPL was not denying the permit for protesters to gather, just the overnight sleeping part, Mims went on to outline the four reasons IPL was denying the permit:

1. Camping prohibited in public parks overnight, not necessarily a public park under Metro Parks, but a public area kinda thing.

2. Safety and sanitation. IPL recognizes OL dutiful efforts, but still they have issues with the "carrying capacity" of Founder's Square Park. Mims also mentioned the extension cords from the four outlets at the park are also a health and safety concern.

3. Mims expressed his worry that those who are not protesting, do not have access to use and enjoy the park. He said Founders Square has become more of a "settlement" than a park.

4. Finally, Mims expressed his concern from that if homeless people would rather be at Occupy Louisville in tents than in shelters, then he wants to focus on getting the homeless more hospitable shelter.

Mims said future permits can be flexible on duration and times of protest, as long as they dont disturb residents of Kentucky Towers, which is located across the street. (To date, I'm not aware of a single complaint from a Kentucky Towers resident against Occupy Louisville.)

Mims continues to say he ~~all of a sudden~~ wants to help the homeless occupiers. As the person who also issues the permits for homeless shelters, he - as stated in reason #4 above - wants to find "safer shelter" for the folks that don't feel current city provided accommodations are not acceptable.

Hess believes Mims has good intentions, but obviously sees his hands as tied on this situation because in essence, he's just the 'permits guy.' It's rather doubtful that the Louisville permitting office, or for that matter Greg Fischer, will actually identify nor solve the underlying structural inequalities rampant in this city that cause such wealth inequality to persist.

"Since folks have begun to become organized in a public space, the Mayor's Administration wants to now make income inequality and surplus of foreclosed houses/lack of brownfield development serious city issues? Hardly. Expect a dispersal so that the KY Towers residents can view the polluted Ohio River in peace without being aware of the class divides rampant, but silent amongst us daily." Hess said.

The main tent can remain, Mims reiterated. The "main tent" Mims is referring to is the kitchen tent and a distraction if the goal is allowing accommodations for a 24-hour occupation. Humans need more than food, they also need sleep. We all can't sleep in the same 12'x16' kitchen tent.

Mims also confirmed to Hess that the formal rejection of the tent section of the permit has not yet been issued, but expects it to be once he meets with the Jefferson County Attorney's office this week. The delay in rejecting the permit has prevented Occupy Louisville attorneys from filing an appeal.

Mims confirmed that he had heard of the upcoming court date this Friday, January 6, 2011 at 8 am, but he had no specific knowledge about it. He said "if there was an injunction and the court tells 'us' something, we'll listen."

Occupy Louisville is reaching out to all peaceful supporters to join us at this Friday's hearing. A Facebook event has been created to RSVP and share, called Occupy the Court. The hearing will be at Jefferson Judicial Center, at 700 West Jefferson Street, in Judge Chauvin's court.

For the back story on past drama with IPL, check out:
LC: Video from Wednesday meeting between Occupy Louisville and IPL and
Insider Louisville: Thanks to Occupy Louisville, metro officials learning about homelessness.

Code Red: Will you be prepared?

2011-12-30T13:01:00.002-05:00

Just watched Metro Louisville's latest PSA for Code Red. The intro alone tells you what's coming:

"When potentially life-threatening events affect your family, will you be prepared? Will you be informed?

It's Friday, and I didn't do a end-of-the year recap like so I took a few minutes to caption my favorite moments inappropriately:

^ REALLY SCARY THINGS! ^

LMFD burning a Jerry Abramson cardboard cut-out.


God weighing in on Metro Louisville's refusal to adopt their own Climate Action Plan	.

Scared yet?

"Don't be scared. Tommy Elliott appointed me and I chew gum." Man to right: asleep.

Code Red employees waving at Connie Marshall through her TV. "Hi Connie!"


Man with hangover listening to Metallica, Woman testing Disney Princess Walkie Talkie.

Here's the whole PSA. Enjoy:

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;St&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

I don't have anything against Code Red, exactly. The whole thing plays to creating a culture of obedience, through fear, but it's so amateurish and campy, I doubt it will be effective.
The video screen of the sidewalk is a little creepy.

KREF lists Christy Brown as respondent in complaint

2011-12-29T12:20:00.015-05:00

"If I thought the bridge decision was based on smart-growth principles and good regional planning," she says, "I'd feel good about it. What I really object to is that it's a land speculator's dream come true." -Christy Brown, 9/2004 (http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2004/september-october/so04feature3.html)

Christy Brown, along with and Old National Bank vice president Tommy Elliot, were the leaders of the inauguration committee (WFPL), later legally known as Greg Fischer Mayoral Inauguration.


Christy Brown with then Mayor-elect Greg Fischer, and her neighbor and Inaugural committee planning team member George Stinson at the transition office.

The above-picture, which was taken by Donald Vish, and is being used without permission because of it's newsworthiness, was uploaded on flickr listing Stinson as a "senior advisor at transition office." Oh dear, another senior advisor,

Vish titled another photo of Brown "An eminence grise," which referenced Brown and Elliott as "co-chairs of the inauguration committee."(flickr) But I guess it's better there be a little less heat on Elliott right now, am I right?

Brown and others, including Mayor Greg Fischer, have until January 15, 2012 to answer, as respondents, the KREF complaint I mailed to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance (KREF) on December 16, 2011.

I did not list Brown as a respondent. Even I may not be that brave. The short version about the grounds for the complaint, I allege money was solicited from Louisville citizens using the city's logo to pay for an inauguration on a website owned by by Iceburg Ventures, Inc., and some of that money later ended up in Mayor Greg Fischer's pocket. Which KRS 121 regulation is not violated in that mess? (LRC: Inaugurationgate?)

Ladless Hill, which apparently has a mailbox

But one of the four entities I did list in the complaint, the Greg Fischer Mayoral Inauguration, the Registry instead listed in their notice (Case No. 2011-203) as "Christy Brown, Chairperson, Greg Fischer Mayoral Inauguration."

Instead of mailing to the post office box address I provided, the complaint was mailed directly to Brown's Ladless Hill estate, the former summer retreat of the family of Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.

Oh dear.

As Brown is known for her generosity to the political candidates that serve her interest (See: Greg Fischer), my opponent and Incumbent Councilman Tom Owen can check his mailbox for her hefty contribution in 3...2...1... You're welcome, Tom.

Update 5:12 PM:
Wow. A ton of traffic on this post but why everyone so afraid to comment? LOL. In a related matter,the Bridges Project was split in two today.

Watch live streaming video from cjnews at livestream.com

This has been coming for some time. At Bridges Authority meetings like 6 months ago, consultants were telling us neither JPMorgan or Goldman Sachs wanted to be on the hook for the whole thing.

But this solution is perfect because now Mitch Daniels will get a bridge he can sell to Spain, and Steve Beshear will get one he can sell to France. Everyone wins. Except, well, citizens of Kentuckiana. Tough love.

And Mayor Fischer, remember when you said this? In hindsight, did that even many anything or were you just completely bullshitting?

Best coverage of Occupy from yesterday: WDRB

2011-12-29T08:22:00.006-05:00

Well, I wouldn't call it a "victory" just yet, but I would say Chris Turner with WDRB, yes a Fox affiliate, gave some of the most comprehensive coverage of yesterday's Occupy news. There was a point late in the afternoon where he was giving us news instead of us giving it to him:

So little Occupy monsters, put this in your iphone calendars with 2 alarms:

Jan. 6, 2012 8 am: Hearing in Judge A. C. McKay Chauvin's Division 8 Court

>>>FACEBOOK EVENT RSVP HERE<<<

Other musings:
To be fair, Dan Klepal with CJ got the above award for Monday/Tuesday, obviously. And his headline last night was well-chosen to make the story more interesting: CJ: Occupy Louisville's request for injunction to bar eviction denied as premature

RE: CJ: Poll finds support for vote on expanded gambling
I can't find it at the moment, that says a poll of Kentucky voters says 64% favor gambling. Funny, polling also says 83% of Kentucky voters favor a Statewide Fairness Law. If he's hanging his hat on polling, why isn't Beshear pushing for Statewide Fairness? (Bias disclosure: I'm pro-Statewide Fairness, anti-Giving more opportunity for poor people to loose what little money they have left.)

Also, if last year's Democratic Primary had different results, and I somehow ended up with Chris Poynter's job now, you can damn sure bet I wouldn't have to be saying all this bullshit he's having to say. I get to say I told you so like once a month, and we'll count this for December.

Related, Councilman Tom Owen, the incumbent I'm challenging for the 8th District Metro Council seat, might want to hold off on reminding everyone he sees that I backed Hal Heiner in last year's general election. After Mayor Fischer takes tents away from homeless people, and is investigated by the KREF, Owen could use some of the $41 million he's pegged to build his new apartment complex to instead poll his constituents to see how they feel about my support for Heiner?

Also, I'll be at Day's Coffee until noon today if anybody wants to come chat about their problems, and/or visions for Louisville's future. Or if you just want to get a peek at the acknowledgement of the KREF complaint I've filed on the inauguration funding scandal.
Or text at me: Curt: 502-403-9498 Email:curtster3@gmail.com

HELLO, COMPASSIONATE CITY? CAN WE HAVE TENTS? THANK YOU.

2011-12-28T16:19:00.008-05:00

It started last night with Dan Klepal's CJ story, that also appeared on front page of today's paper:
CJ: Occupy Louisville vows to fight city's attempt to take down tents

And apparently, that's where our TV folks find out where the news is. Because all day has been cover Occupy Louisville day:
New Occupy Louisville Permit Could Quash Camp - Louisville News Story - WLKY Louisville

UPI: Occupy Louisville to try to stop tent ban

Updated 5:21 PM:

Jan, 3: IPL Director Jim Mims expected back from his vacation, and the earliest date we can receive rejection of our extension request for the tent permits (so it can be appealed.)
Jan. 5: Meeting with the City
Jan. 6, 8 am: Hearing in Judge A. C. McKay Chauvin's Division 8 Court.

And the city not to do anything about the tents and a new permit until Jan. 5, 2012.
A big hand goes out to Chris Harrell for giving us endless hours of pro-bono this week. The next time I get sued, Chris deserves my business. (That's not an invitation to sue me though.)
Also a big thanks to Robin Garr who made today's complaint possible by paying for the filing fees!

01/04/02: VIDEO REMOVED BECAUSE LINK IT IS INACTIVE AT SOURCE.

A few Kentuckians victims of Anonymous

2011-12-28T03:49:00.001-05:00

The customer database for the website SpecialForces.com was hacked yesterday, allegedly by the group Anonymous.

A tweet from the group yesterday led to this pastebin page where they took responsibility and supplied links to the customer's information, including their passwords. Anonymous described the customers of Special Forces this way:

"Their customer base is comprised primarily of military and law enforcement affiliated individuals, who have for too long enjoyed purchasing tactical combat equipment from their slick and “professional” looking website."

Amongst the customers of Special Forces who were victims of the Anonymous attack where at least three who claimed to be law enforcement officials in Kentucky:

Curtis Calhoun with the Louisville Metro Police Department
James Johnson with the Kentucky National Guard
Kevin Nally, using the email address of Bruce Button, with the Kentucky State Police

If you know any of those three people, please let them know they need to cancel every internet account they have and open new ones with unique passwords unrelated to the old ones. Since the old ones, are so online right now.

And, awkward, I hope Venberg Lorraine with Actors Theatre changes hers too. And I also hope Actor's Theatre was buying paramilitary equipment just as props, and isn't taking security THAT serious.

Fischer, Mims using rabbitt tricks to foil Occupy Louisville

2011-12-27T14:53:00.009-05:00

In a meeting last Wednesday, Occupy Louisville attorneys asked Metro Louisville's Jim Mims for the rejection of the tent permit, so we could APPEAL IT. Listen in at the 6 minute mark:

Turns out, they aren't formally rejecting the permit before the eviction. This makes an appeal impossible until after the eviction. Pretty smooth, eh?

I feel bad picking on Mims because he's obviously a pawn and doing what he's told. Of course, he's also getting paid $76,900/ year, so I imagine he probably believes if he does as he's told, he's well on his way to escaping the 99%.

What we need to know now is whether Mims' vacation was scheduled in advance of last Wednesday's meeting, or if Mayor Fischer sent him on vacation. Or if it was scheduled before the Wednesday meeting, and when he was offering to supply the rejection, he knew he wouldn't be around to have to deal with it.

And we can do that here as an open records request. Anyone can do them! You don't have to be a journalist. In fact, with the exception of a few, journalist regular do. If you're in television, you know I'm talking to you, right?

To file one, just go here: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/ipl/Open+Records+Request.htm.
They ask if you are a media organization, but that's just so they can know how much they can manipulate you, don't pay that no mind. This is what I asked for:

"Pursuant to Kentucky's Open Records Act, I'd like to know what vacation days Mr. Jim Mims with IPL had scheduled as of December 19, 2011.

And if it's not the vacation days of 12/27/2011-01/02/2012, when were those vacation days scheduled? "

So for Metro Louisville to comply with Kentucky's Open Records law, they'll need to get that information back to me within a few days, or at least notify me of the reason for the delay. Will be interesting to see if the Open Records department is now sent on vacation, too.

3:07 PM Update:
The reason for the delay in IPL granting the rejection of the permit is now being blamed on the Jefferson County Attorney's Office. Mike O'Connell is our Jefferson County Attorney. Is he on vacation, too?

Forgive my frustration, but it's been 6 days since Mims said the tent permit was definitely rejected, and yet we still don't have it it in writing for the appeal.

7:45 PM Update:
Working group meeting down at Occupy Louisville today at 5 PM. One of our volunteer attorney's Chris Harrell, gave an update to the 12-16 people who were assembled on the complaint he hopes to file tomorrow in Kentucky state court. Among other points, the complaint is asking for an injunction to allow tents to stay on the basis that they are necessary to exercise First Amendment rights when it's this cold outside. There's apparently a precedent complaint in South Carolina that worked.

To file the complaint, however, will take $180 filing fee. If you can help with that, get with Chris directly: harrell-law.com. Harrell updating the occupiers:

Dan Klepal, with the Courier Journal, was also covering the meeting, with a CJ photographer that had the ultimate challenge. How does one document a meeting in photographs when nearly 20 people are stuffed in a 12'x15' tent? Will be interesting to see tomorrow's paper.

The online story was put up about 10 minutes ago: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20111227/NEWS01/312270075/Occupy-Louisville-vows-fight-city-s-attempt-take-down-tents?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home

Jim Ramsey teaches us how to party like it's 1999

2011-12-26T22:23:00.008-05:00

It was recently made public that the president of the University of Louisville, Jim Ramsey, was to get a $270,000/year in additional compensation from a non-profit, the University of Louisville Foundation, raising his total annual compensation to $600,000/year. (Lane) It was billed as a raise, but that's a misrepresentation.

According to the Foundation's 2010 IRS 990 Form, they only supplemented Ramsey's measly $374,196/year income with $140,053 in cash, and $121,199 in "other compensation"(whatever that means).

The dramatic headlines about Ramsey's raise, suddenly don't make much sense at all. If I earned $635,448 in 2010, and found out I'd only make $600,000 in 2011. I don't even think I'd call it a raise, but then again, I didn't go to Harvard. I was educated at U of L. The discrepancy may be because some sources, like the Lane Report link above, lists Ramsey's state salary at $329,740. But the Foundation's 990 says differently.

When the Foundation, founded in 1970, has a mission to support the efforts of ~~University of Louisville~~ Jim Ramsey's retirement plans, and to attract ~~students~~ no one in the region and to bring ~~the world's top scholars and scientists~~ Rick Pitino and Charlie Strong to Kentucky.
So whether he's paid $600,000/year or $635,448/year, it's a bargain for Louisville. But the best part, without Ramsey, we wouldn't have this unbelievable $10,000+ full-page advertisement in today's Courier-Journal:

Courier-Journal, 12-12-11, p C12.

Wait a second...Really? Let's look at little closer at this advertisement. Get off the paper, Frank...

Marilyn Belak's cat, Frank.

"#1 Among KY public public schools in 8 academic measures*"

Are you following this...go to U of L, because they're the absolute best at like 8 things! If you subscribe to the CJ though, you may have noticed that "*" was more like this size: "*." And why might that be. Bottom left corner of the page:

"*1999-2000"

Yes, 1999. So please come to U of L. Because we take academics and athletics BOTH seriously. So seriously, in fact, that we are trying to surf on our achievements from over a decade ago. We're like Prince, here at U of L, and we're partying like, like, like...
U of L's 1999 undergraduate tuition was $1,480/semester. For the current year, that same tuition is $4,465, a 202% increase in only 11 years. (UofL) So if you have any extra change to spare after the holidays, forget the animal shelters, forget the homeless, forget the hungry, and definitely forget the orchestra. Instead, open up your hearts, and your checkbooks, and do what you can for the University of Louisville Foundation's favorite charity, Mr. Ramsey.

Signs on a Louisville winter's day

2011-12-26T17:21:00.000-05:00

Democratic Councilwoman challenges mayor, sky doesn't fall

2011-12-26T14:10:00.004-05:00

An incumbent member of the Democratic Party's Metro Council Caucus had the audacity (gasp) this morning to question the motivation, if not the decision-making process, of our incumbent Democratic Party mayor.

In a tweet, Councilwoman Attica Scott (1), asked Mayor Greg Fischer:

@louisvillemayor Why do you fear holding public forums for the police chief candidates similar to the superintendent search process?
— Councilwoman Scott (@CW_AtticaScott) December 26, 2011

A good question. Why do you fear those public forums, Mayor Fischer? As of 2 PM, Mayor Fischer has yet to respond to the Councilwoman's tweet. I know you're shocked, but Mayor Fischer hasn't responded to a Twitter inquiry this morning from yours truly, either:

@louisvillemayor Any word on when IPL will have #occupylouisville tent permit rejection?
— curtis morrison (@morrison4metro) December 26, 2011

Want to start paying attention to this Twitter thing for 2012?
Follow Councilwoman Scott on Twitter at: @CW_AtticaScott
Follow me at: @Morrison4Metro
Follow Mayor Fischer at: @louisvillemayor (Just be careful not to get attached)

Editor's note, 11:07 PM:
A short Facebook exchange with Scott revealed a couple details that I could have mentioned. First, the mayor outlined a four-step process on how the new police chief would be chosen. (Metro Newsroom) The first step was "citizen input."

At a December 1st forum called "West Louisville Community Forum on Police Chief Search," was hosted by Councilpersons of of Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6. Scott even put it up on Facebook. But the Mayor, not anyone from the Southern Police Institute (SPI) he had hired, attended that forum. Oops. (We know the day before the Mayor was at Harvard ~~teaching~~learning about Occupy Louisville.)

"Folks in West Louisville would like the top five candidates to be part of a community forum as was the case with the superintendent search process."- Councilwoman Scott told me via Facebook this evening.

At least one "folk" in the Highlands (the one typing write now), also thinks the community deserves a chance to vet the candidates.

Update 12/28/2011: 4:22 PM:
Councilwoman Attica Scott stopped by Occupy Louisville for a few minutes before lunch today to get an update on where we were at. I asked her if she had heard anything on whether the Mayor had responded to her challenge to let our community vet the mayor candidates? She said no, but she's not given up hope. And I think that's great. We shouldn't. It's a reasonable request.

Also, found this other perspective on the selection process and the forum at the Nia Center:
Metro Council discussion about next LMPD chief happened despite meeting format [Opinion: The Arena]

Featured GLI Supporter of the week: Charah®, Inc.

2011-12-25T06:53:00.007-05:00

Charah®, Inc. is based in Louisville and contributed $10,000 to Greater Louisville, Inc. (GLI) in 2011.

On their website, Charah®, Inc. defines it's mission as "an ash management company developing and implementing innovative solutions and services to the coal-fired utility industry."

Elsewhere on it's website, Charah®, Inc. anonymously references their contract at Louisville Gas and Electric's Mill Creek plant in a case study and takes credit for why LG&E has refrained from construction of a new ash pond::

"Problem
A large utility company in the Louisville, KY area was nearing capacity for its ash storage pond. With approximately ﬁve years of capacity left in the pond, the utility approached Charah looking for options for handling the bottom ash produced daily at the utility. If a viable solution was not found, the utility would be forced to build a new ash pond or to have the existing ash pond cleaned at a great expense to the station.
Solution
...The utility has gained storage pond space and has saved tremendously on landﬁll space without constructing new pond storage."

Oh dear. Wonder why they stopped short, without taking credit for reversing climate change?

It's a Thursday, November 3, 2011 afternoon in Frankfort. State legislators on the Natural Resources and Environment Committee are having their little meeting. (minutes) Questions are getting answers. Oh, and Danny Gray, president of Charah®, Inc. he's there.

Question: "Is coal ash fed to livestock?"

"Commissioner Scott said no. However, Commissioner Scott noted that research is currently being done using CCRs (Coal Combustion Residuals) in gardening, and it could be considered a beneficial re-use."

Gray, who probably has about zero environmental credentials, also volunteered, "CCRs can be used in wallboard, cement, and in forage crops."

Definition: forage crops: n agriculture, fodder or animal feed is any foodstuff that is used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats,...

This is a good place as any to mention that CCRs contain the following metals: arsenic, barium, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium and vanadium.

In 1999, the EPA studied agricultural uses of CCRs but concluded they didn't "believe that these uses of coal combustion wastes present a significant risk to human health or the environment.” Since 2010, the EPA as been taking a closer look at regulating coal ash.

In September 2010, there was an EPA CCR Public hearing held in Louisville. Of the 188 people who gave public input, 26 were employees of Charah®, Inc. A couple more were (then) employees of Ameren, a St. Louis-based company.(pdf list of speakers) Charah partners with Ameren at one Missouri power plant to prepare and bag coal ash as Quickcrete™ for Home Depot stores in the St. Louis area, and partners with them at another one to grind limestone used in the coal ash-capturing process. (Charah®, Inc.)

Another Question at the Natural Resources and Environment Committee meeting: "Where are recycled products from CCRs used?"

Charah®, Inc. President Gray replies "that CCRs are a commodity that Charah, Inc. does export to Panama and Puerto Rico."

A curious detail as coal ash is a sensitive issue down there. AES settled a lawsuit in 2007 with the Dominican Republic because 82,000 tons of coal ash found on that country's beaches had originated from an AES-owned coal-fired power plant in Puerto Rico. (Bloomberg)

I'm not saying there's a connection, but it seems odd that it is cost-effective to transport a relatively heavy, hazardous product to locations more than 1,000 miles away?

Their Products:
Charah®, Inc.'s Project Mix® is a product creates by mixing bottom ash with cement. They market it to to contractors and "do-it-yourselfers" who likely have no idea how dangerous the stuff is.
Charah®, Inc.'s PriceLite® is trucked by contract haulers to a manufacturing plant it owns in Emporia, Virginia, where it is eventually becomes "coal-ash-derived aggregate" and is sold to manufacturers of concrete blocks and precast concrete products. Charah®, Inc. has a "new" Midwest facility currently under construction, but not sure of it's location. (Munson)
Charah®, Inc.'s EcoSand™ is a "recycled, non-hazardous, bottom ash aggregate." Atop the list of acceptable uses the company markets this product? Fill sand. Earthjustice has petitioned the EPA to making it unacceptable to use fly ash-containing fill sand where the pollutants could leach out by contact with water.
Charah’s EcoFill™ is well, it's what all these products are: coal fly ash. But the cute little ™ makes it okay to use it "to replace traditional raw materials such as dirt, gravel and sand in fill applications."

In September 2011, Charah®, Inc.'s named Sean McGuire a Vice President. (Charah®) McGuire and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer are both members of the Trinity High School Alumni Association, and both recipients of the the prestigious annual Honor Alumnus Award. (THSAA)

The owners:
Charah®, Inc. is privately owned by Charles and Janet Price, who named the company for their son and daughter, Charles and Sarah. They have set up a non-profit, the Price Foundation, as a vehicle for their charitable giving. The Price Foundation is funded solely by Charah®, Inc. In 2010, the non-profit doled out $128, 860 amongst these religious non-profits:

A Woman's Choice Resource Center, Campus Crusade for Christ, A Refuge Foundation, Inc., City on a Hill Production, Care for Pastors, Cornerstone International, Focus on the Family, Center for Christian Study International, Mexico Baptist Church, Mission Builders, New Mission Systems International, Team Expansion, The Family Foundation, The Navigators, The Ridge, Thistleband Ministries, Transformation Ministries, Pioneers

Charah®, Inc. has joined the Louisville Metro Council and others in providing funding for the purchase of Southwest Christian Ministries. (84WHAS)

Price is one of the 2011 winners of the Ernst & Young "Entrepreneur of the Year" award (Business First), the same award Fischer had won in 1990! (the 'Ville Voice)(WFPL) Incidentally, following a keynote talk from Fischer in April of 2011, Charah®, Inc. received the Innovation and Commercialization Center (ICC) "Client of the Year Award" from ENTERPRISECORP, what GLI calls their "enterprise development arm."

BUT WAIT! This wouldn't be comprehensive without a Bud Schardein quote:

"We've been using it very successfully," said MSD Executive Director Bud Schardein, who approved Charah®, Inc.'s products for use in MSD projects.(ari)

Oh dear. But this can't be any longer. Someone else needs to look into THAT^!

My point, if you're still reading, GLI exists to subvert the public will and allow corporations to introduce arsenic and mercury into our water when we aren't looking.

01/09/2011: 11:04 PM Update for inquiring minds:

1) EPA's Federal Register's Ruling (June 21, 2010) with discussion: View

2) I uploaded Government of Dominican Republic v. AES Corp. (12/05/2006), and the defense attorney's name really was "Butswinkas." Also, interesting footnote at the bottom: "Plaintiff does refer to the Bahamas and Haiti refusing to take the ash.": View

3) According to the Kentucky's Secretary of State, Price is doing business in more names than just Charah®, Inc., but I haven't got a chance to research those entities at this time:

CHARLES E. PRICE    Director    CHARAH ENVIRONMENTAL    A-Active    0234550
CHARLES E. PRICE    Director    CHARAH, INC.    A-Active - Good    0234550
CHARLES E. PRICE    Incorporator    CHARAH ENVIRONMENTAL    A-Active    0234550
CHARLES E. PRICE    Incorporator    CHARAH, INC.    A-Active - Good    0234550
CHARLES E. PRICE III    Incorporator    CHARLES E. PRICE III INSURANCE, INC.    A-Active - Good    0751197
CHARLES E. PRICE III    Incorporator    PRICE FAMILY HOLDINGS, INC.    A-Active - Good    0779985
CHARLES EDGAR PRICE    Director    CIRCLE FOUR, INC.    A-Active - Good    0214103
CHARLES EDGAR PRICE    Incorporator    CIRCLE FOUR, INC.
Price, Charles E    Manager     Ash Management Services, LLC     A-Active - Good0722836Principal Office:12601 PLANTSIDE DRIVE, LOUISVILLE, KY 40299

4) There's a list of companies which will not be lucky enough to be featured in my upcoming research because they heartlessly dropped their membership in GLI. Their loss, right?:
Insider Louisville: GLI has lost dozens of larger donors since 2009 including King Southern Bank

Video from Wednesday meeting between Occupy Louisville and IPL

2011-12-23T15:57:00.009-05:00

(Editor's note: This entry was updated with additional media and info between 4-5 pm)
This meeting was a different meeting from the Thursday IPL meeting. Here's audio of the first 9 minutes of Thursday's meeting, which had a decidedly different agenda:

And from Friday's NOON GA:

In related news, IPL promised Occupy Louisville they would timely provide a rejection of the tent permit. (See 6:20 mark in 2nd video above) Without this rejection, no legal appeal remedy is possible.

When I went in the IPL office today at 2:30 PM, I was told that Caroline Fletcher "was working on the rejection, but she went home early because of the holiday." IPL Director Jim Mims had went home early as well.

I was told they'll won't be back in office Tuesday, December 29, 2011, at 8:00 AM.

And the 'Ville Voice put up a post on the Fischer Administration's inner-office communication regarding Occupy Louisville: Fischer Folks Went Looking For ‘Occupy’ Problems

TODAY> NOON> OCCUPY 2012 DISCUSSION ON SITE> BE THERE

2011-12-23T09:50:00.002-05:00

First, I did a recap of yesterday's IPL meeting. I'm guessing IPL & Mayor Fischer won't like it so they'll issue a press release saying something else in 3...2...1...:
Insider Louisville: Thanks to Occupy Louisville, metro officials learning about homelessness

Now, this is important:
FACEBOOK EVENT LINK HERE to today's noon discussion group on Occupy Louisville's site, 5th & Muhammad Ali.

The fate of Occupy Louisville has been severely threatened by Mayor Greg Fischer's eviction, via his order not to renew the permit for tents. If the eviction is allowed it's certainly going to suck for the normally-invisible homeless who have been empowered by their inclusiveness in the movement. They'll be forced to live outside again, if they aren't fortunate enough to make inside one of our underfunded shelters.

But who is it really going to suck for? US.

We need this movement if we expect to have social change.  If you still believe in social change, I'll see you at noon.

Update 10:18 AM: I need to make clear, my views and perspectives, and what Occupy means to me, may not be what it means to you, and that's okay. My communications are not necessarily "official positions" of other participants at Occupy Louisville. Just wanted to make that clear.

Nee Nee'S Angels Daycare drops off blankets to Occupy Louisville

2011-12-22T13:29:00.003-05:00

About noon today, the little folks from Nee Nee'S Angels Daycare dropped off quilts to keep occupiers warm at Occupy Louisville. A great bunch of kids with beautiful smiles!

Nee Nee'S Angels is located at 400 South 41St Street, Louisville, KY - 40212, and their number is: (502) 774-9704. If MSNBC's Ezra Klein wants to marry me and adopt a bunch of children with ADD, I've decided this is where we will send them.

Would President Obama deport Mitt Romney?

2011-12-22T03:32:00.007-05:00

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney declared Wednesday that he would deport President Obama's uncle, Onyango Obama, who is allegedly an illegal immigrant arrested in August for drunk driving in Framingham, Massachusetts. Fast forward to the 11 minute mark: Audio from Howie Carr Show.

Onyango Obama is the half-brother of the president's late father and he's out on bail, pending a hearing in Massachusetts District Court.

The charge is more serious because there are allegations that in 1992, Onyango Obama may have broken another law by violating an order to return Kenya.

Like Obama, Mitt Romney knows what it is like to be arrested in Middlesex County. In February 1982, Romney was arrested by the Natick Police for disobeying an officer. In fact, that happened only about 3 miles East from where Obama was arrested. (Boston Globe)

View Larger Map
This was not his first arrest, though. Romney's, I mean. He had been arrested with alongside his future wife for destruction of private property in the 1960's. Of course it's glamorized as a teenage prank on a golf course, ahhh, how sweet white privilege really is. (Deseret News)

There is one HUGE difference between Obama and Romney, though. Romney's father was born in ~~the United States of America~~ Galeana, Chihuahua, Mexico. (Fox News)

So hypothetically, what if Mitt Romney was Hispanic?

And he'd got off the Mormon path. He got a little tipsy off Tequila at a bar, and then left that bar without his driver's license. And for some crazy reason, he had sentimentally put his father's birth certificate in his jacket pocket before going out that night. Call it a mid-life crisis kind of thing...

The ICE officer who pulls him over asks him if he'd been in trouble before, and the Tequila makes him honest...he admits he's been arrested a couple times in the past.

Let's keep in mind, as of October 17, ICE only deported 397,000 humans in the last fiscal year, an increase since 2010, but still 3,000 short of their 400,000 goal. (The New American)

Obama's goal to deport 400,000 illegal immigrants per year is ambitious, because only about 100,000 Mexicans crossed the border illegally in 2010. (Immigration Impact) This means ICE needs to deport the folks who can't exactly prove their citizenship, and have an arrest record. Or, well, just put him in the damn van and quit asking questions.

I'd sure bet 10,000 pesos President Obama would deport a hypothetical, drunk-driving, Hispanic Mitt Romney, wouldn't you?

When did we start farming brownfields?

2011-12-21T05:21:00.006-05:00

As a kid growing up in rural Southern Indiana, I knew the 10,000+ acre, Indiana Army Ammunition Plant was blighted by long-term pollution. My step-dad had told me. It wasn't a secret back then.

That's why I was surprised to hear in it's last meeting of 2011, the River Ridge Development Authority which has owned and controlled the former Plant since 1998, announced they're offering more than 360 acres of land to farmers. (News and Tribune: River Ridge offering land to farmers: Farm leases expected to bring in additional revenues)

The Authority's Executive Director Jerry Acy told the News and Tribune's Branden Lammers:

“It’ll be a good revenue boost.”

First, Louisvillians, River Ridge is in Indiana but it's a few miles up the road (Closer than Crestwood). So this is relevant to you so keep reading! See this old map:

Oh where do I start? More than 1,000 years ago, indigenous Mississippians inhabited this very site...then greedy white men came to screw everything up...Wait, that's too far. Sorry.

Going back to World War II. the Charlestown, Indiana site was first put in production in 1941 and operated initially by DuPont, a company with a seriously screwed up environmental record. The plant produced smokeless powder for World War II, and came to be known locally as the "Powder Plant." It formerly closed in 1992, after 51 years of industrial production. For a comprehensive history of the Plant (including photographs), visit: Abandoned: Indiana Ammunitions Depot.

In 1973, the EPA issued a report on why the Ohio River was polluted, and in that report the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant was considered a factor because "acid wastes from the manufacture of nitric and sulfuric acids are discharged to the Jenny Lind Flume." (McAlpine Pool Report Ky)

The Jenny Lind Flume referenced is also known as the Jenny Lind Run, and is in near a habitat area for the Gray Bat, an endangered species.

In the late 1950's, a dam was built and Jenny Lind Pond (pictured right) was created on the Run to retain industrial waste water before discharge directly into the Ohio River. In March of 1997, the dam failed with an Ohio River flood, and as of 2001 the plan was to rebuild the dam prevent contaminated sediment from migrating into the Ohio.

According to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, a 1990 Preliminary Assessment was done in preparation for transferring a small section of the Plant from the Army to the state of Indiana for use as a park. A part of that transfer included what was known as the "Old Landfill," about 20 acres in size, and polluted as of 2001. (See p16)I remember when over 100's potential names were submitted by citizens for this new park, and the most creative selection was determined to be Charlestown State Park.

But what is important here is that land was given the "green light" but only "for use as a park, preserve, or recreation facility."(IDEM: Indiana Army Ammunition Plant - Charlestown, IN) Not for growing food for humans to eat.

In 1994, an environmental investigation of the grounds was initiated to evaluate 85 sites within the Plant by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). In December 1998, the IDEM issued a letter stating the agency had transferred regulatory oversight for the remedial corrective action activities to the IDEM.

Also in 2001, the Department of Defense considered pursuing claims for contamination against corporations which contaminated government properties, but the Army assessed the prospects of recovering costs at all 24 ammunition plants were "extremely low" due to legal barriers to cost recovery presented by the statute of limitations, indemnification issues, and exclusion clauses. (Cost Recovery Status)

In March of 2010, the EPA found River Ridge in violation of compliance with landfill standards and general facility standards and issued a written informal warning. I *think* this went unreported in the news. (EPA)

When River Ridge was looking for contractors to assess what it it's going to take to demolish the two power plants on the property, the Authority issued what they called "A REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS by the RIVER RIDGE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY for BROWNFIELDS SITE ASSESSMENTS AND DEMOLITION PLANNING."(Download if you have the memory: 11.1 MB)

In that document, an obvious truth slip:

"The full extent of the contaminants is unknown and this procurement represents an initial effort to assess the current condition of the properties."

Brownfields are called brownfields for a reason. The fields surrounding, and sharing a watershed, with an industrial facility are potentially polluted by said facility. In the photo above, the red spots are improvements still existing from the Powder Plant days. And the green land around them, maybe not so green after all.

What is confusing, is that in 2001 there was an Installation Action Plan issued to clean up the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant by Chris Inlow, with the Corps of Engineers. That plan was packed full of information about pollution on the site and what could be done about it, but I can find no records that the plan was implemented. In fact, the plan revealed in 2001, that if it were to be implemented, it would take until 2010 to complete. This plan is a MUST-READ if your curious about pollution or conservation at the River Ridge site, so I uploaded to my google docs: The Corps Clean-up Plan for River Ridge.
Perhaps the best thing to come from this report, Inlow itemized the past environmental reports done on the Ammunition Plant site from 1980-2001:

Fun Fact from the Corps Report:
Ever wonder why there was never a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) for citizens to oversee the clean-up of the Ammunition Plant?

Now we know: "The Installation Commander determined that there was not enough sustainable community interest to establish a RAB."
How did the Installation Commander determine potential interest in establishing a RAB? "Advertised in the in the Louisville Courier Journal and the Charleston Leader in January February 1998...No response was received from the community or regulatory agencies... not enough interest to establish and sustain a RAB at this time."

To my knowledge, to this day, neither the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, nor the EPA, nor the Corps of Engineers have done soil tests to clear any fields in River Ridge for agricultural use. But if I'm wrong, don't get mad because it's not exactly easy to find out anything about what goes on with this place.

Please let me know if I've made any factual errors in this post, or if you have information to add, via comment below, anonymous okay, or email: curtster3@gmail.com.

Senator Rand Paul being holiday-friendly and stuff

2011-12-20T18:39:00.001-05:00

Archbishop Kelly's funeral, facing Occupy Louisville

2011-12-20T01:00:00.003-05:00

Tuesday's public visitation for Archbishop Thomas Kelly will be 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m, at the Cathedral of the Assumption, with the funeral at 2 p.m.

"Government is a teacher, for good or for bad, but government should set the example. I do not believe that government engaging in violence or retribution is the right example. You don't solve violence by committing violence."-Archbishop Thomas Kelly, O.P. speaking to a Jubilee celebration in Louisville

Makes one wonder what the Archbishop would think about closing down Occupy Louisville?

Mourners won't be able to miss the sight of Occupy Louisville, because the site, itself, is located directly across the street from the Cathedral, at least for now.

Occupy Louisville participants have told me that the Cathedral has been a great neighbor, and that often the same people living in the encampment will get food from the back of parsonage. The Catholic church may have it's flaws, but no one can deny they've done more to help the poor and hungry than any other entity in the history of our planet.

Mayor Greg Fischer's IPL Director James Mims, told Occupy Louisville organizers and attorneys last Friday that the ~~occupation must end~~ tents must be taken down by January 2, 2012. Councilwoman Attica Scott got Mr. Mims on the phone Monday morning and he told her there were three reasons why the tents must come down, and he would provide the reasons in writing this week. I sure hope Mr. Mims realizes the list of people waiting to see those reasons is long, and not without influence.

Occupy Louisville will also be holding a press conference Tuesday afternoon at 5 pm, on a decision by Occupy participants and supporters to maintain the camp, and the tents, regardless of whether a permit is secured.

Following Sunday night's work group meetings down at Occupy Louisville, I uploaded a clip of Mayor Fischer attributing Louisville's compassion and hospitality to explain why Metro Louisville's been in "accommodation mode" with Occupy Louisville: LC: Compassionate Mayor Fischer orders tents down in winter

We could be a compassionate city.

Metro Council will challenge mayor on fireworks, but not GLI

2011-12-20T00:23:00.003-05:00

After wasting a year of time doing basically nothing for public safety, the Louisville Metro Council has nothing to show for their "work" except bitterness because they didn't get their sacred fireworks ordinance.

And Tom acting like the Mayor's done the Metro Council a great injustice...is this going to be the issue he points to when he tells voters this spring that he stood up to the Mayor? Please. Whatever. Okay, fine. I grabbed a screenshot from the WAVE story so the ~~establishment~~ Owen campaign can milk that angle:

In perspective, within a week of the veto they were so upset about, these same council-creatures capitulate on their stand against GLI funding: LC: Mayor Fischer says "jump", Metro Council asks "How high?"

Bridges input tonight or tomorrow, or forever hold your peace

2011-12-19T08:10:00.001-05:00

What you think? Is this pretty animation worth $3/trip to cross the Ohio River:

I. Think. Not. The write up in the CJ this morning mentioned how by 2030, 310,000 vehicles a day will cross the Ohio River.

If you know Hoosiers, like I know Hoosiers, you'll understand that about 309,000 of those vehicles will use the untolled 2nd St & Sherman Minton bridges. But "peak oil" happens before 2030, wait, it's already happened, so do these estimates reflect $20/gallon gas? No, they don't. Here's your last two chances to stop this 2-bridge solution before it cripples our economy:

Monday, December 19, 2011
4:00-8:00 p.m.
Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
Brown and Williamson Club
2800 S. Floyd St., Gate 6
Louisville, KY

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
4:00-8:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Lakeview
505 Marriott Drive
Clarksville, IN

Can't make either input session, you can submit your thoughts online: HERE

Compassionate Mayor Fischer orders tents down in winter

2011-12-18T22:57:00.001-05:00