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SubscribeMayor Greg Fischer, joined by representatives of the University of Louisville and local and international compassion organizations, today announced a new Compassionate Cities Index.
The Index, a project from U of L’s Institute for Sustainable Health & Optimal Aging, in partnership with Louisville Metro Government, the University of Louisville School of Medicine, the International Center for Compassionate Cities, Compassionate Louisville and the International Charter for Compassion, is a comprehensive study designed to measure compassion at the city level within the context of individual communities.
Fischer and the Louisville Metro Council formally committed to the international Charter for Compassion in 2011, and today, for the fifth year in a row, was named a Model City for Compassion by the Charter of Compassion.
Louisville was honored for its focus on compassion and for programs such as the Mayor’s Give A Day Week of Service, and the success of Compassionate Louisville, a grassroots network of organizations that have adopted the Compassion Resolution.
“Compassion is one of our three city pillars, reflecting our commitment to ensuring that all in our city have the opportunity and resources necessary to reach their full human potential,” Mayor Fischer said. “We are honored to be named a model for that work, and we’re excited about this new tool for measuring that work.”
The Compassionate Cities Index carries this work further by defining and measuring the components that make cities compassionate. University of Louisville Drs. Joe D’Ambrosio and Anna Faul, both with the Institute of Sustainable Health & Optimal Aging, plan a comprehensive study that looks beyond dollars donated and hours volunteered, to measure how people feel and act with compassion within the context of their specific community.
“This study is unique because we are capturing both subjective and objective measures that indicate compassion,” said Faul who is executive director of the institute. Data will be gathered from the 37 standard ZIP codes in Jefferson County, with the goal of 67 survey responses per ZIP code.
D’Ambrosio, director of health innovation and sustainability for the institute, explained the goals of the research: “This will allow us to understand how people practice compassion within the context of their neighborhood and examine how the city as a whole is promoting a culture of compassion.”
“The Compassionate Cities Index answers the call from cities around the world for an adaptable tool that measures their definition of compassion. It is an honor for Louisville to be the first location to implement the Index,” said Corinne Witzel of the International Center for Compassionate Cities.
“There is a strong correlation between individual health and the quality of life for a community’s citizens as they grow older. Compassion is a key component of both quality of health and quality of life. This index will provide valuable guideposts for improving wellbeing for all of us at every stage of our lives,” said Toni Ganzel, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the UofL School of Medicine.
Participants in the study must be over the age of 18 residing in Jefferson County. Participants can complete the survey online at http://www.optimalaginginstitute.org/meaure-compassion or contact the institute at (502) 852-5228 to receive a paper survey to complete.
Study volunteers also are needed to participate in a 30-minute semi-structured interview. If you are interested in being interviewed, please contact Lauren Humpert, study coordinator, at (502)852-5228 or lauren.humpert@louisville.edu.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and the 15th District Parent Teacher Association (PTA) are encouraging Louisville families to “Take What You Can Tote” on Saturday, Dec. 10.
The annual clothing giveaway event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Clothing Assistance Program (CAP) building, 319 S. 15th Street. Each year, community members are invited to the CAP building to select gently used clothing for their children, other members of their family and themselves. While any Louisville family in need is welcome, the initiative specifically targets Louisville’s Zones of Hope neighborhoods: California, Newburg, Parkland, Russell and Shawnee.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Louisville community and the hard work of our 15th District PTA, hundreds of families are able to take advantage of this important program each year,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens. “An event of this size would not be possible without the community’s clothing donations and the help of community volunteers.”
“The generosity of our community and volunteers who help with this event is life changing to many of our families in the community,” said Heather Wampler, president of the 15th District PTA. “We appreciate every donation we receive and every volunteer who helps. Together we can make a difference.”
Families attending Take What You Can Tote may fill as many as four bags, which will be provided by organizers. Community members will be served on a first-come, first-served basis to select from gently used adult and children’s clothing.
While this clothing giveaway does not include school uniforms, CAP does provide new uniforms and gently used clothing to district families, by appointment, throughout the year. Families needing assistance should contact their child’s Family Resource and Youth Services Center (FRYSC) coordinator to make an appointment.
Each year, CAP serves thousands of families throughout the Louisville community. This event is made possible through the generous donations of local PTA clothing drives, community members, churches, and civic and social organizations.
Metro Councilmembers Bill Hollander (D-9) and Cheri Bryant-Hamilton (D-5) announced today that they have introduced an ordinance relating to Louisville Metro trees.
Adoption of such an ordinance was the very first of 41 recommendations in the 2015 Louisville Urban Tree Canopy Assessment. It was also recommended by the Louisville Metro Tree Advisory Commission, after a lengthy review of ordinances in dozens of other cities, including several in Kentucky.
“We have seen a significant loss in tree canopy in Louisville Metro and this ordinance will help focus attention on the issue, protect the trees we have and reduce the possibility of more losses,” Councilman Hollander said. “It recognizes that trees are important to quality of life and to our health”.
“Our community needs more trees, desperately. Studies have shown that it makes a difference and it will reduce the temperature in the City,” said Councilwoman Hamilton. “We need to do a better job of getting people to connect the dots between our environment and our health and this ordinance will help.”
The proposed ordinance covers “public trees”, which includes trees located on Metro Government owned or controlled land or in public right-of-way areas, except for parks and parkways under the jurisdiction of Louisville Metro Parks.
It consolidates Louisville’s tree efforts into the Metro Division of Community Forestry, to provide oversight and comprehensive coordination for tree and forestation issues. Among other things, the Division will create a management plan to outline goals and concerns regarding trees, tree canopy and forestation.
A new Louisville Metro Tree Advisory Committee — appointed by the Mayor and approved by Metro Council — would assist in those efforts.
The ordinance also establishes policies and standards for public trees, clarifying and replacing the provisions of several existing ordinances. For example, the ordinance includes a common sense provision that new trees that grow to a height of more than 25 feet not be planted within 15 feet of an overheard utility line. Currently required tree removal permits would be conditioned on replacement of the public tree, unless a waiver is granted.
“A healthy tree canopy contributes mightily to a healthy community, improving air and water quality, reducing the urban heat island effect, and providing a more pleasant place to live, work, learn, and play,” Cindi Sullivan, Executive Director of the non-profit TreesLouisville, said. “To improve our community tree canopy, we must protect our existing trees and plant new trees.”
The ordinance would also create a Community Forestry Escrow Fund, which would establish and maintain a landowner assistance program, intended to help defray the cost of mandated tree removal or remedial action on behalf of indigent property owners. The fund would receive all monetary penalties related to trees and could also accept donations from the public.
Property owners could voluntarily protect historic and specimen trees on private property. The only other provision which affects trees on private property deals with trees that are a public nuisance or a threat of the spread of disease or infestation to other trees.
Hollander noted that the ordinance is just part of the effort to increase Louisville Metro’s tree canopy. Metro Council has recently made changes in the Land Development Code which protect trees in proposed Conservation Subdivisions. Other changes in the Land Development Code are under consideration, including as part of the adoption of a new Comprehensive Plan.
The ordinance will be assigned to a Metro Council committee and be considered early next year.
Louisville Metro Government ended the 2015-2016 fiscal year with a $6.2 million surplus, and Mayor Greg Fischer proposes spending the bulk of those dollars to battle the spike in gun violence. That includes hiring 28 additional police officers; $2.1 million for targeted violence reduction strategies, such as a new Street Intervention Specialists team; and expansion of the SummerWorks program and graffiti removal efforts.
“We are in the midst of a public health and safety crisis that requires our focused attention and resources,” Mayor Fischer said. “This spending plan targets our resources at both long- and short-term approaches.”
In an ordinance submitted to Metro Council today, the Mayor earmarks $700,000 to bring on the additional officers over the next six months, and $2.1 million for violence reduction, including Louisville Metro Police enforcement efforts, and the city’s Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods’ work addressing prevention, intervention and re-entry.
“With this allocation, we are asking our teams what resources they need to get the job done, and we are providing those resources,” the Mayor said.
(Learn more about public safety in Louisville)
For the spending plan to be enacted and the public safety enhancements implemented in early 2017, Metro Council must approve the plan this month.
Council President David Yates said today that, “Public safety continues to be an immediate and primary focus of concern. The Louisville Metro Council supports investing in ways to decrease violence in our community.”
And David James, chairman of the council’s Public Safety Committee, said: “I am very pleased to be working with the Mayor and his administration as we utilize some of our budget surplus funds to work together on enhanced violence reduction efforts.”
The 28 new police officers are in addition to the 122 the city is hiring in the current fiscal year – bringing the total number of recruits to the city’s maximum annual capacity of 150 – the most police officers hired by the city in a single year since city-county merger.
The Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods will coordinate the Street Intervention Specialists team — contractors hired to work directly on the street to disrupt violence. The office’s other efforts range from prevention programs like “Peace Ed;” intervention programs like “Pivot to Peace;” and re-entry efforts like Right Turn and ReImage.
Fischer is also proposing to relocate some LMPD staff to the Metro Employee Wellness Center Building at 400 South First St.
The administration had initially considered moving all of LMPD headquarters but is postponing that move until the next budget cycle. Instead, only those affected by significant plumbing and other issues are being moved now.
“We’ve made the decision to use the surplus to address the most pressing needs, and violence intervention is THE most pressing need,” the Mayor said.
The surplus was realized through improved revenues and professional expense management, Fischer said, reflecting an efficient and effective government.
“We can credit an improved economy and sound departmental stewardship, as well as required accounting adjustments as the city progressed through its routine financial audit for the fiscal year that ended on June 30,” agreed CFO Daniel Frockt. The auditors are still finalizing their work, which will result in the release of the city’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) in late December.
Here is a summary of the Mayor’s proposed spending of the $6.2 million surplus:
- Violence intervention strategies, $2.1 million
- Hiring of 28 LMPD officers, $700,000
- Moving some LMPD staff, $50,000
- Additional expenses for Metro Corrections, due to high inmate count, $665,000
- Expanding SummerWorks to hire 40 teens for the summer, $100,000
- Hiring of a Chief Equity Officer and staff, $115,000
- Additional personnel for graffiti removal/Clean and Bright team, $110,000
- Recruitment and retention efforts for Metro Parks front-line employees who clean parks and mow grass, $350,000
- Purchasing an additional 3,000 garbage carts for citizens, $160,000
- Increasing Rainy Day Fund by $1.8 million
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) has named Wilkerson Elementary Principal Rina Gratz as its new director of early childhood programs.
Gratz, a 26-year veteran of education programs, is in her fifth year as principal of Wilkerson. Prior to that she served one year as the district’s priority schools manager, and previously held numerous positions at the state level coordinating Title III programs for English language learners and serving as a program consultant for primary education, K-3 literacy, equity and school improvement.
“It’s very gratifying to me that I have come back to my roots,” Gratz said. “My passion for education really began with my love for early childhood education. I’m excited to be coming full circle, and I look forward to working with the team to ensure our youngest students develop fully and are ready for kindergarten.”
“Rina’s experience in early childhood education will be an invaluable asset as we continue our efforts to ensure every child enters school with the skills they need to be successful,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens.
Gratz will stay on at the school until her replacement is named.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Philippines, a master’s degree from Fordham University and conducted her instructional leadership preparation at Eastern Kentucky University.
Louisville Metro Government will seek to intervene in the pending case before the Public Service Commission (PSC) involving Louisville Gas & Electric’s request for an increase in utility rates.
The city’s $17 million LG&E annual expense makes Louisville Metro one of the largest, if not the largest, single customers that LG&E serves. LG&E’s requested 8.5 percent rate increase would affect all local residents and could potentially reduce the number of local families served by Louisville Metro’s low-income heating assistance program. As the state’s largest urban area, Louisville Metro also provides and pays for the most extensive street light and traffic light infrastructure of any city in Kentucky.
“It’s important for Metro Government to be part of the discussion on a decision that will impact every household in our city,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “This will allow us the ability to advocate for the citizens of Louisville while better understanding the needs of LG&E.”
Fischer said this strategy aligns with other efforts to keep utility rate increase as low as possible, including at MSD and Louisville Water. The Mayor said he was especially concerned about the impact of rate increases on low-income families.
Mike O’Connell, in his capacity as Jefferson County Attorney, will directly represent Louisville Metro and the interests of its citizens on this matter. The county attorney will also engage an outside law firm and use other expert resources as necessary.
“Louisville Metro has a special interest in this case that cannot be represented by any other party,” O’Connell said. “It is important that the concerns of Louisville be heard. We will present issues and develop facts that will assist the Public Service Commission in fully considering this issue.”
Louisville Metro will formally file its motion to intervene with the PSC later this month. The PSC will then decide whether to grant Louisville Metro’s request, along with any other groups who have already sought or may seek intervenor status.
The decision to seek intervention drew praise from other city officials.
“It is important that Metro Government intercede to be a voice for the hundreds of thousands of people who will not be able to speak directly to the Public Service Commission,” Metro Council President David Yates said. “For many households, the economy is slowly improving and we as representatives for every citizen of Louisville have a duty to ensure no undue burden is placed upon the shoulders of rate payers, of whom many are only just beginning to find room to breathe, financially. I fully support Metro Government’s decision to intervene.”
“Many of us on Metro Council have concerns about LG&E’s rate request, particularly the troublesome increase in fixed charges, which have the potential to undermine energy efficiency and disproportionately impact low-income residents,’ Councilman Bill Hollander said. “Louisville Metro should have a seat at the table as these issues are decided and we applaud the decision to intervene.”
“It is important for Louisville Metro to speak on behalf of our residents,” Councilman Kevin Kramer said. “While it is appropriate for LG&E to seek ways to more efficiently offer and monitor its service, these efforts should actually result in lower long term costs for LG&E. A temporary increase in expense should not lead to a long term increase in rates.”
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer today announced the ABCs of Buying Local social media campaign. The campaign aims to increase dollars spent locally during the holiday season.
Starting this week, various business groups are being featured thorough the holidays, with A for Arts on Monday; B for Bourbon on Tuesday, and C for Chocolate on Wednesday. The campaign runs through Friday, December 23.
“It’s true that from A-Z, Louisville small businesses have something to offer everyone,” said Fischer. “From local restaurants that sell farm-raised, Kentucky Proud products to your favorite locally-brewed cup of coffee, Louisville’s small business shopping experience is second to none.”
Follow Louisville Forward on Twitter (@LouForward) and Instagram (@LouisvilleForward) to find out each day’s category.
The public is encouraged to join in the fun by sharing their favorite local gift giving ideas and favorite local places to shop using #BuyLocalLou.
A recent study of Louisville-area businesses shows that for every $100 spent at a locally owned, independent business, $55 is reinvested locally. By shopping local, consumers also help to preserve the unique community character of the Metro Louisville area.
