Say NO To Bridge TOLLS!

What: Say NO to Bridge TOLLS submitting comments at Federal Review Meeting
When: August 10, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: South Louisville Community Center 2911 Taylor Blvd., Louisville, KY

Contact:
Curtis Morrison
Communications Director, Say NO to Bridge TOLLS
curt@curtmorrison.com

Every four years the federal government reviews the planning process for Louisville-area transportation projects. At Tuesday's meeting, the group Say NO to Bridge TOLLS, will be speaking to the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration about several concerns with their our local planning process. The Louisville Southern Indiana Bridges Authority (LASIBA), has requested the Federal Highway Administration for a waiver to toll all existing bridges so as to fully control any escape from paying a toll. No other American metro region has been split in two by such misguided planning. Tolling existing bridges threatens to culturally divide our region with unprecedented precision. The Say NO to Bridge TOLLS group is a grassroots movement that started only with a facebook group, which now boasts over 1250 members.

"The goal of Say No to Bridge Tolls is to reduce the design and scope of the Ohio River Bridges Project into phases, for a scale that can be financed without tolls and connects our communities in a reasonable and affordable way," says Shawn Reilly, a co-founder of Say NO to Bridge TOLLS who will be attending the meeting.

Link to KIPDA info on meeting: http://www.kipda.org/news/news08101001.aspx
Link to Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=292754091961&ref=search
Link to Recent Article in USA Today citing Say NO to Bridge Tolls: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-08-02-RWtolls03_ST_N.htm

“Coffee with your Councilwoman” , Saturday, August 14th

Welch announces “Coffee with your Councilwoman” set for Saturday, August 14th

Metro Public Works and IPL will be on hand to answer questions

As the Louisville Metro Council focuses its attention on abandoned property and property owners, Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13) will give the public a chance to learn more about the effort when “Coffee with your Councilwoman” returns on Saturday, August 14th.

“Many people are unaware of the efforts of IPL and Metro Public Works in trying to keep up with this problem,” says Welch. “I want residents to know what we are trying to accomplish as well.”

Angela Blanford of IPL and Greg Hicks of Metro Public Works will be on hand for the event which will take place at First String Family Grill, located at 5921 New Cut Road beginning at 9:00am.

“Coffee with your Councilwoman” is an informal gathering open to the public and offers an opportunity to discuss community issues with Councilwoman Welch in a relaxed setting.

“This is a chance to ask questions of these two agencies or express a concern you may have about metro government,” says Welch. “Sometimes it is best to get away from a formal meeting and talk one on one.”

For more information about the August “Coffee with your Councilwoman”, contact Councilwoman Welch’s office at 574-1113.

Back To Business

"Life's a voyage that's homeward bound."  - Herman Melville

The Valley Report is back after a much-needed vacation. I will soon be filing a report on my trip, which unexpectedly turned into a fact-finding mission on transportation in big and small cities located throughout the Old South. Of particular interest: Three bridges with tolls in an area with high unemployment, still-climbing home foreclosures and virtually no public transport options. Oh, and the local government is broke, too.

But lets get to the local news:

- Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch was among 16 people honored by the National Association of School Resource Officers last week for her work with two District 13 schools and Louisville Metro Police. [Metro Press Release]

- As is the usual custom, Councilman Rick Blackwell will host the monthly "Coffee With Your Councilman" on Saturday August 14th. Come on out to Sister Beans, 4956 Manslick Road beginning at 10:00am. There is no formal program, just stop by and talk with the Councilman. There is also no agenda, just a chance for you to interact with your representative and support a home-grown, local business in Southwest Louisville.

- While I was out: Councilman Doug Hawkins held a fundraiser for his re-election campaign in the Bashford Manor area. For those of you keeping score, that is not in District 25.

- Via The Local Weekly: A career fair will be held at the Sun Valley Community Center at 6505 Bethany Lane on Monday, August 23, from 10 am to 3 pm. The fair is being hosted by The Lifesong and is being supported by the Louisville Urban League, JOB News and OET (Office of Employment and Training). If you are interested in finding a new job you should bring your resume. You will also have the chance to meet and greet representatives from over 35 companies, colleges and universities. This will be your chance to discuss your strengths and skills which could lead to a new job or career.

Among the companies and schools scheduled to participate are: AFLAC, AutoZone, Avon, Bellarmine University, Crowne Plaza, Jefferson Community & Technical College, Physicians Mutual, and UPS. For a complete list as well as information on the free TARC Job Hunter Bus, go to thelifesong.org and click on Career Fair.

News & Events

- The Auburndale Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a cookout today (Tuesday) at Kenwood Elementary School, 7420 Justan Ave. The cookout starts at 5:30. [CJ]

- Ground was broken for a new firehouse in the Beechmont neighborhood. The new station will cost $3.4 million. [WAVE3]

- A Camp Taylor firefighter is in the ICU after a home explosion in Fairdale. The homeowner had poured acetone, an extremely flammable solvent, all over his basement floor. [WHAS11]

- Dr. Sheldon Berman, Superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools, is scheduled to speak with the SW Dream Team. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday August 12th at 5:30 in the evening at Mill Creek Elementary School. This is not the regular meeting of the Dream Team, but anyone is invited to come and talk to Dr. Berman. The August meeting of the Dream Team is scheduled for Monday August 16th at 5p.m. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Southwest in Shively and will feature Congressman John Yarmuth.

- COMING SOON: An in-depth look at the race for the state's 37th Legislative District which is being vacated by Rep. Ron Weston. Democrat Jeff Donohue will face Republican Wade Hurt in November.

Not Everyone Has Email

Another day, another ridiculous email from Doug Hawkins. This time, it's about saving your tax dollars by refusing to support the U.S. Post Office he claims to have saved in Valley Station.

"Help me cut government waste by sending out information through e-mails. E-mails are free and timely.
A constituent asked me, “Why don’t you mail newsletters through the post office?”

It would cost metro government almost $8,000 to mail one newsletter to every household in a council district. Those are your tax dollars!

That’s a lot of money to spend on information that may be two weeks old by the time you write it, print it and mail it. For those reasons, I have never used your tax dollars to mail newsletters. Some council members mail newsletters through the post office quarterly, costing tens of thousands of dollars.

...

Like you, I’m tired of government wasting our tax dollars."

SW Political News Roundup

Here are some interesting developments and things to ponder as we approach what will surely be a crazed, whiskey-soaked election season:

- Teamsters Locals 89 and 783, UFCW Local 227 and JCTA have endorsed Republican candidate Brian Simpson in his bid against incumbent Larry Clark in the state's 46th House District.  Clark is rapidly losing labor support and is the subject of various "whisper campaigns" among union members. Influential and important people I have spoken with on the matter are taking great joy in watching Clark turn to wax as payback for years of what has been described as "back stabbing", "dirty-dealing" and "cork-screwing".

- Mayoral Candidate Hal Heiner speaks on bridge tolls:

“This afternoon the Louisville Southern Indiana Bridges Authority submitted a report to the regional planning agency with estimated tolls of $6 per trip. This would represent one of Louisville’s largest tax increases and I will not support this rate. While we realize this is a preliminary number, I urge the authority to work diligently to reduce this rate. If $6 per trip is the only way the authority can build 2 bridges, then I believe we need to reduce the scope of the project by breaking it into more manageable phases with the east end bridge being the first phase of a multi phase project. While I believe I-65 and Spaghetti Junction will ultimately have to be addressed, I find a $6 trip financially irresponsible and a burden Louisvillians will not accept.”

- Marty Meyer, candidate for the 38th District State Senate, has been busy raising big green dollars along with his campaign's profile by holding many summer events.  Neighborhood walks and phone banks are already underway, and the campaign's presence is now being felt throughout the district.  This, my friends, is how to win a race based on ideas.

- Impressive: The City of Shively has "$2 million in the bank". [CJ]