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Metro Council President David James (D-6) has announced the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Metro Council’s Standing Committees for 2018.
Several of the Metro Council’s Standing Committees will be realigned to focus on key issues and address priorities and needs for Metro Government.
“I want to thank the members who have agreed to serve as chairs and vice chairs this year. I want to make sure we continue the positive efforts the Metro Council has made in recent years,” said James. “The Council has recently adopted some committee changes that will strengthen our oversight of Metro Government and I believe we are ready to begin a new year with our focus on serving the people of Metro Louisville.”
Among the changes:
Appointments is a free standing committee
Contracts has been merged with Labor and Economic Development
Sustainability & Parks has been separated from Public Works & Transportation and the two are now separate committees
The new Government Oversight Committee has new powers and has incorporated the old Government Accountability, Ethics and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee.
Community Affairs & Housing is now a separate committee
Health & Education is now a separate committee
President James will chair two committees: the Committee on Committees and the Committee of the Whole. The President of the Metro Council is also an ex officio member of all other committees.
Chairs and Vice-Chairs for Metro Council Committees in 2018
Committee on Committees:
- David James (D-6) Chair
- Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5) Vice Chair
Committee of the Whole:
- David James (D-6) Chair
- Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5) Vice Chair
Appropriations NDF’s and CIF’s:
- Rick Blackwell (D-12) Chair
- Julie Denton (R-19) Vice Chair
Budget:
- Bill Hollander (D-9) Chair
- Kevin Kramer (R- 11) Vice Chair
Appointments:
- Mary C. Woolridge (D-3) Chair
- Marilyn Parker (R-18) Vice Chair
Community Affairs and Housing:
- Barbara Shanklin (D-2) Chair
- Stuart Benson (R-20) Vice – Chair
Government Oversight, Audit and Ethics:
- Brent Ackerson (D-26) Chair
- Scott Reed (R-16) Vice – Chair
Health & Education:
- Angela Leet (R-7) Chair
- Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13) Vice – Chair
Labor, Economic Development and Contracts :
- Marianne Butler (D-15) Chair
- David Yates (D-25) Vice Chair
Parks, Sustainability:
- Cindi Fowler (D-14) Chair
- Brandon Coan (D-8) Vice Chair
Planning, Zoning, Land Design, and Development:
- Madonna Flood (D-24) Chair
- Glen Stuckel (R-17) Vice Chair
Public Safety:
- Jessica Green (D-1) Chair
- James Peden (R-23) Vice Chair
Public Works, Facilities, Transportation and Accessibility:
- Pat Mulvihill (D-10) Chair
- Robin Engel (R-22) Vice Chair
Mayor Greg Fischer, Metro Council members and other leaders today announced the opening of free tax preparation sites across Louisville that will provide federal and state income tax assistance to eligible residents.
Louisville Asset Building Coalition’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, and AARP Tax Aide programs provide trained, IRS-certified volunteers to offer free tax services at more than 20 sites across the city. The service is available to individuals and families who earned less than $64,000 in 2017.
VITA and AARP volunteers will also help determine if residents are eligible for the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit), a refundable federal tax credit for low- and middle-income working individuals and families. Eligibility for the EITC is based on income, the number of family members and other criteria, such as the amount of a families’ credit. Working families who earn about $53,000 or less may be eligible, with average credits last year more than $2,400.
“For many working families, free help with taxes and guidance in qualifying for the EITC can be a game-changer,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “That’s money that can go toward buying or fixing a car, paying tuition, paying off bills or making long-deferred household purchases.”
Last year, the VITA campaign and Louisville AARP sites processed more than 14,000 returns, adding more than $19.7 million to the local economy, including nearly $6 million in Earned Income Credits to residents.
Appointments are recommended for VITA free tax assistance service and can be made now by calling (502) 305-0005 or scheduling online at https://louisvillekyvita.cascheduler.com.
The VITA free tax preparation sites are located at:
- Americana Community Center, 4801 Southside Dr.
- Bates Community Development, 1228 Jackson St.
- Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place, 1411 Algonquin Pkwy. (Self-file only beginning Jan. 29)
- Edison Center , 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Suite 201
- First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Road
- Louisville Urban League, 1535 W. Broadway
- Nia Center, 2900 W. Broadway
- Portland Promise Center, 1831 Baird St.
- Salt and Light Community Development, 3025 Gerald Dr.
- Sun Valley Community Center, 6505 Bethany Lane
- United Crescent Hill Ministries, 150 State St.
- Wesley House Community Services – 5114 Preston Hwy.
For a complete list of VITA locations, including mobile sites, as well as hours of operation, visit http://labcservices.org call Metro United Way’s 211 help referral service.
Also visit the website at information about a free service for those interested in filing their own taxes online. Starting Jan. 29, two software packages — MyFreeTaxes and Turbo Tax Freedom Edition — will be available for those who meet eligibility.
In addition to the VITA sites, AARP Tax Aide’s mission is to serve any person comes through the door, with special attention to those 60 and older.
AARP sites will open Feb. 1 at the following locations:
- Buechel Park Baptist Church, 2403 Hikes Lane
- Central Government Center, 7201 Outer Loop
- Clifton Christian Church, 131 Vernon Ave.
- East Government Center, 200 Juneau Dr.
- Iroquois Branch Library, 601 W Woodlawn Ave.
- Jeffersontown Senior Center, 10631 Watterson Trail
- Lyndon Baptist Church, 8025 New LaGrange Rd.
- Portland Branch Library, 3305 Northwestern Parkway
- Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie Hwy.
For a full AARP schedule and listing, including mobile sites, visit http://www.aarp-tax-aide-lou.org or call (502) 394-3443.
To help preparers accurately determine EITC eligibility and prepare returns, individuals should bring:
- Picture ID and Social Security cards for everyone listed on the return
- Copy of 2016 tax return with all attachments and schedules
- W-2s and 1099s from your employers
- Other 1099s for interest, dividends, state tax refund or other income
- 1095 for health insurance
- 1098 for education credit, plus detailed financial statement from the school
- Bank account number and routing number for direct deposit as well as savings account number (if applicable)
- Child care information, including Provider ID and actual amounts paid
- Summarized list of other income/expenses for those who itemize or are self-employed
- Additional tax information that may be required
Visit http://labcservices.org/ or http://www.aarp-tax-aide-lou.org for more information about the required documentation.
The work of the Louisville Asset Building Coalition and the AARP Tax Assistance Program is made possible by Metro United Way, Louisville Metro Government, the IRS, the AARP Tax-Aide Foundation and dozens of other partners.
The Offices of the Louisville Metro Council and the Metro Council Clerk will be closed on Monday, January 15th in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.
The offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 16th.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
In a unanimous vote, Councilman David James (D-6) is the new the new President of the Louisville Metro Council for 2018.
“To my colleagues I want to say thank you to each of you for your vote tonight and your commitment to making our city a better place for our constituents. Each of you represent every person in our city and I know from working with each of you that you are dedicated to expressing yourselves passionately as you represent your constituents and that’s one of the things I love so much about each of you,” said James. “This past year we came together to do some great things for our city.”
The President highlighted the Council’s work on The KFC YUM Center refinancing agreement, the Butchertown Soccer Stadium, The Passport Project at 18th and Broadway, the separation ordinance, the tree ordinance, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and the continued commitment to over $20 million in infrastructure improvements.
“I look forward to working with each of you in the coming year and helping you however, wherever and whenever I can. I’m a humble man and I ask each of you to help shepherd me through this process, so that together we can move our city forward,” said James.
In mapping out the year ahead, the President named these as challenges:
- The $38 million deficit caused by the State Pension Crisis
- Redoubling all efforts to Public Safety
- Address a dangerously overcrowded Jail
- A Youth Detention Services Agency in desperate need of attention
- A dilapidated Police Headquarters that should have been replaced years ago
- Continue commitment to fight the Opioid crisis which saw a 14% increase in Overdose deaths from the previous year
- Continue infrastructure commitment to ongoing street paving and side walk repairs throughout our city, that this Metro Council started 3 years ago
- Continue efforts of addressing Vacant and Abandoned Properties. Continue our commitment to Affordable Housing and Accessible Housing throughout our city
“In 2018 we will need to reach across the aisle, pull up our sleeves and work together not as political parties but as one body – Louisville Metro Council!” said James.
The President concluded by asking for the community’s help in the coming year.
“So, while we tackle all of these issues and many more, I ask the community to pray for us and I ask that we pray for each other, that we are able to find solutions to our challenges and peace in our hearts as we work together passionately to make Louisville Metro a better place for all of our citizens, in all geographic areas and in all neighborhoods so that no one is left behind and every one throughout our city has the same opportunities to prosper, have a good education, enjoy good health, be safe and live in peace.”
David James was elected to the Metro Council in November of 2010. He serves the neighborhoods of Algonquin, California, Limerick, Old Louisville, Park Hill, Russell, St. Joseph, Shelby Park, Smoketown-Jackson, Taylor-Berry, University, and the Central Business District.
He has previously held leadership positions as Democratic Caucus Chair in 2013 and 2015. He has also been chair of the Metro Council’s Public Safety Committee.
H. Stephen Ott was unanimously reelected as the Metro Council Clerk for 2018. He has served as Metro Council Clerk since 2013.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
During their first Caucus meeting of 2018, the nine Republican members of the Louisville Metro Council’s Minority Caucus unanimously elected Councilwoman Angela Leet (District 7) to the position of Caucus Chair and Councilman Kevin Kramer (District 11) as Caucus Vice-Chair.
Councilwoman Leet is the first female to hold the position of Caucus Chair. Councilwoman Marilyn Parker and Kentucky Senator Julie Raque Adams had both served multiple terms in caucus leadership.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
On Thursday, members of the Democratic Caucus elected Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5) to serve as Majority Caucus Chair for 2018. The position also carries with it the title of President Pro Tem of the Metro Council. The Caucus elected Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4) to serve as Vice-Chair.
“I am honored to serve this Caucus and I look forward to the work we will undertake in the next year to advance legislation and fund projects, programs, and organizations that will create a better city for all,” said Hamilton. “We have challenges ahead and we advocate on behalf of our constituents, many of whom are facing unprecedented challenges during one of the most precarious times and our goal should always be a better quality of life for those who ask us to serve.”
Hamilton is a founding member of the Metro Council elected to serve in 2002 and reelected in 2006, 2010, and 2014. She represents residents of Portland, Russell, Chickasaw, Shawnee and Parkland areas.
She was the first Majority Caucus Chair when the Metro Council was formed in January 2003. She was a member of the Louisville Board of Aldermen prior to merged government. She is a graduate of Fisk University and the North Carolina Central University School of Law
In 2017, she recently served as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus for two terms and chaired the Metro Council’s Labor and Economic Development Committee. She has served in numerous leadership positions on the Council and the Community.
“It is an honor to serve alongside Cheri Bryant Hamilton as we begin a new year focusing of the needs and opportunities for all our citizens together,” said Sexton Smith.
Councilwoman Sexton Smith was elected in November of 2016. She serves the people of the Central Business District as well as the Russell, Butchertown Neighborhoods, Smoketown, Shelby Park, Phoenix Hill, and parts of Portland, Meriweather, Irish Hill, Germantown and Paristown Point.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin (D-2) is inviting the community to join a special event with the Men of Peace for the 21st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Brunch with the continuing theme of “Keeping the Dream Alive” as Metro Louisville kicks off a week of special events to honor the late civil rights leader.
“Dr. King’s message of civil rights and social justice continues to be an important message for all of us in Louisville, Kentucky and in our country,” says Shanklin. “This brunch is one of the ways we help our young people understand the need for equality for all while we strive for justice and peace in the world.”
The MLK Jr. Brunch will get underway at 11:00am at Newburg Middle School, 4901 Exeter Avenue on Saturday, January 13th.
This year’s featured speaker is the Reverend Lesa Dae of St. Stephens Church Women’s Ministry.
The event is an important fundraising effort for various youth programs sponsored by the Men of Peace Presbyterian Church throughout the year.
“These programs provide us an opportunity to help the young people of Metro Louisville lead a better life and become better citizens,” says Shanklin. “I am pleased to help the Men of Peace spread Dr. King’s message through their actions. I hope the community will come out and celebrate with us as we all enjoy this event.”
For ticket information about the 21st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch, call Michael Foree Sr. at 502-819-5723 or contact Councilwoman Shanklin’s office at 574-1102.
