Update: Southwest Community Association of Neighborhoods (SCAN)

**UPDATE**

This is a follow up to my prior story on the Southwest Community Association of Neighborhoods and its Founder, President and Director Letty "Diana" Newton, a group that I had been told was no longer a going concern by several interested parties. According to the latest available information, Mrs. Newton is still an employee of Louisville Metro Government and works in the office of Councilman Doug Hawkins (R-25). I opined that the group appeared to be raising funds but not following the law in filing the proper IRS 990 forms.

After a little searching I found some information on the Kentucky Secretary of State's website that pertains to this group. It is, indeed, still operating, although not in any real sense in service to Southwest Louisville's neighborhoods. The group's mailing address has been changed to a P.O. Box downtown. The group has also been filing reports with the Kentucky Secretary of State's Office. To Wit:

My concerns are now amplified on this subject. We have this group, SCAN, that claims to be representing Southwest Louisville neighborhoods that is not doing anything of the sort. This group is also very possibly raising money, which should mean they are distributing money to others. After checking with the Internal Revenue Service, I found there are no records pertaining to the required yearly reports (Form 990) for this 501(c)3 group in the federal government's possession. And the group's founder, president and director, Mrs. Newton works for a Metro Councilman, which to any concerned citizen would logically seem like an enormous conflict of interest. The organization has a website, but it has been abandoned and has not been updated since 2004.

The questions are: When will SCAN file the required 990 reports with the IRS? Will Councilman Doug Hawkins disclose if he or anyone on the Metro Council has directed any city funds toward this group? Who is benefiting from any funds dispersed by the group? Is the group still based in Southwest Louisville now that it's chief officer has moved from the area? Is it legal or ethical for the group's leader to be working for and have access to city government or its resources?

These are questions being asked by me on behalf of the citizens of Southwest Louisville. Not out of malice, but because we need good, quality organizations that are looking out for our best interests. This is obviously not such a group. The questions asked here must be answered thoroughly, and soon.

More to come.

We Aren't Bankers...

Help Is On The Way

Help is on the way for United States-based automobile manufacturers in spite of Mitch McConnell & Co.'s best efforts to bust the Autoworkers Union.

Yesterday, right before the U.S. Senate loan deal for automakers fell through, Senate Republicans like Mitch demanded the UAW agree to lower pay and benefits "that would be in line with compensation earned by workers at U.S. factories producing cars for Japanese companies such as Honda, Toyota and Nissan." Having Senate Republicans try to set salaries for autoworkers is reckless and idiotic. Consider this: THEY are the ones who have spent this country dry on pork projects and a misguided war to the tune of $600 billion, and just last month gave away, without condition, $700+ billion to banks that didn't even ask for the money. To think they could set an hourly wage for an autoworker in this country is downright insulting to Americans. How about we Americans get a chance to set THEIR salaries?

This is an excerpt from an article by Eric Boehlert on Media Matters:
Felix Salmon at Portfolio did perhaps the best job explaining the misinformation at play:

The average GM assembly-line worker makes about $28 per hour in wages, and I can assure you that GM is not paying $42 an hour in health insurance and pension plan contributions. Rather, the $70 per hour figure (or $73 an hour, or whatever) is a ridiculous number obtained by adding up GM’s total labor, health, and pension costs, and then dividing by the total number of hours worked. In other words, it includes all the healthcare and retirement costs of retired workers.

Indeed, according to this Associated Press report, a chunk of GM’s $70-an-hour labor costs goes toward paying current retirees’ pensions and health-care coverage. In other words, that’s money that’s not going to end up in the pocket of any autoworker when he cashes his paycheck this week. That’s money GM has to set aside in order to pay off costs associated with workers already in retirement. That money has absolutely nothing to do with calculating the hourly wage of a full-time UAW employee today. None.

The United States helps foreign auto companies; gives them land worth billions, state incentives worth billions and training funds worth tens of millions of dollars. Japan helps the Japanese automakers, Germany helps the German automakers, Korea helps the Korean automakers. The United States had better start helping Americans keep American jobs at American auto companies. The nonsense you are hearing from Republicans in the Senate, the idiots on talk radio and the anti-union, corporate-owned media crowd only glosses over the facts. FACT: Senator Shelby from Alabama has no problem throwing piles of your money at foreign based automobile companies to locate a plant in his state. HERE'S THE PROOF. McConnell has no problem making sure we negotiate crooked, one-sided trade deals where foreign cars get dumped in America but American products have no chance being sold overseas. Wake up!!

There are a lot of union autoworkers in Louisville, and many reside in Southwest Louisville. These people are your friends and neighbors. You go to church with them. Your kids play with their kids. Don't insult and degrade them by acting as though you think you know how much they deserve to be paid per hour. With these high-paying jobs, they are paying more taxes so you don't have to. But when these jobs are gone, watch your tax bill, because the shortfall in receipts must come from you.

This matter affects all of us. Stand with American industry, and back the union autoworker. Thanks to the government, you are all the support he/she has left.

Call Senator Bunning (202-224-4343) and Senator McConnell (202-224-2541). Tell them to get their asses in gear.

Find A Felon Friday 12/12/2008

Today, courtesy of LMPD, there are four (4) suspects for our "Find A Felon Friday" feature.

Kenneth L. Malone - Murder. Considered Armed and Dangerous
William Woods - Attempted Murder of a Police Officer
Joey Saho - Escape. This guy cut off his home incarceration bracelet
Pearl V. Moxley - Drug Charges

You may view the suspects HERE.

Let's get 'em boys!!

Local Union Activist on 590am WLVK

Louisville Ford retiree and UAW activist Kirk Gillenwaters will be appearing on the Sue Wylie Show from 10am - 11am on WVLK 590am in Lexington. He will be speaking on the failure of the Senate to pass the loan package for the Big 3 automakers.

You may listen live HERE, and call in your support or questions Toll Free: (877) 777-0590. You may also email the show: SueWylie@WVLKam.com

Yarmuth Assigned to Ways and Means Committee

Your 3rd District U.S. Representative, John Yarmuth (D-KY), has been assigned to the Committee on Ways and Means starting next month upon the opening of the 111th Congress. This is good news because Ways and Means is a powerful committee that has jurisdiction over Health, Trade, Social Security, Oversight and Income Security & Family Support.

More on Ways and Means can be found HERE.

A local report by WLKY32 on Yarmuth's appointment can be seen HERE.

Special thanks go to John Yarmuth for continuing his tradition of donating his congressional salary to charity and for keeping the working men and women of the Third Congressional District in mind as he casts his votes. We are grateful for your service and wish you the best.

My friend over at State of the Commonwealth is posting on this also. Check him out HERE.

McConnell Says "NO" to Automaker Loan

UPDATE 12/12/2008, 12:22am: Mitch & Co. just killed the automakers loan bill. Read the disaster HERE.


Aren't you glad that Mitch McConnell got re-elected? Mitch came out today and said "No" to a bridge loan for the Big 3 automakers. Yes, the same Mitch McConnell that voted to give away money in a bailout of banks with no string attached. A free bailout to firms whose CEO gets $354 million in total compensation over the past five years as Richard Fuld of Lehman Brothers has. But when unionized companies come and ask for a loan, there are conditions.

McConnell seems to want a guarantee that the unions will be busted at the companies before he agrees to LOAN money. What an ass.

HERE is a take from the West Coast.

CNN has it HERE.

Local coverage is lacking at the moment. All the C-J has is an opinion piece on the matter. When there is a local news outlet that covers McConnell's statement, I'll put the link up. Until then, enjoy this video clip by my friend Jim Pence from The Hillbilly Report. It is good stuff.

Mayor's Bluff Called: No Layoffs

Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson has filled the $20,000,000 hole in the city's budget without laying off city employees, despite constant threats of layoffs and desperate attempts to blame labor unions for prolonging the process. Included in the plan is the delay of over 40 building projects. At this hour, there is still no word on "opening the books" or any type of transparency associated with the budget crisis, despite calls from citizens, local bloggers, the Louisville Metro Council and organized labor for such. The Courier-Journal has the story on the details and you can read it HERE. WHAS11's story is HERE. WLKY has video HERE. FOX41's report is HERE.

I am still struck by the level of contempt shown by the Democratic mayor and his supporters towards labor unions. The local budget crisis and the American automobile industry's congressional loan deal has brought out the worst anti-union sentiment I have seen in a long time, especially among liberals, a group that has seemingly lost its collective marbles with respect to unions. Future contract negotiations with Jerry should be a real hoot, as should political meetings between trade unionists and Democrats.

All is not lost, however, and we shall eventually recover. Let's all take a breath and get back to work for Southwest Louisville, but remember to continue to push for openness and please continue to back our police, fire and other public safety unions.

Mayor Talks Budget Cuts LIVE

Courtesy of the Courier-Journal, here's the Mayor's news conference that began at 3:30pm, December 10, 2008.

The Local Weekly - The South End's Only Paper

For those of you who do not know, there is a local paper covering the South End called The Local Weekly. Courtesy of Southwest Louisville resident Trevor Hemingway, it is distributed for free and read by 6500 people a month. Lets help this guy double his numbers. Here are the locations where you can find The Local Weekly:

Mike Linnig's
Ken's Haircutting
Tuscany Italian Restaurant
Rubbies
Greenwood Drycleaners
SportsClips Haircuts
Yorktown Laundromat
Siggy's Pizza & Pub
Mr. Lou's Country Cottage Restaurant
Taco Tico
Shively City Hall
Dr. Richard Keeling, DMD
Circle K (2 Locations)
Midas
1st Wok
CC Rider of Louisville
Coco's Bakery
N&V Auto Repair Service
The Pie Pantry
El Nopal
Moby Dick (12416 Dixie Hwy)
Wick's Pizza
Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken
National College
Shooter's Indoor Golf
Treat Ur Self
Hometown Buffet
A & W
China Dragon
Crown Staffing
Hemingway & Travelstead
Fire Fresh BBQ
Jimbo's Bar-B-Q
Jessie's Restaurant
Spectators Bar & Grill
United Staffing
Granny's Apron
Sister Beans Coffee House
Avada
First Class Nails Hair Tanning
The Edge Hair Salon
Beef O Brady's
Savinos Italian Restaurant
Steelhorse Saloon
Golden Palace Buffet
Hoops
Porkys BBQ
World Nails
Mexico Tipico
Popeyes Chicken
Rumballs Family Restaurant
KFC ( Valley Station)
The Southwest Center
Gailor Animal Hospital
Claude Reynolds Insurance
Penn Station East Coast Subs
Beargrass Medical Associates
1st Stop Food Mart (National Turnpike)
Hair V

The Local Weekly can be reached by telephone @ 502-994-6263 or Fax 502-966-4654. Please support these local businesses and our local paper. Spread the news!

Unions Join in Call to Open the Books - Fox 41

See the story from Fox 41 HERE.

The information that is available online is incomplete, and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report is coming before the end of the month. The CAFR will tell the tale. That is why the Mayor says, "There's no time!!"

Poll Question: Mayor & Budget Crisis

Online Surveys & Market Research

Joint Statement From The Valley Report & LouHI

Dear friends and readers,

The following is a letter co-written with Steve Magruder at Louisville History & Issues with help from residents concerning the citizen's desire to have the city open the financial books for public scrutiny. It has been a work in progress and writing it has been fun. It will be sent to the editor of the Courier-Journal this evening. If you would like to sign your name to this letter, please let me know. Thank you!

While Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson is busy slashing salaries, enacting furloughs, cutting programs and ignoring calls from citizens for transparency in city finances, local bloggers are taking the word to the streets with a simple message: Open the Books.

People from all walks of life, from all neighborhoods, political stances and economic backgrounds are making plain their demands to us and, as citizen journalists, it is our responsibility to deliver this message. The citizens of Louisville want city government to make public the financial records that prove Louisville to be in such dire economic straits. The citizens demand that the Mayor and the council make transparent all records of revenue and expenditures so that we may assist in helping to determine what appropriate budgetary changes to make. Accordingly, the citizens also demand that local government freeze all decisions on personnel and service cuts for at least thirty (30) days, so that we may make sure our examinations of these records as well as the forthcoming annual report on city finances are thorough and complete.

We learned the hard way in these last eight years what to expect when a Mayor, Governor, Legislator or President says, “There is no time…we must act.” We are committed to not let this happen again. We need more than the opinion of a mayor with a history of exercising "carte blanche" accounting in a highly opaque manner. And we will not sit idly by while highly necessary services or personnel, particularly those related to public safety, are cut while there's a potential for extraneous high-level staff, bloated, unnecessary programs or any of the mayor's hidden expenditures escaping the budget cutting knife. For the sake of our beloved hometown Louisville Metro and its citizens, we demand action NOW. OPEN THE BOOKS. After all, it's OUR MONEY. And this mayor was elected to SERVE US.

Needed: Volunteers for VITA Tax Service program

Needed: Volunteers for VITA Tax Service program

Louisville -- This year, 1,088 taxpayers and their families in District 14 were helped by the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. As the program gets ready for 2009, two workshops will be offered to train volunteers.

“I am so pleased with this program because it helps families who earn less than $42,000 a year with the filing of taxes,” says Councilman Bob Henderson (D-14). “Now, we are offering training to volunteers who would like to help with this program.”

The VITA program is a free service offered and is manned by volunteers.

The two training workshops will be held on two Saturdays in December, the 13th and 20th. It is from 9:00am to 5:00pm on both days. The training will be held in at the Southwest Library in the Kroger Shopping Center, 10375 Dixie Highway.

“You only have to attend one session or a morning and afternoon session on different weekends,” says Henderson. “This may seem like many hours but the reward in helping a young family or an elderly person, far outweigh the time you put into volunteering.”
Henderson says if there are some who do not wish to help in filing taxes, there are other ways to help. Some volunteers will be greeters or as a screener to help clients with their initial paperwork.

“The people who worked the service last year were elated and surprised at the fun they had with the service they provided,” says Henderson.

The VITA Program will start up in January 16th and not end until April 15th There is a goal this year to help 2000 people with their taxes. If you would like more information about the workshops, contact Councilman Henderson’s office at 574-3459 or 574-3529.

Sun Valley's Holiday Happenings

Sun Valley holds Holiday Happenings in December
Events planned for kids and seniors on Dec. 12th & 23rd

Louisville – The Sun Valley Community Center will officially welcome the holiday season with a series of events for children and senior citizens during the month of December.
“This is a special time of year, and the staff of the Sun Valley Community Center is making sure everyone has a nice holiday,” says Councilman Bob Henderson (D-14).
The Children’s Christmas party will get underway on Friday, December 12th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
There will be treats, arts and crafts, games, cookie decoration and Santa Claus will also be on hand. Bring your camera for a picture taking session with the Jolly Old Elf from the North Pole.
Then, on Tuesday, December 23rd, the Senior Christmas party will get underway beginning at 10:00am. The party will include food and lots of fun. The “Showtime Seniors” are also set to entertain.
The Center is also planning field trips for children, ages 6 to 12, as part of the holiday fun. The field trips are set for December 23rd and 30th. The time is 8:00am to 5:30pm. The cost for the two days is $30.00 per child and reservations must be made to participate. The number to call is 937-8802.
“If you have never been out to the Sun Valley Community Center, this is your chance,” say Henderson. “The facility is one of the finest and the staff is working hard to serve everyone out in our area.”
The Sun Valley community Center is located at 6505 Bethany Lane.

The Valley Report Needs Your Input

This site, along with Louisville History & Issues, needs input from our readers on crafting a letter to be sent to the editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal. We are looking for your ideas and suggestions to help alert the public to the importance of opening the books ahead of Mayor Abramson's announcement Wednesday. The mayor is expected to lay out more cuts and possibly layoffs.

We could do this alone, but we would rather have help from the citizens, making it more broad-based and accepted as being more than just a concern of the "blogging community". It is with your help that we can expect to make the case for transparency in our government.

You may either leave a comment to this post or email one of us directly.

Thank you, and remember the number one rule: "Politics is the art of controlling your environment".

UPDATE 12/08/2008 10:00pm: Thanks to Steve @ LouHI, we have a good draft going.

While Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson is busy slashing salaries, enacting furloughs, cutting programs and ignoring calls from citizens for transparency in city finances, local bloggers are taking the word to the streets with a simple message: Open the Books. People from all walks of life, from all neighborhoods, political stances and economic backgrounds are making plain their demands to us and, as citizen journalists, it is our responsibility to deliver this message. The citizens of Louisville want city government to make public the financial records that prove Louisville to be in such dire economic straits. The citizens demand that the Mayor and the council make transparent all records of revenue and expenditures so that we may assist in helping to determine what appropriate budgetary changes to make. Accordingly, the citizens also demand that local government freeze all decisions on personnel and service cuts for thirty (30) days, so that we may make sure our examinations of these records as well as the forthcoming annual report on city finances are thorough.

We learned the hard way in these last eight years what to expect when a Mayor, Governor, Legislator or President says, “There is no time…we must act.” We are committed to not let this happen again. We need more than the opinion of a mayor with a history of exercising carte blanche accounting in a highly opaque manner. For the sake of our beloved hometown Metro Louisville and its citizens, we demand action NOW. OPEN THE BOOKS.

After all, it's OUR MONEY. And this mayor was elected to SERVE US.

It's Monday Again

• - Local news had reports last night on the gathering at Otter Creek Park. WAVE3, WHAS11, FOX41
  

• - 264 more local jobs could be on the chopping block.

• - The Executive Inn is now closed forever, but you can buy some of the stuff if you loved the place that much.

• -They are "Closing The Deal" at Valley High School. Check it out.