Special Guest Commentary

The New Cut corridor has been on a steady decline for the past 50 years. The completion of the widened corridor and the courage and willingness of south Louisville investors offers an exciting to reverse this already deepening spiral. Communities across the nation are looking to gateway roads such as New Cut for creative possibilities.

This proposed development comes at an opportune moment as state and local officials look for regional enhancements that will complement Churchill Downs. Revitalizing New Cut is a strong signal that we're serious about our local small business community, quality neighborhoods and the world know ICON, Churchill Downs

I would argue the land-marking because it is a flawed process to begin with, holds land-marking to less stringent review process thus by-passing legislative approval strangles the community and leaves decision making to an elite few.

Louisville has an opportunity to be bold, be courageous and do what is right for south Louisville neighborhoods, businesses and the community

DEMOLISH THE OLD DANCE HALL

RAY WHITENER
LOUISVILLE, KY

July District 12 Dialogue to Focus on Historic Preservation

Historic Preservation focus of July District 12 Dialogue
Meeting set for Rockford lane Baptist Church on July 21st

Louisville—How important is historic preservation to Metro Louisville in the 21st Century? What are some of the challenges of progress versus remembering the past?
Those questions will be the focus of July’s District 12 Dialogue set for Tuesday, July 21st at the Rockford Lane Baptist Church, 2006 Rockford Lane. The meeting begins at 7:00pm.
“Historic Preservation is something that local government must be aware of when we are talking about zoning or economic development,” says Councilman Rick Blackwell (D-12). “However, many may not be aware of what goes into local preservations efforts.”
Richard Jett, who is now Historic Preservation Officer for Louisville Metro Planning and Design Services, will be the featured speaker at the Dialogue. Jett has been involved with historic preservation prior to the merger of the city and county government sin 2003.
“District 12 has many old, small family cemeteries. It is my hope this dialogue will help educate our residents on guidelines and laws concerning them,” says Blackwell.
Joining Jett at the meeting will be representatives from the Division of Licensing and Permits, Neighborhoods LMPD and MSD to answer questions about programs or concerns. A representative of Congressman John Yarmuth's office will also be in attendance.
For more information about the July District 12 Dialogue, contact Councilman Blackwell's office at 574-1112.

Monday Political Roundup

- Marty Meyer, the Democratic candidate for State Senate in Kentucky's 38th District, has raised an impressive $31,500 for his upcoming race against long-time incumbent Dan Seum according to his quarterly report filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. It is becoming clear that this will be a race for those of us in Southwest Louisville to watch closely, as Seum has never faced such a qualified and well-funded opponent.

- 25th District Metro Council candidate David Yates officially kicked off his campaign this Saturday with a well-attended and tightly organized fund raiser. It was a huge success for the young and talented Yates, who is seeking his first political office. Residents of the district can expect a strong challenge to the silly partisan rhetoric that currently passes for leadership in the 25th.

- Food For Thought: Governor Steve Beshear was a partner at the law firm of Stites & Harbison. That law firm was recently retained by the Cordish Co., the company that has refused to explain where all the city money ($950,000) went when Cordish remodeled a bowling alley at 4th Street Live. Mayor Abramson, who is said to be a lock for Lt. Governor along side Beshear, has accepted Cordish's explanation of the shady deal. Connect the dots. I'm just saying.....

AFL-CIO to Beshear: Are You Nuts?

Many times in the past here on The Valley Report as well as privately among friends, I have stated my long-held belief that Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson would not seek another term. The reasons were often varied and occasionally complicated, yet I remain confident in my assessment of the situation. I even went as far as to make a large cash wager on the issue and expect to collect a rather handsome amount when this debacle is over.

We have since learned that Governor Beshear, in one of the heaviest and most terrible mistakes of his soon-to-be-over political career, is seeking to add Abramson to his ticket as the candidate for Lt. Governor. Many good people that follow these things closely are upset over the idea. In today's Courier Journal, Joe Gerth reports that Kentucky AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan has gone on record opposing the addition of Abramson as a running mate.

In the article, Londrigan said, "Mayor Abramson has established a long record of antipathy towards organized labor, both during his tenure as Mayor of Louisville as well as the merged Metro Government." Truer words were never spoken. Naturally, one of the mayor's spokespersons squawked about how Jerry is a friend of the working man and how he hadn't made any decisions about his future. Those are two lies told right in a row.

Not only is this likely to destroy the Democrats' chance of retaining the Governor's Mansion in 2011, it also appears to be a foregone conclusion. People in the know in and around Frankfort have stated the Beshear/Abramson team is a "done deal".

Let me know what you think about a Beshear/Abramson ticket. I really want to hear what people have to say about this.

Midgets Rise Up, Raise Hell

When I was a kid, the word "crippled" was used to describe the handicapped, "Oriental" meant Asian and Latinos were called "Chicanos" . The word "Midget" was followed by "Dwarf" and is now currently "Little People". A group of "Little People", after allowing themselves to be totally exploited by the bums that run the tawdry and desperate reality-TV business, have now seen fit to appeal to the FCC, calling for a ban on the word "midget" after Joan Rivers said something about it on "Celebrity Apprentice", a show virtually no one in the world watches.

Read the story HERE. And, as always, let me know what you think. Is this a BIG deal or SMALL time nonsense? Are these people getting the SHORT end of the stick?

The Next Mayor

- The Courier Journal's political writer Joe Gerth penned a brief but excellent article yesterday in which he laid out possible candidates for Louisville's 2010 race for mayor. Gerth says that by 2010 Abramson may have turned his attention toward the Lt. Governor's position, leaving the mayoral race wide open. I believe Abramson will avoid a statewide race and return to the private sector, where he will reap the rewards of over 20 years of nest-feathering. Either way, Jerry is on his way out of office. So with that behind us, I give you my early pick for Louisville Mayor 2010.

Back in March, I wrote about Tyler Allen of 8664. Even if you don't agree with him (I do), you are forced to admit he has quite a grand vision for all of Louisville. He's upbeat in a realistic way. He's personable. He's a natural leader. He's tough and true to the things he believes in. These are the reasons I was pleased to see Allen's name mentioned in Gerth's CJ article as a *possible* candidate. I hope Tyler Allen gets in the ring. Our city will be better for it.

- Reminder: The 9 year old Prairie Village All Star Team will begin playing districts soon. You can help support them by eating dinner at Beef O'Brady's on Valley Station Road Monday July 6 from 4PM to 8PM. Rick Totten, the restaurant owner, says that he wants to help the players who will be representing our community. The restaurant will donate a percentage of all sales from 4PM to 8PM to the 9 year old All-Star Team. All proceeds will help offset the costs associated with the All-Star Games.