[00:00:34]
          TESTING TESTING. TESTING. TESTING. TESTING TESTING. TESTING. 
          YOU PASS THESE OUT TO ANYONE? YES YES. AND HERE'S THE OTHER PAGE. I JUST HAD TO. OKAY. AND THEY CAN SIT ON THE DESK. OKAY JUST TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE . 
          WE HAVE THEM. THEY'LL GO ON SHOW UP ON YOUR SCREEN, BUT THEY'LL. YEAH. THEY'RE NOT THE REMOTE. 
          THEY'RE MINE. IT'LL BE ON YOUR SCREEN. LIKE IF YOU LOOK UNDER YOUR SPEAKERPHONE TO THE LEFT OF YOUR SPEAKERS, IT'LL BE. DON'T SHOW UP JUST TO TYPE THEM ALL IN FOR ME. 
          ARE YOU LOOKING OVER? THAT WAY THEY CAN SEE MY, THEY CAN SEE MY LITTLE TIMER BETTER. OH, YEAH. 
          DO YOU HAVE YOUR NAME? OH. YOU'RE TRYING. I DIDN'T KNOW MY TIME. OH, YEAH? YEAH, I DON'T NEED MY. ANYWAY, THEY CAN SEE MY LITTLE DATE THING. I WAS LIKE, OKAY, COOL. YEAH. NO, NO, THAT I DON'T CARE. OKAY. YEAH, I'M ALL FOR IT. OKAY. YOU KNOW. OH. THE GUY IN THE. YOU KNOW. 
          OKAY. I'LL SEE IF I CAN FIGURE OUT HIS NAME OR HER NAME. 
          [00:05:07]
OKAY. 
          SO FAR. NO. SO. 
          [00:10:25]
THAT WASN'T RIGHT. I GOT, I GOT MY WE GOT IT ALL SET UP AND READY TO GO. AND WITH THIS MEETING, THEY BETTER UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU SAY THANK YOU. YEP. YOU BETTER GET OVER IT. BECAUSE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF WE CAN, WE CAN GET OURSELVES BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. HERE. LET'S. LET'S GET MOVING I KNOW. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS BACK TO ORDER HERE, IN JUST A COUPLE OF 
          [Call to Order]
HOUSEKEEPING PIECES HERE. SO WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO THE COMMUNITY COMMENTS. RIGHT AND SO , WE WILL BE CALLING YOU UP INDIVIDUALLY, TO FOR YOUR THREE MINUTES, THE THREE MINUTES WILL APPEAR WHERE IT WILL BE ON THE SCREEN. THE THREE MINUTES WILL APPEAR ON THE SCREEN. SO YOU'LL SEE WHEN YOU START, YOU'LL SEE IT, THE COUNTDOWN, ON THE SCREEN AND WHEN THE THREE MINUTES IS OVER, WE WILL NEED TO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, YOU LOOK AROUND YOU. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, SO WHEN YOUR THREE MINUTES IS UP, WE WILL, YOU'LL NEED TO FINISH UP. SO KEEP AN EYE ON IT SO THAT YOU CAN WRAP IT UP. IF YOU START SEEING YOURSELF GETTING CLOSE, YOU CAN WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS AND BE FINISHED AT THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS. A REMINDER THAT WE WILL NOT BE ASKING QUESTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE WILL NOT BE ASKING QUESTIONS. SO WE WILL HAVE WE'LL GET THE ADDRESSES THREE DONE. YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE SPEAKING WILL BE PASSED TO YOU. SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THEM, YOU CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THEM USING THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION. ALL RIGHT. GOOD. WE'RE ALL CLEAR. LET'S START WITH OUR FIRST, THEN, 
          [ ID 24-0332     Community Comment on FY 2024-2025 Metro Government Budget]
AUBREY MURDOCK. OH, NO. I'M SORRY. WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA. I DID NOT LET ME SEE HERE. WHERE AM I STARTING AT? KAREN? SHARON. THANK YOU. I'M ASSUMING, YOU KNOW, I'M ASSUMING I PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY. YEAH. KAREN. SHARON SHARON. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. HELLO, EVERYBODY, I'M NOT A SPEECH, WHICH I'M NOT GOOD AT SPEECHES, AND I'M NOT A VERY GOOD GRANT WRITER, OBVIOUSLY. 
          AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT, IF YOU'LL JUST LET ME READ THE PAPER AND, BEAR WITH ME. I HOPE THIS WON'T BE TOO PAINFUL FOR YOU. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL PEOPLE. MY NAME IS KAREN SHARON, AND I AM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR THE MUSCLE SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER. WE ARE LOCATED IN THE SCHNITZELBURG GERMANTOWN AREA, BUT WE HAVE MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY, FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, I'VE SEEN THE JOY AND BENEFITS OF THE SENIOR CENTER. IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE INVOLVED WITH THIS NONPROFIT FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS. THE JOY AND LAUGHTER OF THE SENIORS IN THIS LAST STAGE OF LIFE IS CONTAGIOUS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PAST SUPPORT, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CITY DOESN'T FUND MORE PROFITS. IT JUST MAKES SENSE THEY SERVE THE CITY. THEY SAVE THE CITY SO MUCH MONEY. THINK OF THE COST OF BUILDING AND THE UPKEEP OF OFFICE SPACES. YOU HAVE UTILITIES SECURING AND REPAIRS. THEN YOU HAVE STAFF 
          [00:15:06]
WITH SALARIES, BENEFITS AND INSURANCE. WHEN YOU SOURCE THAT OUT TO A NON PROFIT, IT DOESN'T COST THE CITY AS MUCH FOR THESE MUCH NEEDED SERVICES. I'M ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER FUNDING THE CENTER. SENIORS FEEL THEY ARE A FORGOTTEN GROUP WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITY BUDGET. THEY WANT TO KNOW THEIR VOTES COUNT. OUR CENTER HAS EXERCISE EQUIPMENT, EXERCISE CLASSES AND VISITING NURSES FOR YOUR BODY HEALTH, SOCIAL EVENTS FOR MENTAL AND BRAIN HEALTH LUNCHEONS, GAMES, CARDS, SEMINARS AND PARTIES TO NAME A FEW. THE SENIOR CENTER IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER IN IN SOCIOLOGY. SORRY I'M HAVING A HARD TIME SAYING IT. SOCIOLOGY THEY HAVE A TERM A FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD SPACES. FIRST SPACE IS HOME, SECOND IS WORK AND THIRD SPACE IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO WITHOUT THE EXPECTATIONS ON THEM. THEY CAN JUST BE THEMSELVES. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A THIRD SPACE, IT CAN TAKE A TOLL ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF A THIRD SPACE IS THE SOCIAL CONTACT THAT PEOPLE RECEIVE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, JUST BY BEING NEAR OTHERS. THE INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA USE, THE COST OF LIVING AND THE SOCIAL DISTANCING MENTALITY FROM THE PANDEMIC ALL HAVE CAUSED THESE THIRD SPACES TO RAPIDLY DISAPPEAR. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAVE THIRD SPACES LIKE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND LIBRARIES. IF SORRY, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, YOU CAN GO TO YOUTUBE AND SEARCH THE GYM. KING MUSCLE SENIOR CENTER. THANKS FOR KAREN CASSIDY. I WILL SAY TOYOU. FOLKS AS YOU'RE COMING UP, IF YOU DO HAVE, A SPECIFIC ASK, MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THAT IN INOUR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU . GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KAREN CASSIDY. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HILDEGARD HOUSE. I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT A MAN NAMED WAYNE FAWBUSH, 47, WHO LIVED AT SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL. 
          AND ONE OF THE APARTMENTS. HE TOLD ME HE GREW UP AS THE AS THE ONLY WHITE FAMILY IN THE CLARKSDALE APARTMENTS. WHEN HE WAS A BOY, HE WAS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER. HE HAD BRAIN CANCER THAT SPREAD TO HIS LUNGS AND HIS BONES. HE HAD A HOSPICE TEAM THAT VISITED HIM THERE AT HIS APARTMENT. HE STARTED TO HAVE A LOT OF PAIN AND OTHER SYMPTOMS. HIS HOSPICE TEAM ARRANGED FOR HIM TO HAVE A TEMPORARY RESPITE BED AT THE HOSPICE INPATIENT UNIT DOWNTOWN. HE RECEIVED RESPITE CARE FOR THE ALLOWED FIVE DAYS, AND WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO GO BACK TO HIS APARTMENT, HIS APARTMENT HAD BEEN GIVEN AWAY. ALL OF HIS BELONGINGS WERE DELIVERED TO HIM AT THE HOSPICE INPATIENT UNIT, WHICH WAS ONE BACKPACK AND TWO LARGE BLACK GARBAGE BAGS. CAN YOU IMAGINE DYING AND HAVING NOWHERE TO GO? BEING UNCERTAIN IF YOU WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET PAIN MEDICINE OR A PLACE OUT OF THE WEATHER? I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET HAS A LARGE FOCUS ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING. EIGHT YEARS AGO, HOSPICE HEALTH CONVENED A MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HOMELESS SHELTER TO TRY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM OF HOW TO CARE FOR THE HOMELESS THAT WERE DYING. THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO SERVE SOMEONE WITHOUT A STABLE HOME. HILDEGARD HOUSE WAS FOUNDED TO PROVIDE A HOME AND CARE FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NO HOME OR CAREGIVERS TO CARE FOR THEM, SO THEY MAY DIE WITH DIGNITY. WE DON'T CHARGE A FEE. WE RELY TOTALLY ON GRANTS AND DONATIONS. SO WE WERE VERY DISAPPOINTED NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET THIS YEAR. WE APPLIED FOR AN EAF GRANT TO HELP FUND OUR NIGHTTIME STAFF TO RECEIVE ANY EAF GRANT, YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE 90 POINTS. WE RECEIVED 86 POINTS THROUGH OPEN RECORDS. WE OBTAINED THE SCORING SHEETS. ONE OF THE THREE JUDGES DID NOT COMPLETE A SECTION. IT WAS WORTH 20 POINTS. THE SAME SECTION THE OTHER JUDGES GAVE US THE MAXIMUM POINTS OF 20 MODEL GRANTEES AS 
          [00:20:01]
THE LABEL ON THAT SECTION. OF THE 20 POINTS BACK TO WAYNE, THE HOSPICE INPATIENT UNIT SENT US A REFERRAL. HE CAME TO LIVE AT HILDEGARD HOUSE. HE DIED FEBRUARY 28TH. HE LIVED WITH US FOR 12 DAYS. THE HOSPICE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE HIM CARE BECAUSE HE HAD A HOME. HE WAS PEACEFUL AND DIED WITH DIGNITY. THIS THREE MINUTES RIGHT HERE IS OUR ONLY RECORD HOUSE. CAN YOU HELP US GET FUNDING? SEEMS WE SHOULD HAVE MADE THE CUT. HOMELESSNESS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE DEPEND ON US. AND THEY DEPEND ON YOU. I WISH I HAD TIME TO TELL YOU MORE OF THOSE STORIES. THANK YOU. WE WANT YOU TO BELIEVE WE'RE AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TAMARA REEF. GOOD EVENING. I'M TAMARA REEF, AND I'M THE SEOR DIRECTOR OF HOUSING SERVICES FOR VORS OF AMERICA. MID-STATES. THANK ALLO MSS WHICH ARE SUPPORTED IN PART BY NANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROMHE LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT AS THE BUDGET CURRENTLY STANDS. 
          VOA'S EMERGENCY FAMILY SHELTER, UNITY HOUSE, WOULD RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF FUNDING WITHOUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING. MANY LOUISVILLE FAMILIES WOULD BE AT RISK OF LOSING SAFE HOUSING OPTIONS AND BE FORCED TO LIVE OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES OR ON THE STREETS, BECAUSE OUR SHELTER WOULD BE UNABLE TO PROPERLY ASSIST THEM. UNITY HOUSE IS CURRENTLY FACING A $163,000 FUNDING SHORTF THE INABILITY TO PROPERLY OPERATE THIS PROG WILL HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE AND ITS MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AT A TIME WHEN FAMILIES ARE ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES TO GET OFF THE STREET, WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE FUNDING THE MAYOR HAS PLACED IN THE BUDGET FOR UNITY HOUSE, BUT IT'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH AND WE NEED YOUR HELP . IN 2023, WE SERVE 95 FAMILIES AND 225 CHILDREN AT UNITY HOUSE. WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY PROGRAMS IN LOUISVILLE THAT IS ACCREDITED AND DELIVERS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WHILE KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER. WE PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THAT LEAD TO FAMILIES FROM GOING UNHOUSED TO LONG TERM, STABLE HOUSING, AND GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO LIVE A SELF-SUFFICIENT LIFE WITH THE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT OF THE METRO GOVERNMENT, THE HOUSES, FEEDS AND PROTECTS FAMILIES. WE PROVIDE SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND CLOTHING FOR CHILDREN AT UNITY HOUSE, AND WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH JCPS TO ENSURE THEY CONTINUE RECEIVING AN EDUCATION. WE PROVIDE COUNSELING AND THERAPY AND SUPPORT PARENTS CAREERS AND EDUCATION GOALS. OUR AIM IS TO PLACE FAMILIES IN LONG TERM, STABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ENSURING THEY NEVER RETURN TO HOMELESSNESS. WE HAVE MADE EXTENSIVE EFFORTS TO ADJUST OUR EXPENSES AND HAVE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUED GRANTS FROM OUR PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS TO CLOSE THE GAP. UNFORTUNATELY AS IT STANDS TODAY, THAT GAP HAS GROWN TOO LARGE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO FILL WITH FUNDRAISING. VOA DELIVERS PROVEN RESULTS. TODAY, A MEMBER OF OUR DISTINGUISHED BOARD OF DIRECTORS WAS A UNITY HOUSE CLIENT JUST 13 YEARS AGO. THE ANECDOTES AND DATA TELLS THE STORY OF A REAL IMPACT AND A REAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT. WE HAVE A HISTORY OF SUCCESS FOR OVER 40 YEARS IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          AT A TIME WHEN METRO GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO DO EVEN MORE TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS CRISIS, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO HELP VOA DO WHAT WE ALREADY DO SO WELL BE RELIABLE, HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND COST EFFICIENT PARTNER THAT IS CREATING REAL SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING CRISIS IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR CONCERNS AND FOR BEING LEADERS IN CREATING A HEALTHIER AND SAFER LOUISVILLE. THANK YOU. JANE WALSH. HELLO. MY NAME IS JANE WALSH AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF HILDEGARD HOUSE, AND AS YOU HEARD, HILDEGARD HOUSE IS THE ONLY PLACE IN LOUISVILLE, THE ONLY PLACE THAT PROVIDES A HOME AND CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS AT THE END OF THEIR LIVES WHO HAVE NO HOME OR NO LOVED ONES, TO CARE FOR THEM SO THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE HOSPICE SERVICES AND DIE WITH DIGNITY. MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CANNOT GET HOSPICE SERVICES IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HOME, OR IF YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE WHO CAN CARE FOR YOU. FOR 24 HOURS A DAY. WE PROVIDE THAT FOR PEOPLE, AND WE'RE THE ONLY PLACE IN LOUISVILLE THAT DOES THAT. LIKE MANY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, WE APPLIED FOR EAF THIS YEAR WHEN WE LEARNED WE WERE NOT AWARDED FUNDING. FUNDING WE FILED AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST TO UNDERSTAND HOW OUR APPLICATION FAILED TO MEET THE THRESHOLDS SET BY THE SCORING RUBRIC. WHAT WE LEARNED WAS THAT WE REALLY DID MEET THE THRESHOLDS, BUT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THREE REVIEWERS FAILED TO FILL OUT ONE BOX, OUR COMPOSITE SCORE CAME UP FOUR POINTS SHORT, MISSED THIS ONE CRUCIAL NUMBER. WE SCORED AN 86. AND OUR UNDERSTANDING IS 
          [00:25:04]
THAT ONLY ORGANIZATIONS SCORING A 90 OR ABOVE WERE FUNDED. AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THERE ARE FOUR AREAS FOR WHICH EACH APPLICATION IS SCORED PROGRAM ALIGNMENT, MEASURABLE PROGRAM OUTCOMES, ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY AND BUDGET, AND PRIOR GRANTEE PERFORMANCE ON THE SCORE SHEET. WITH THE MISSING NUMBER, OUT OF 40 POSSIBLE POINTS. FOR PROGRAM ALIGNMENT. WE SCORED A TEN OUT OF TEN POSSIBLE POINTS FOR MEASURABLE PROGRAM OUTCOMES. WE SCORED A 30 OUT OF 30 POSSIBLE POINTS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY AND BUDGET, AND FOR THE PRIOR GRANTEE PERFORMANCE, THE SCORE WAS SIMPLY BLANK. IT WASN'T A ZERO. IT WASN'T A LOW SCORE. IT WAS JUST BLANK. THE OTHER TWO REVIEWERS SCORED HILDEGARD HOUSE A 20 OUT OF 20 POINTS FOR PRIOR GRANTEE PERFORMANCE. THIS BLANK BOX, WHICH WAS ALMOST CERTAINLY AN OVERSIGHT BY THE REVIEWER, IS THE REASON WE FELL FOUR POINTS SHORT OUT OF 90 POINTS AND RECEIVED NO FUNDING IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. OUR MISSION IS ALIGNED, OUR OUTCOMES ARE EXCELLENT. WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO CARRY OUT OUR PROGRAM AND OUR PRIOR GRANTEE PERFORMANCE IS EXCELLENT. BUT WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT WE'RE THE ONLY PLACE IN LOUISVILLE OFFERING A HOME AND COMPASSIONATE CARE TO THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT HOUSING AND WHO ARE DYING. WE ARE THE ONLY PLACE IN LOUISVILLE OFFERING 24 HOUR CARE TO THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE FAMILY OR LOVED ONES WHO CAN PROVIDE THAT CARE SO THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS AT THE END OF THEIR LIVES CAN ACCESS HOSPICE CARE AND DIE PEACEFULLY AND WITH DIGNITY. WE HOPE THAT METRO COUNCIL WILL RECOGNIZE THIS SIMPLE OVERSIGHT, RIGHT? CORRECT IT AND AWARD FUNDING TO HILDEGARD HOUSE. THANK YOU. SARAH YOUNG. 
          SIR SARAH YOUNG. OH. I'M SORRY. OKAY. I AM OKAY. MY NAME IS SARAH YOUNG. I'M THE CASEWORKER FOR WEST LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY MINISTRIES AND IN REALIZE I HAD TO GET UP AND SAY SOMETHING. 
          WHEN I FIRST STARTED WITH WEST LOUISVILLE, IT WAS NEW. I'VE NEVER BEEN AROUND. NOTHING LIKE THAT. BUT SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE FOR THE LAST EIGHT, NINE, TEN YEARS, IT IS REALLY HARD TO SEE THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT COME IN THAT NEED HELP AND YOU WISH YOU COULD HELP EVERY ONE OF THEM, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING OR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT. LIKE I TOLD HIM, I WISH I HAD A MONEY TREE IN THE BACKYARD THAT I COULD HELP HIM. SO, WITH ANY WAY POSSIBLE, IF WE CAN GET MORE FUNDING, THEN WE COULD HELP MORE PEOPLE. I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME, OF HOW MANY WE FELT. BUT I JUST HEARD THE GENTLEMAN SAY THAT OUR. THE YOUNG LADY RIGHT THERE SAID WE GOT $10,000 LESS THAN WE DID LAST YEAR, BUT WE STILL HELP THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, IF NOT MORE SO WITH THAT, I THINK WE COULD ACTUALLY DO MORE HELP FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE BECAUSE WE GO, WE DO ALL THE PORTA TID AND WE DO ALL THE FLORAL TO 11 SOUTH OF BROADWAY. AND THAT'S A BIG, BIG AREA. SO FIND IT IN YOUR HEART OR WHATEVER, AND THINK ABOUT WEST LOUISVILLE AND THEIR NEEDS. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LAYLA. KESHAWN HOPE I SAID THAT CORRECTLY. IF NOT, I'M SURE YOU'LL CORRECT ME. RIGHT. LAYLA. KASHAWN. SO, SO CLOSE. YOU'RE ALMOST THERE, SO I'M HERE TODAY 
          [00:30:03]
AS A PROUD LOUISVILLIAN AND THE DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY AND ENGAGEMENT FOR THE KENTUCKY NONPROFIT NETWORK IN THAT ROLE, I FACILITATE THE LOUISVILLE NONPROFIT COALITION, AN ALLIANCE OF LOCAL NONPROFITS ESTABLISHING A UNIFIED VOICE WHO SERVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU MAY HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR MEMBERS TODAY WHO BOTH VALUE THEIR INDIVIDUAL MISSIONS, AS WELL AS THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT OF ALL OF LOUISVILLE NONPROFITS WORKING TOGETHER. AND WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A SPECIFIC BUDGET REQUEST, BUT WE ARE HERE TO LIFT UP THE NEEDS OF THE NONPROFIT SECTOR. 
          THE LOUISVILLE NONPROFIT COALITION NOT ONLY SEEKS TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT NONPROFIT NEEDS, BUT WE WANT TO IMPROVE THE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS TOGETHER. AND WITH LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL AND GOVERNMENT. NONPROFITS ARE A VITAL PARTNER AND YOU'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF THEM ALREADY. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WITH GOVERNMENT AND CRAFTING SOLUTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THESE PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH NONPROFITS GUARANTEE THAT. YOUR RESPONSE ABILITY TO PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES, A HEALTHY QUALITY OF LIFE, AND A VIBRANT COMMUNITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY'S BUDGET, INCLUDING THE EXTERNAL AGENCY FUNDS, RECOGNIZES THIS REALITY THROUGH INCREASED AND STRATEGIC NONPROFIT INVESTMENTS. WE OFFER OUR EXPERTISE TO JOIN FORCES WITH YOU SO THAT WE CAN ALL THRIVE. ADDITIONALLY, WE INVITE METRO COUNCIL TO JOIN US IN ADVOCATING FOR NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS AROUND THE PROCESSING OF CITY CONTRACTS, GRANTS, REPORTING, AND PAYMENTS SO THAT NONPROFITS CAN FOCUS ON THEIR MISSIONS WITHOUT BARRIERS, SUCH AS FRONTING GOVERNMENT FUNDS OR DEALING WITH OVERBURDENSOME REPORTING. EVERY BUDGET TELLS OUR COMMUNITIES, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WHAT THEIR LEADERS PRIORITIZE. NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE SERVING MORE FAMILIES THAN EVER WITH FEWER RESOURCES, AND GAPS STILL REMAIN. WE HOPE TO SEE A BUDGET ADDRESSING THESE NEEDS. EACH OF US IN THIS ROOM AS RESIDENTS AND COUNCIL PERSONS ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT LOUISVILLE AND WE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER. 
          TOGETHER WITH THE LOUISVILLE NONPROFIT COALITION, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED DIALOG SO THAT WE CAN FOSTER A STRONGER LOUISVILLE THAT WE ALL CALL HOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, NANCY PARKER. HI, I'M NANCY PARKER. I'M WITH LIGHTHOUSE ACADEMY AT NEWBURGH. IT'S A THAT'S OUR DOING BUSINESS AS WE'RE LIGHTHOUSE PROMISING, WE'RE A YOUTH ORGANIZATION. WE SERVE, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE AND AN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME NON VIOLENCE PREVENTION, LEARNING PROGRAM. SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC, WE FEED THE CHILDREN AND THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD TO INVEST MONEY IN PURCHASING A BUS AND A VAN IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP STUDENTS AND TRANSPORT US, BECAUSE, WE SERVE KIDS IN NEWBURGH WHO LIVE IN NEWBURGH BUT ATTEND AROUND 20 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IN THE AREA. AND BECAUSE OF JCPS BUS SERVICE, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO, GET BUSSES AS WE HAD BEFORE, TRANSPORT THE STUDENTS, AND WE WANT TO GET THEM TO US. THEY HAVE A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO BE AT EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL AND IN THE SUMMER, WE HAVE A SUMMER PROGRAM AS WELL DURING THE DAY, WE ARE A GED AND ESL PROGRAM FROM OUR BUILDING, DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. AND WE RUN A BOYS TO MEN AND A HALO GIRLS PROGRAM ON THE WEEKENDS TO GRAB THE, THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE GRADUATED OUT OF OUR PROGRAM AND ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL, OUR FUNDING FROM METRO IN THIS BUDGET HAS BEEN CUT FROM 40,000 TO 10. AND, OF COURSE, THE COST HAS RISEN TREMENDOUSLY. AND WE ARE SERVING THESE KIDS AT NO COST. AND WE BEG OUR FUNDERS AND OUR AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR ADDED FUNDING. BUT AGAIN, THE GAP IS HUGE AND OUR COST HAS GONE UP. AND I THINK WITH THIS NEW CHANGE IN HOURS FOR STUDENT SCHOOL, IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER TO PICK THEM UP AND WE MAY NEED TO PICK UP SOME MORE BUSSES IN ORDER TO GET THE KIDS TO US. THAT NEED US, AND SO BASICALLY, I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR YOU TO REEVALUATE THE FUNDING THAT YOU ARE, HAVE ALIGNED FOR US AND LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WIGGLE ROOM OF THE BUDGET THAT PERHAPS YOU CAN, SPARE SOME MORE DOLLARS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAM? YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER FOR 25 YEARS, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. SO MUCH BECAUSE WE HAVE PROVEN SUCCESS EVERY YEAR, DOCUMENTED, AND WE HAVE OUR STUDENTS COME BACK AND WORK FOR 
          [00:35:06]
US, AND TELL THEIR STORY. SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS TIME. THANK YOU. LYNETTE LOW. HELLO, I'M LYNETTE LAO, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CENTRAL LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY MINISTRIES. AND I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY MINISTRIES. AND I JUST WANT TO START BY ACTUALLY THANKING EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE IN THIS ROOM AND WHO'S OVER IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM ACROSS THE HALL FOR BEING HERE. EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE TONIGHT IS HERE BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY. YOU CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, AND YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, INCLUDING OUR COUNCIL PEOPLE, BUT ALSO EVERYONE HERE. SO THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT MATTERS. SO THE 13 COMMUNITY MINISTRIES DO THIS TOO. WE SHOW UP, WE LISTEN, WE CARE, AND THEN WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN MANY OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, PROVIDING EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WITH PAST DUE RENT AND UTILITIES. WE OFFER FOOD, CLOTHING, OTHER KINDS OF ASSISTANCE, BASIC NEEDS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN, LIVE IN DIGNITY. THE WORK OF THE MINISTRIES FOCUSES ON OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS WHO STRUGGLE TO ACCESS THOSE BASIC NEEDS. AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE DO A LOT TO PREVENT EVICTIONS AND HOMELESSNESS. WE FILL THE NEED FOR FOOD IN FOOD DESERTS AND WHERE FOOD INSECURITY IS SUCH AN ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE PROVIDE MANY OTHER NECESSITIES, AND IMPORTANTLY, WE PROVIDE SAFE SPACES WHERE OUR NEIGHBORS CAN FEEL HEARD AND SEEN AND VALUED. AND THE COMMUNITY MINISTRIES HAS A NONCOMPETITIVE GRANT WITH METRO LOUISVILLE, AND THAT GRANT IS DISTRIBUTED ACCORDING TO A FORMULA BASED ON DATA THAT WE HAVE COLLECTED AROUND POVERTY. RIGHT. AND THERE WAS A QUESTION, I APOLOGIZE, EARLIER, I HAD STEPPED OUT OF THE ROOM WHEN THE QUESTION WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT, AND I LEFT FOR TROY TO STAND HERE AND TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. HE DID A GREAT JOB, BUT THAT FORMULA IS BEING UPDATED AND REVISED. IT WAS BASED ON THE DECENNIAL CENSUS, AND SO WE ONLY HAD THAT DATA AVAILABLE EVERY TEN YEARS. WE ARE NOW PARTNERING WITH NIELS PEEP GRASS, AT METRO UNITED WAY AND HARRISON KIRBY WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE. THEY ARE EXCELLENT DATA ANALYSTS, AND THEY ARE HELPING BUILD A MORE COMPREHENSIVE FORMULA FOR US, WHICH CAN BE UPDATED MUCH MORE REGULARLY SO THAT WE WON'T HAVE THIS TEN YEAR GAP, WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD AN INCREASE IN TEN YEARS IN THE FORMULA IN THE GRANT FROM METRO LOUISVILLE, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT A 30% DECREASE DUE TO INFLATION. GIVEN THE INCREASE IN COSTS IN RENT, UTILITIES, FOOD ACROSS THE BOARD, WE ARE STRUGGLING TO TRY TO HELP MEET THE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE APPEALING TO YOU FOR AN INCREASE AND MUCH OVERDUE INCREASE. WE HAVE NOT HAD 1 IN 10 YEARS, AND THAT IS SEVERELY AFFECTING OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR ABILITY TO SERVE THEM. SO WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE, SEE THAT NEED AND WORK WITH US TO GET CLOSER TO MEETING IT. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU. LILY AND BRENT'S. GOOD EVENING. I'M LILY AND BRENT'S PRESIDENT, BUSINESS AGENT OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION LOCAL 1447. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT REPRESENTS TARC AND TARC THREE. I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT LATELY, AND THERE'S A LOT GOING ON JUST SO I CAN GET IT IN THERE TO ASK THIS $14 MILLION. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO DO TODAY, I JUST WANT TO SHARE A TIMELINE, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS IS A NEW ISSUE. AND IN 2021, I STOOD BEFORE METRO CITY COUNCIL TALKING ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP, NOT REQUESTING FUNDING FOR THE EMPLOYEES AT TARC IN 2022. I CAME BEFORE METRO CITY COUNCIL LETTING YOU KNOW OF THE MEMBERSHIPS AND THE SAFETY CONCERNS GOING ON AT TARC IN 2023, I STOOD BEFORE METRO CITY COUNCIL TALKING ABOUT THE SAFETY AND TARC THREE AND THE CONSTITUENTS NOT BEING SERVICED. I AM HERE NOW IN 2024 TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, AND THAT IS TARC FUNDING LEADERSHIP. WE NEED FUNDING. WE I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS AS A PARTNERSHIP, EVERYBODY THAT'S IN THIS ROOM HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT IN 2022. AND SO LIKE I SAID, THIS IS NOT A NEW ASK. THE CONSTITUENT IS HERE 
          [00:40:04]
IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY IS NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING TRANSPORTATION. IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE THAT IS, TRANSPORTATION CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE ON WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON CAN GO TO SCHOOL, WORK, GROCERY STORES, OR JUST VISITING FAMILY. TRANSPORTATION IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, SIMILAR TO EDUCATION. IT REMOVES BARRIERS THAT ARE SOMETIMES IN PLACE DUE TO HOUSING OR EDUCATION. SO THE TRANSPORTATION WAS NOT REFLECTED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET AND I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT THIS IS NOT A ONE SIDED SOLUTION. THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP THAT IS REQUIRED, JUST AS THE COMMUNITY IS HERE TODAY SUPPORTING US. THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT NEEDS TO ALSO INCLUDE METRO CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR AND OTHER CONSTITUENTS. SO I'M ASKING Y'ALL TO BE A PARTNER IN HELPING WITH COMING UP WAYS TO FUND PUBLIC TRANSIT. AND THAT'S WHETHER THAT'S A BALLOT, A REFERENDUM, A TAX REFERENDUM. 
          WORKING WITH JESSE PS HAVING AN AGREEMENT WITH JCPS STILL DOES NOT RESOLVE THE FUNDING ISSUES. 
          WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO SELF, AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSURE THAT EVERY PERSON HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION. YOU CANNOT CALL US A VIBRANT CITY WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PRIORITIZE TRANSPORTATION IN YOUR BUDGET. LET'S NOT KEEP DOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, AND THAT IS NOTHING. LET'S FUND PUBLIC TRANSIT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS RESOLVED FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL. WORKING TOGETHER. THANK YOU. DUSTIN RUNSTADLER. HEY THERE, DUSTIN REINSTADLER, PRESIDENT, KENTUCKY STATE AFL-CIO, I REPRESENT AROUND 120,000 UNION WORKERS IN THE WHOLE STATE OF KENTUCKY. PART OF THAT REPRESENTATION IS, ATU THE TRANSPORTATION UNION, SO I'M HERE FOR YOU GUYS TO ASK TO FUND TARC, NOT ONLY FOR THESE WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, BUT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KROGER'S UPS. FORD THE WATER COMPANY. I CAN GO ON AND ON WITH ALL THE LARGE EMPLOYERS IN THE CITY THAT HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION JUST TO GET TO WORK, ON TOP OF THAT, I'M A, I LIVE IN LOUISVILLE, DISTRICT 20. SO AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE TARC, YOU GOT PEOPLE THAT, FRANKLY, THEY MAY BE DISABLED OR FOR WHATEVER REASON, DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A VEHICLE. OR MAYBE THEY LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE'S NO GROCERY STORE, THEY MAY NEED IT TO GO TO CHURCH. THE DOCTORS HOSPITAL, FOR WHATEVER MEDICAL VISITS THEY HAVE. SO, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME, FROM BOTH THE LABOR STANDPOINT AND A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, TO ASK YOU GUYS TO FUND TARC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          I'LL ESPINOSA. PROBABLY MISPRONOUNCE YOUR FIRST NAME. I APOLOGIZE. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. 
          MY NAME IS AYLA ESPINOSA, AND I'M WITH BOYS AND GIRLS. HAVEN AS THEIR INDEPENDENCE READINESS MANAGER. AND SOME OF YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE. AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T, BOYS AND GIRLS. HAVEN, WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES TO BOYS AND GIRLS FOR 75 YEARS. WE'RE AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES WRAPAROUND, A WRAPAROUND SUPPORT KNOWN AS THE CONTINUUM OF CARE THROUGH OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS IN YOUNG ADULTS, THROUGH OUR SUPERVISED IN THE INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMS THAT ALSO HELP TRANSITION THEM INTO ADULTHOOD. AND CAREER AND APTITUDE PLACEMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT READINESS. WE FIND THAT THE OUTCOMES OF THE KIDS WHO HAVE HAD EARLY ADVERSITY, OR WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CHILD PROTECTION OR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS, ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING CHRONICALLY HOMELESS AND MORE LIKELY TO NOT HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED TO THEM. WE ARE HELPING TO BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE AND THEIR SKILLS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON THEIR OWN, NOT IN HOMELESS SHELTERS AND NOT ON THE STREETS, BUT IN SAFE AND HAPPY HOMES. WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE GRACIOUS FUNDING OF LOUISVILLE EXTERNAL AGENCY FUNDS THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE INDEPENDENCE READINESS PROGRAM, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO YOUNG ADULTS WHO WHO ARE OR HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN A WIDE RANGE OF LOUISVILLE ZIP CODES AGES 18 TO 24, WITH THE SUPPORT OF CASE MANAGERS WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THEIR RELENTLESS WORK WITH TEACHING LIFE SKILLS, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, AND DAILY OPERATIONS IN ORDER TO LEARN TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT YOUNG ADULTS AND REMAIN HOUSED WITH THE SKILLS THAT HAVE BEEN THAT THEY HAVE LEARNED. MOST OF THE YOUNG ADULTS WE WORK WITH DO 
          [00:45:04]
NOT KNOW HOW TO FULLY SUSTAIN ON THEIR OWN AND PROVIDE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO THE GROWTH OF BEING FULLY INDEPENDENT. WHAT IS OUR PLAN? WHAT'S IN STORE FOR INDEPENDENCE ? READINESS IS BY CONTINUING FOR THE HOPEFUL SUCCESS TO CONTINUE SUPPORT OF THE YOUNG ADULTS THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE A SMALL PART OF THE CITY. CITIES INITIATIVE TO HELP END HOMELESSNESS WITH YOUNG ADULTS AND SEE THEM HAVE A SENSE OF RELIEF. THE YOUNG ADULTS THAT WE SUPPORT HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE YET IN LIFE TO SUCCEED, OR MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE SUPPORT THAT THEY DESERVE. IF EAF CAN SUPPORT THE INDEPENDENCE READINESS PROGRAM, WE WILL CONTINUE JUST THAT. SO THAT WAY WE SO THAT WAY WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THAT MISSION EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE ARE TRULY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR. HOWEVER, WE WERE CUT THIS YEAR AND RECEIVED ONLY ONE THIRD OF OUR FULL REQUEST OF THE AMOUNT OF 74,800. 
          IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN THE FUTURE OF CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE HOMELESS, YOUNG ADULTS IN THE BARRIERS THEY FACE EVERY DAY. THIS WILL ALLOW THE PROGRAM TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND SUPPORT THOSE THAT NEED IT. LOUISVILLE'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS ARE WORTH THE INVESTMENTS IN THE FUNDING THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS IN CASE MANAGEMENT, WE WANT WE WANT SAFE AND STABLE AND SECURE FUTURES FOR THE YOUNG ADULTS. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, GARY FRIEDMAN. GOOD EVENING, GARY FRIEDMAN, CEO OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF KENTUCKY. AND IT'S AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WHAT WE CONSIDER AS THE BEST MENTORING ORGANIZATION IN KENTUCKIANA. AND GOING BACK TO THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN THE 5:00 MEETING, I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WE ARE EVIDENCE BASED AND OUTCOMES DRIVEN AS PART OF A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT ANNUALLY WE DO A NATIONAL ASSESSMENT ON OUR QUALITY, OUR STRENGTH OF LEADERSHIP, OUR BOARD, AND ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. AND THIS PAST YEAR, WE WON. WE WERE ONE OF 25 OF 230 ORGANIZATIONS TO WIN THE GOLD STANDARD, LOOKING AT ALL THOSE PROCESSES. SO AS AS MUCH AS WE'RE PART OF THAT NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT WE DON'T GET ANY MONEY FROM THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION. WE ACTUALLY PAY THEM, TO HAVE A BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS IN KENTUCKIANA. AND SPECIFICALLY HERE IN LOUISVILLE, AND OUR DATA AND OUR OUTCOMES ARE, ARE, AS I LIKE TO SAY, IT'S KIND OF OUR MIC DROP MOMENT. LAST YEAR, 82% OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WE CALL THEM OUR LITTLES, SAID THEIR MENTAL HEALTH WAS BETTER THAN IT WAS THE YEAR BEFORE FOR, 100% OF OUR LITTLES. AT THE AGE OF GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL, GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL ON TIME, AND 99% OF THEM STAY OUT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO NOT ONLY IN INVESTMENT, IN OUR ORGANIZATION, IT ALSO HELPS SAVE THE MONEY, SAVE THE CITY MONEY AND SAVE THE STATE MONEY AS WELL. AND WE'RE VERY, BIG INTO COLLABORATION AS WELL, BECAUSE WE WANT THE INVESTMENT FROM METRO COUNCIL AND THE AF, TO ADD UP MORE THAN ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS TWO. WE WANTED TO ADD UP TO 3 OR 4. SO WE'RE COLLABORATING A LOT WITH OTHER NONPROFITS IN OUR, COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT. MOST RECENTLY, BOTH HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND, THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY DID A STUDY ON BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS. AND THE RESEARCH FROM HARVARD INDICATES THAT THIS PROGRAM'S RELATIVELY LOW COST AND SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS PLACE IT AMONG THE MOST EFFECTIVE, COST EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS OF ITS TYPE TO BE EVALUATED AND SO THAT'S PRETTY POWERFUL. AS WE READ THAT. AND IT'S ALL ABOUT PREVENTION. THE MORE WE CAN PREVENT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE AND STAYING ON THE RIGHT PATH AND, BUILDING THEIR, THEIR DEVELOPMENT TO BE A PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE WORKFORCE, IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY KEEP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HERE. WE JUST SAW A RECENT ARTICLE ABOUT BRAIN DRAIN AND LOSING YOUNG PEOPLE TO OTHER CITIES. THIS IS GOING TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE HERE. AND FINALLY, MENTORED YOUTH. AND AGAIN, THIS IS FROM THE STUDY MENTORED YOUTH IN BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS DRIVE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND REALIZE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED LONG TERM BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES. SO WHILE WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ALL'S CONTINUED INVESTMENT, OUR FUNDING WAS CUT AS WELL. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT PEER CITIES, THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS LOOKED AT TO LEARN FROM INCLUDING NASHVILLE, WHICH, NASHVILLE'S, CITY, GIVES THEM TEN TIMES THE AMOUNT. WHAT WE GET HERE, IN JACKSONVILLE, WHICH WE ALSO WANT TO VISIT, GIVES THEIR BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS FIVE TIMES THE AMOUNT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ARTHUR COX. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ARTHUR COX. I'M. I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAINT GEORGE'S SCHOLAR INSTITUTE. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY. REQUEST FUNDING BE RESTORED TO AT LEAST 
          [00:50:03]
THE CURRENT DISBURSEMENT OF 2324, FOR OUR TWO MAJOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS AND THE URBAN ARTS INSTITUTE. OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS ACTIVITIES ARE ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING THE HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS OF 60 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EVERY YEAR WE OFFER TUTORING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, FEDERAL AID, FORM PREP, RESUME BUILDING, INTERVIEW PREP, SCHOLARSHIP, SCHOLARSHIP, RESEARCH, COLLEGE TOURS IN AND OUT OF TOWN, CAREER EXPOSURE, INTERNSHIP APPS. WE DO ALL THAT THROUGH OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAM. WE DO IT FOR 36 WEEKS IN THE FALL AND SPRING. OUR FUNDING WAS CUT FROM 40,023 TO 20 4 TO 10,000, WITH A VERY SIMILAR RUBRIC WITH OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES, WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP HAVING CUTS AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM GO ON. OUR URBAN ARTS PROGRAM GIVES VOICE TO THE CREATIVE CREATIVITY OF UP TO 40 YOUNG PEOPLE ANNUALLY. THROUGH LEARNING HOW TO DJ, TO BECOME PHOTOGRAPHERS, GRAPHIC DESIGNERS AND PRINTERS. THIS PROGRAM AND OUR PARTICIPANTS HAS BEEN FEATURED TWICE ON WAS ON GREAT DAY LIVE. TWICE. OUR KIDS HAVE DJ'D FOR THE CRUSADE FOR CHILDREN. THEY'VE DESIGNED AND MADE THEIR OWN SHOES, THEIR OWN SHIRTS, THEIR OWN APPAREL. THEY STARTED BUSINESSES. THEY'VE LEARNED. THEY'VE HAVE DJ'D EVEN FOR METRO PARKS EVENTS. THIS HAS BEEN THE FAVORITE ARTISTIC OUTLET FOR OUR KIDS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. IN FACT, WE WERE PLANNING ON GOING INTO WESTERN MIDDLE SCHOOL PARTNERING WITH THEIR ARTS PROGRAM IN THE UPCOMING YEAR. THE MAYOR'S BUDGET CUT IT FROM 20,000 TO 0. WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A NUMBER. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WORTHY ORGANIZATIONS WHO NEED FUNDING. WE JUST ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT WE ARE IN THE HEART OF WEST LOUISVILLE AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CENTER, SMACK DAB IN THE CALIFORNIA NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE SERVE KIDS IN PARK HILL, PARKLAND, RUSSELL, WHEREVER THEY ARE. AND OUR PROGRAMS ARE FREE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. J.P. LINENGER. LAST BUDGET CYCLE, I SPOKE BEFORE THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL ABOUT THE NEED TO FULLY FUND THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, SOIL AND WATER, AMONG OTHER TASKS, SUPPLIES, SOIL LEAD TESTS FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY, SOMETHING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SIX, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN. LAST YEAR, THE BUDGET FAILED TO FULLY FUND SOIL AND WATER. THIS YEAR, THE MAYOR PROPOSES THE CLOSING OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT, A GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT BRINGS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THE COUNTY FROM FEDERAL, STATE AND OTHER SOURCES A FANTASTIC RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF LOUISVILLE. THE SOIL AND WATER BOARD HAS PROVIDED 531 SOIL SAMPLE TESTS IN 2024 TO DATE. 
          THESE TESTS CAN BE FOR EITHER SOIL NUTRIENTS OR FOR LEAD CONTAMINATION. IT'S THE LEAD CONTAMINATION TESTS THAT I THINK ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY AND BACKYARD GARDENS ALL OVER LOUISVILLE. MANY OF THESE ARE IN THE URBAN CORE, AND I WOULD SAY IT'S THE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCING THE GREATEST GROWTH IN SMALL, SUSTAINABLE AND SELF-SUFFICIENT GARDENS. FROM JARDINS IN SHELBY PARK TO ROWS OF VEGETABLES IN RUSSELL TO FRUIT TREES AND BERRY PATCHES OFF OF DIXIE HIGHWAY, SMALL GARDENS ARE HELPING FEED FAMILIES ALL OVER LOUISVILLE, BUT I THINK ABOUT THOSE LEAD SOIL TESTS. THESE LEAD TESTS THAT THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR, AND ALSO PROVIDING THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE GARDENERS KNOW THE NEED FOR THE TEST. LOUISVILLE HAS A LEGACY OF REDLINING AND SEGREGATION, WHICH MEANS THAT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARDS FROM INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AND HEAVY METAL SOIL CONTAMINANT HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECT ON POORER AND BLACKER NEIGHBORHOODS. THE BUDGET YOU APPROVE THIS YEAR ISN'T GOING TO WIPE THOSE DISPARITIES AWAY, LET ALONE WRITE GENERATIONAL WRONGS. BUT A SMALL CHANGE CAN BE MADE TO FUND A BOARD WHICH IS DOING NOTHING BUT GOOD IN LOUISVILLE BY REDUCING HARM, HELPING PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, AND EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY ON HOW TO SAFELY BECOME HEALTHIER AND MORE SELF-RELIANT. THIS IS ALL DONE ON A MEAGER BUDGET OF $113,000. TRUTHFULLY THE DISTRICT IS HAMSTRUNG BY HOW LITTLE OPERATING BUDGET THEY HAVE. AS A LIFELONG LOUISVILLE RESIDENT AND THE FATHER OF TWO CHILDREN GROWING UP IN OLD LOUISVILLE, WHERE LEAD SOIL CONTAMINATION IS UNFORTUNATELY QUITE COMMON, I CALL ON METRO COUNCIL TO NOT ONLY RESTORE THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT BUDGET TO, BUT TO FUND IT AT THE LEVELS THE BOARD HAS REQUESTED. LOUISVILLE HAS ONE OF THE BEST AGRICULTURE 
          [00:55:05]
EXTENSION OFFICES IN THE COUNTRY. OTHER STATES LOOK AT US AS A MODEL, ESPECIALLY OUR URBAN AGRICULTURE PROGRAM. REMOVING THE FUNDING FOR THE AG BOARD IS LITERALLY TAKING FOOD FROM REFUGEES WHO DEPEND ON THE ACT EXTENSION FOR ACCESS TO LAND IN SO MANY WAYS, OUR BUDGET IS OUT OF STEP WITH THE NEEDS PRIORITY AND VALUES OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. JUST LOOK AT THE PEOPLE HERE DEMANDING THAT YOU PROTECT UNION JOBS AND FULLY FUND PUBLIC TRANSIT. WHILE THE PROPOSED BUDGET SLASHES TARC, THE METRO COUNCIL MUST LEAD WHERE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WON'T PROTECT OUR FAMILIES FROM IRREVERSIBLE HARM BY AMENDING THE BUDGET, WHICH IS A MORAL AND POLITICAL DOCUMENT, A TEST OF WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND WHO WE CARE ABOUT. DON'T FAIL THIS TEST. KELLY WALTON. 
          HI, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS KELLY WALTON. I'M A MEMBER OF LOUISVILLE SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE. THE BUDGET AS IT EXISTS FUNDS PUNISHMENT AT THE EXPENSE OF CARE. THIS BUDGET CUTS FUNDING TO PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED SERVICES TO PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE, INCLUDING ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. POOR PEOPLE AND BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WILL BE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THESE CUTS. THIS BUDGET INCREASES FUNDING FOR POLICE AND CORRECTIONS, WHICH WILL ALSO NEGATIVELY AFFECT POOR PEOPLE AND BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE DISPROPORTIONATELY. IN HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, THE MAYOR SAID HIS TEAM WILL FOCUS ON MAKING LOUISVILLE A SAFER, STRONGER AND HEALTHIER CITY. FUNDING CARE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS MAKES OUR CITY SAFER, STRONGER AND HEALTHIER. CONTINUING TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR POLICING AND INCARCERATION DOES NOT I ASK YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE WELL-BEING OF LOUISVILLIANS OVER PUNISHMENT BY REJECTING THIS BUDGET AND THEN REALLOCATING MONEY FOR THINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET, LIKE NEW LICENSE PLATE READERS, SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS, AND POLICE HELICOPTERS TO THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT AT THE CENTER FOR HEALTH EQUITY, THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY, THE FOOD LITERACY PROJECT, AND CHANGE TODAY, CHANGE TOMORROW. BY REJECTING THIS BUDGET AND BUILDING A BETTER ONE, WE CAN CREATE A LOUISVILLE THAT PRIORITIZES CARE OVER CAGES. THANK YOU. LESLIE SMART. LESLIE SMART. I'M SORRY. LESLIE SMART. DEMETRIUS MCDOWELL IS ON DECK. THANK YOU. FIRST AND FOREMOST, COUNCILMAN BLACKWELL AND MEMBERS OF METRO COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. I'M LESLIE SMART, THE NEW CEO AT THE LOUISVILLE BALLET. MY LEGACY IS DEEP WITH THE FIFTH OLDEST BALLET COMPANY IN THE COUNTRY. NINE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY ENGAGED FOR THE SEVEN DECADES. 
          I'M HERE FOR A REASON AND COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE TO HELP STABILIZE THE LOUISVILLE BALLET. 
          AND WE ARE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS. WE HAVE INCREASED TICKET REVENUE BY 26% OVER BUDGET, AND WILL WRAP THE FISCAL YEAR WITH A SURPLUS. THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC AND THE CANCELLATION OF THREE SOLD OUT PRODUCTIONS OF THE BROWN-FORMAN NUTCRACKER DUE TO ARCTIC STORM ELLIOT. AS ONE OF FOUR MAJOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY, WE HAVE NEVER DECLARED BANKRUPTCY DESPITE QUITE CHALLENGING TIMES. INSTEAD, WE HAVE FOLLOWED OUR MORAL COMPASS, MET OUR OBLIGATIONS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. OUR $50,000 REQUEST FOR DANCERS SALARIES THROUGH THE ARTS AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES OFFICE WAS NOT RECOMMENDED BY GRANT REVIEWERS. WE HAVE RECEIVED THIS FUNDING IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. IN SPEAKING WITH JESSICA KINCAID, OUR BUDGET LINE FOR RENT WAS QUESTIONED. SHE FELT THE NEW TRUNCATED APPLICATION WAS A FACTOR, WHICH RESULTED IN CONFUSION. WE RENT OUR SCHOOL, WHICH WE SUBLEASE TO THE LOUISVILLE YOUTH ORCHESTRA, AND OUR WAREHOUSE HOLDS OUR SETS AND DESIGNS AND SERVES AS OUR SCENE SHOP. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER OUR REQUEST. IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR RECOVERY. WE DID NOT RECEIVE STATE FUNDING OR A CAPITAL REQUEST FROM METRO LOUISVILLE. 
          OUR FUND FOR THE ARTS ALLOCATION DECLINES YEAR OVER YEAR AND WE ANTICIPATE UP TO 20% THIS YEAR. 
          WE IMPACT 60,000 LIVES ANNUALLY, 24 PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS HAIL FROM 22 CITIES AROUND THE WORLD. 
          OUR SCHOOL TRAIN TRAINS 899 STUDENTS, AND OUR SUMMER PROGRAM DRAWS STUDENTS FROM 27 CITIES. 
          OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES 21,000 INDIVIDUAL ARTS EXPERIENCES THAT ARE IMPACTING MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILDREN, SUPPLEMENTING THE LACK OF ARTS INSTRUCTION IN OUR SCHOOLS AND 
          [01:00:01]
OUR BALLET BOUND PROGRAM OFFERS FULL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN AGED SEVEN. ALL THE WAY THROUGH A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE ARE TRULY HARNESSING THE ARTS FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS. I LEAVE YOU WITH THE WORDS OF A BALLET BOUND MOTHER. MY FAMILY IS VERY EXCITED AND GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF BALLET BOUND. THIS PROGRAM HAS HELPED OUR FAMILY BY ALLOWING US TO EXPERIENCE THE ART OF DANCE, WHICH MY DAUGHTER ABSOLUTELY LOVES. WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF WONDERING IF SHE'LL BE ABLE TO DO SO. BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD IT. AS A SINGLE MOM OF THREE, THIS PROGRAM HELPS MY DAUGHTER BECOME PART OF SOMETHING SO SPECIAL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. DEMETRIUS MCDOWELL LYDIA LEWIS ON DECK. HELLO. MY NAME IS DEMETRIUS MCDOWELL. SINCE THE AGE OF 14 TO 35, I'VE EITHER BEEN INCARCERATED, PROBATION, PAROLE OR FIGHTING A CHARGE, FROM THAT, I'M A PRODUCT OF MY ENVIRONMENT. AND I USE RESOURCES IN MY COMMUNITY WHICH FUEL MY CRIMINAL LIFESTYLE AS A YOUNG MAN. SO FROM THAT, I TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO START AN ORGANIZATION CALLED BOSSES, NOT BANGERS. AND I WORKED WITH JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH RIGHT NOW, AND I GET REFERRALS FROM JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS TO TURN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND. RIGHT NOW AND OUR SERVICE, OVER 300 KIDS ARE 65 AT THE YMCA THAT I'VE PARTNERED WITH, CHESTNUT STREET YMCA. I'VE OBTAINED MY OWN BUILDING AND FACILITY TO WHERE I'LL BE HELPING OUT WITH ALTERNATIVES, DETENTION. BECAUSE WHEN JCC CLOSED DOWN THE BALL WAS DROPPED ON THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE SYSTEM. AND WHO BETTER THAN SHOW THEM THE WAY TO GO TO THE OPPOSITE WAY THAN SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN THROUGH IT? SO THROUGH THAT, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH ALL DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OUR DRUG TRAFFIC I ROBBED, I COMMITTED CRIMES AND ALL THOSE COMMUNITIES. SO FROM THAT I'M ABLE TO HELP MY COMMUNITY SEE A CHANGE. AND FROM THAT, THE INFLUENCES IN THAT COMMUNITY WHO I LOOKED UP TO WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, THAT HAD ME MOTIVATED TO GO OUT HERE AND COMMIT CRIMES TO SUSTAIN A LIFE, A LIFESTYLE THAT I THOUGHT WAS THE WAY I WAS SUPPOSED TO GROW UP. SO RIGHT NOW I AM MEETING OUR YOUNG INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY'RE AT. 
          I'M ASKING FOR $100,000 RIGHT NOW, AND I HAVE OBTAINED A BUDGET FOR 648,000. I'VE SPENT MY I'VE SPENT MY OWN SALARY, WHICH IS $120,000. AND FROM THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN TRANSPORTATION SO I CAN MEET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT, PICK THEM UP, GET THEM TO A FACILITY WHERE I PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH, ENTREPRENEUR MENTORSHIP, ALL DIFFERENT, I'M ABLE TO CONTRACT OTHER GRASSROOTS WHO CAN COME IN AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMING AS WELL. I'VE NEVER RECEIVED A GRANT. ALL THIS THAT I'VE HAVE OBTAINED IS FROM AN EXPERIENCE IN A LIFESTYLE THAT I LIVED IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S RUSSELL, CALIFORNIA, NEWBURGH, SMOKETOWN. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH OVER RIGHT NOW. I HAD, 30 INDIVIDUALS WITH ME. THEY WOULDN'T FIT IN THE ROOM, BUT RIGHT NOW I SERVICE SMOKETOWN AND RUSSELL, AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRIDGE THAT GAP THROUGH THE INFLUENCE THAT I HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I ASKED FOR THAT $100,000 SO THAT I CAN EMPOWER EMPOWER OTHER INFLUENCERS, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS, MEN WHO ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WILL LOOK UP TO. THESE ARE THE FIRST INFLUENCERS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY SEE , THE ONES WHO COMMIT THE CRIMES. BUT THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ALSO CAN CHANGE THEIR MINDSET. I'M A PRODUCT OF CHANGE BY STATISTICS. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD OR DOING LIFE IN PRISON. IF I CAN DO IT, THEY CAN DO IT. AND I'VE BEEN SO MUCH OF AN IMPACT AND AN INFLUENCE IN MY COMMUNITY THAT I MISS MAKING METRO COUNCIL BY 80 VOTES. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, I AM A PRODUCT OF A CHANGE, SOCIAL MEDIA AND, JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH IS WHERE I ATTACK IT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. LYDIA LEWIS, CATHERINE SCHAAKE ON DECK. HELLO. MY NAME IS LYDIA LEWIS, AND I'M THE SISTER CITIES PROGRAM MANAGER AT THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF OUR FUNDING OF THE SISTER CITIES PROGRAM, WHICH IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD BE ENTIRELY ELIMINATED. THE SISTER CITIES PROGRAMS ARE UNIQUE AND THAT THEY SERVE AS BRIDGES BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY AND EIGHT OTHER CITIES AROUND THE GLOBE. THEY HELP FACILITATE UNDERSTANDING, COOPERATION AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN CITIES THAT EXIST IN AFRICA, ASIA, SOUTH AMERICA, AND EUROPE. THESE CONNECTIONS ARE NOT MERELY SYMBOLIC. THEY YIELD TANGIBLE BENEFI FOR OUR CITY, BOTH ECONOMICALLY, CULTURALLY, AND EDUCATIONALLY. THE POSSIBLE FUNDING ELIMINATION HAS A PARTICULAR STING, GIVEN THAT THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE SEVERAL KEY ANNIVERSARIES AND THE START OF NEW PROGRAMS, WHICH WERE DELAYED DUE TO THE RESTRICTIONS OF TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL DURING COVID. THESE INCLUDE 70 YEARS WITH MONTPELLIER, FRANCE, WHERE WE HAVE HAD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS 
          [01:05:06]
FOR DECADES, 45 YEARS WITH TOM LAGANA, WHERE WE WERE BEGINNING A PROGRAM WITH ATHERTON HIGH SCHOOL AND SCHOOLS IN TAMALE AND THE AFRICAN STUDENT UNION, 30 YEARS WITH MIKE GERMANY, WHERE WE WILL BE HAVING A DELEGATION THIS FALL, INCLUDING WITH MEMBERS OF THE METRO COUNCIL AND 20 YEARS, THE ZHEJIANG, CHINA. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE CONNECTED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE TO COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD, AND GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERWISE. IF WE TRULY BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF SISTER CITIES AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THEY CULTIVATE, THEN FUNDING MUST COME FROM WITHIN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT. BECAUSE THESE ARE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CITY GOVERNMENTS. THEY ARE BILATERAL. THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. GOING BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF MAYOR ARMSTRONG. INVESTING IN SISTER CITIES IS INVESTING IN A FUTURE FOR LOUISVILLE ENRICHED BY GLOBAL COOPERATION AND MUTUAL RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING. I URGE THE METRO COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE THE RECENT REINSTATEMENT OF THIS FUNDING FOR SISTER CITIES PROGRAMING. OTHERWISE IT WILL NOT EXIST TOGETHER. LET US REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING BRIDGES, FOSTERING UNDERSTANDING AND EMBRACING THE DIVERSITY THAT ENRICHES OUR COMMUNITY AND THOSE AROUND THE WORLD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. CATHERINE. CATHERINE, SHAKE. ROBERT FENWICK'S ON DECK. HI I'M CATHERINE SHAKE. I'M THE BOARD CHAIR FOR THE JEFFERSON COUNTY EXTENSION DISTRICT BOARD. MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A PRODUCE FARM IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. EVERYTHING WE PRODUCE IS SOLD ON OUR FARM MARKET IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. LOUISVILLE IS CONSIDERED A FOOD DESERT. THERE'S A LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL GROWN FRESH FOOD IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. I COME TO YOU TONIGHT TO SPEAK TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE. SINCE THE PROPOSED BUDGET WAS ANNOUNCED, I'VE SPOKEN WITH HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS. I'VE HAD DOZENS OF MEETINGS. THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY IS CLEAR. RESIDENTS WANT TO SEE THE SERVICES PROVIDED, BY EXTENSION, CONTINUE AND EVEN INCREASE. EXTENSION SERVES ALL RESIDENTS, NOT JUST ANY ONE AREA OF THE COUNTY OR ONE SECTOR OF THE POPULATION. WE DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE, WE DON'T CARE WHERE YOU LIVE, AND WE DON'T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY YOU CAN PAY FOR OUR SERVICES. WE ALL BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE. I'M ASKING YOU TO NOT ALLOW JEFFERSON COUNTY, THE LARGEST, MOST POPULOUS COUNTY IN THE STATE, TO LOSE THESE EXTENSION SERVICES. THERE ARE 5000 JEFFERSON COUNTY YOUTH ENROLLED IN FOUR-H PROGRAMS. THERE ARE 5500 SENIORS AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES THAT HAVE HAD NUTRITIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING THROUGH THE EXTENSION OFFICE. THE JEFFERSON COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE RUNS THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM, THE JEFFERSON COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE DOES THE SOIL TESTING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT. WE RUN THE COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM. THERE ARE TEN COMMUNITY GARDENS WITH OVER 800 COMMUNITY PLOTS. ALL OF THAT GOES AWAY IF WE LOSE OUR EXTENSION OFFICE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY. I'M ASKING YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT FEW POLITICIANS KNOW HOW TO DO ANYMORE. PLEASE VOTE TO REPRESENT THE WILL OF THE RESIDENTS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY AND RESTORE THE FUNDING TO THE JEFFERSON COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE. THANK YOU. ROBERT FENWICK, AARON COOPER ON DECK. HI, I'M ROBERT FENWICK, AND I REPRESENT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF KENTUCKIANA. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO MANY OF YOU, THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE EVER TOURED OUR FACILITIES OR, VOLUNTEERED WITH OUR ORGANIZATION. WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT, WE ARE PROUD TO SHARE THAT WE HAVE REACHED 50,000 STUDENTS, 61% OF WHOM ARE OR NEARLY 31,000 OF THOSE LIVE HERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. J.R. PROGRAMING REACHED ALMOST 30. KENTUCKY AND SOUTHERN INDIANA HIGH SCHOOLS HELPING STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT JOBS AND CAREERS IN OUR METRO AREA, AND THE NEEDED STEPS TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT. OUR LATEST INITIATIVE, DESIGNED FOR 16 TO 25 YEAR OLDS, HAS BEEN A RESOUNDING SUCCESS AND IS NOW IN HIGH DEMAND. THE UNIQUE PROGRAM DEVELOPED THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMS, AND COLLEGES SUCH AS GTC, THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE, AND SIMMONS COLLEGE. 
          IT PROVIDES FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR YOUNG ADULTS TRANSITIONING TO THE WORKFORCE, HIGHER 
          [01:10:01]
EDUCATION, OR WHO ARE TRANSITIONING TO THE WORKFORCE, OR HIGHER EDUCATION OR CAREER TRAINING. THIS INITIATIVE IS CRUCIAL TO EQUIPPING OUR YOUNG ADULTS WITH THE FINANCIAL SKILLS THEY NEED TO NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES OF ADULTHOOD WE ALL FACE, AND WE ARE PROUD TO SHARE THIS SUCCESS WITH YOU. OUR PROGRAMS ARE NOT JUST EDUCATIONAL, THEY ARE LIFE CHANGING. J J A IS SEEKING SUPPORT TO COVER THE EXPENSES OF STUDENTS ATTENDING OUR BIZTOWN AND FINANCE PARK LEARNING LABS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE EDUCATIONAL AND PROVIDE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR THE REAL WORLD. WE CAN EXPAND OUR PROGRAMING TO REACH MORE COMMUNITY GROUPS. WITH YOUR SUPPORT THIS YEAR, WE PLAN TO HOST THREE SUMMER CAMPS AS ONLY THE SECOND YEAR WE'VE DONE THIS AND WE ARE DOING IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, CABBAGE PATCH AND THE LOUISVILLE, PORTLAND SUN VALLEY DOUGLASS COMMUNITY CENTERS, PLUS YMCA, WESLEY HOUSE, AND MAYBE EVEN MORE. WE'RE WORKING ON IT, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT RECEIVED 22,000 FROM EAF, IN 2022 AND 8000 MORE IN 2023. 30,000 THIS YEAR. WE WERE COMPLETELY LEFT OUT OF THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN US IN THE PAST, AND WE HUMBLY REQUEST THAT YOU CONSIDER US THIS YEAR, REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT, YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO REACH MORE STUDENTS AND EXPAND OUR PROGRAMING TO SERVE THE MOST DISENGAGED AND VULNERABLE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IS VITAL IN PREPARING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FOR SUCCESS IN THE WORKFORCE. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. AARON COOPER ANDRE GUESS IS ON DECK. I'M AARON COOPER WITH HOUSE OF RUTH, FOR THE LAST 32 YEARS, HOUSE OF RUTH HAS PROVIDED LIFE CHANGING AND LIFE SAVING HOUSING AND BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE TO MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN IMPACTED BY HIV. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND SUPPORT. SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV OR AIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOMES OR IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. WE DO THIS THROUGH SERVICES INCLUDING EMERGENCY SHELTER, SHORT AND LONG TERM HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, COUNSELING AND BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE FOR FOOD FOR FOOD, RENT, UTILITY AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. HOUSE OF RUTH HAS A VERY SOLID TRACK RECORD AS A RECIPIENT OF EAF FUNDS. WE SPEND AS DIRECTED AND ON TIME. THIS YEAR WE WERE COMPLETELY LEFT OUT OF THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE $17,500 IN EAF FUNDS. WE RELY ON FOR, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING NOW SITS AT $0. YOU WILL NOTICE THERE SEEMS TO BE OVER $800,000 EARMARKED FOR HOUSE OF RUTH IN THE BUDGET. THIS IS MISLEADING. THESE ARE ACTUALLY FEDERAL PASS THROUGH DOLLARS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND NOT FUNDS THAT COME DIRECTLY FROM METRO REVENUES. YOU WILL FIND THAT SAME AMOUNT IN THE REVENUE SIDE OF THE BUDGET, ALONG WITH OTHER OTHER FEDERAL PASS THROUGH AGENCIES LIKE OURS. THE LOST EAF FUNDS COVER PROGRAM STAFF SALARIES THAT ARE NOT COVERED UNDER HOPWA OR HUD. WITHOUT THESE FUNDS FOR STAFF, WE COULD NOT DO THIS CRITICAL WORK AND NO OTHER LOCAL AGENCY OFFERS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE. WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCATING FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE $17,500 HOUSE OF RUTH. STANDS TO LOSE IN THE EAF FUNDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ANDRE. GUESS MICHAEL BLACKWOOD ON DECK. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANDRE. GUESS I'M THE CEO OF THE FUND FOR THE ARTS. AND FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE FUND FOR THE ARTS HAS FACILITATED A PROGRAM. HEARTS T-SHIRT OUT THERE, WHICH IS HEALING THROUGH THE ARTS ON BEHALF OF LOUISVILLE METRO. THIS IS THE LOUISVILLE METRO PROGRAM, NOT A FUND FOR THE ARTS PROGRAM. 
          AND IN THE MAYOR'S CURRENT BUDGET, IT WAS SLASHED BY 80. AND SO I'M HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU TESTIMONIES FROM THE TEACHING ARTISTS WHO ARE OFFERING FREE AND INTERGENERATIONAL ARTS PROGRAM IN THE COMMUNITY CENTERS. THEY'D BE HERE THEMSELVES TO ACTUALLY SPEAK, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY AT THIS MOMENT ATTENDING THEIR MONTHLY TRAINING AND TRAUMA RESILIENCE AT THE SHAWNEE COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH IS PART OF THE HEARTS PROGRAM. ALMA ALDANA FROM THE BACKSIDE LEARNING CENTER, BLK COMMUNITY IS VERY SECLUDED AND FOR THE FAMILIES THAT LIVE THERE, HEARTS IS THEIR ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, EXPERIENCE SOMETHING FOR THEMSELVES THAT IS NOT A PART OF WORK, OF WORK OR SCHOOL. PARTICIPANTS ARRIVE 
          [01:15:04]
TIRED BUT ARE EXCITED TO BE THERE FOR HEARTS, CLASSES AND OFTEN ASK WHEN SARAH, THE TEACHING ARTIST, WILL BE BACK. THE PROCESS DOES WONDERS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, WITH PRACTICE OF FINE MOTOR SKILLS, DISCOVERY, EMPATHY AND PATIENCE. LOSING HEARTS WILL AFFECT GENERATIONS TO COME. JULIA YOUNGBLOOD, TEACHING ARTIST. THE HEARTS PROGRAM IS DIRECTLY TIED TO SAFETY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, ELDERS AND ALL IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE THE FRONT LINE. ANOTHER TEACHING ARTIST. ART IS A HOLISTIC STRATEGY THAT CAN BE A HUGE PREVENTION TOOL FOR VIOLENCE. ANOTHER TEACHING ARTIST, CUTTING FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM REMOVES OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIRLS TO FIND CONFIDENCE IN THEIR VOICES, SHARE THEIR STORIES, FIND COMMUNITY AND BE TRULY SEEN. THIS IS WHAT CREATES REAL SAFETY. ANOTHER TEACHING ARTIST. PLEASE SUPPORT HEARTS THE ARTS. ADDRESS THE HEART OF THE CITY BY ADDRESSING THE HEARTS OF THIS. PEOPLE WOULD LOVE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT THE LASTING IMPACT OF THE HEARTS. 
          THAT HEARTS MAKES. PROGRAMING TOUCHES DIRECT PARTICIPANTS FOR FAMILIES OF PARTICIPANTS, EXTENDED FAMILIES, COMMUNITY AND EXTENDED COMMUNITY. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ESSENTIAL AVENUES FOR YOUTH TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH ART, HELPING THEM DEAL WITH TRAUMA AND VIOLENCE WHILE CREATING CAREER PATHWAYS AND RECONNECTING THEM TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE HEARTS PROGRAM IS POSITIVELY IMPACTED HUNDREDS ACROSS 22 SITES IN LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY. HEARTS IS NOT JUST AN ARTS INITIATIVE, IT IS A LIFELINE. IT FOSTERS BELONGING, PURPOSE AND A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR YOUTH. THIS PROGRAM IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN OUR CITY. ALREADY DELIVERING SIGNIFICANT RESULTS. PLEASE CONSIDER THE VITAL ROLE THAT HEARTS PLAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PLEASE CONSIDER MAINTAINING FUNDING FOR YOUR PROGRAM, NOT THE FUND FOR THE ARTS PROGRAM. THANK YOU. MICHAEL BLACKWOOD, AMANDA FULLER ON DECK . ALL RIGHT. HELLO. MY NAME IS MICHAEL BLACKWOOD. I'M WITH LOUISVILLE DSA AND THE GET ON THE BUS CAMPAIGN, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING TARC. I WAS IN THIS ROOM, ALONG WITH DOZENS OF HARD WORKING ATU RANK AND FILE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. WHEN TARC WAS GRILLED BY METRO COUNCIL, I BELIEVE METRO COUNCIL, BY AND LARGE, WASHED THEIR HANDS OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT MEETING AND I WANT TO ADDRESS IT. TALKS HAD MISSTEPS IN LEADERSHIP, AND IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD THAT LED US HERE. BUT ONE THREAD HAS REMAINED THE SAME THE LACK OF FUNDING THAT TARC HAS FACED FOR DECADES, COUNCILWOMAN PERVEZ SAID. WE ARE NOT TO BLAME AT ALL. COUNCIL MEMBER HAWKINS SAID. IT WAS YOUR LEADERSHIP THAT FAILED YOU, NOT METRO COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER REID SAID. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE HOW WE COULD BE BLINDSIDED LIKE THIS. BUT SOME METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS STOOD UP. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT COUNCIL MEMBER PARIS WRIGHT FOR SAYING TARC HAS HAD THESE ISSUES FOR YEARS. HOW DO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS, CLAIM TO BE BLINDSIDED AND THIS IS TRUE, TARC HAS BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM FOR PUBLIC FUNDING FOR DECADES NOW. THE TARC 2009 LONG RANGE PLAN CALLED OUT THE NEED FOR CHANGING THE POINT 2% TAX RATE. 
          THAT NUMBER DIDN'T CHANGE IN THE FOLLOWING 15 YEARS, NOR DID IT CHANGE IN THE PRECEDING 35 YEARS. 50 YEARS. THE TAX RATE HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED, AND I GET IT. IT'S NON-TRIVIAL TO CHANGE THE TAX RATE TAX RATE THAT REQUIRES A REFERENDUM. AND WHILE I KNOW THE PEOPLE OF LOUISVILLE WANT IT, IT WON'T HAPPEN TODAY. BUT THERE ARE LEVERS WE CAN PULL TODAY. RIGHT NOW, WE CAN AMEND THE BUDGET TO INCLUDE FULL FUNDING FOR TARC AND KEEP SERVICE AND EMPLOYMENT AT CURRENT LEVELS. THE MAYOR RECOMMENDS A BUDGET, BUT METRO COUNCIL OWNS THE BUDGET. WE MAKE THIS CHANGE NOW AND THEN AS WE WATCH THE SYSTEM GROW AND BETTER SERVE WORKING CLASS LOUISVILLIANS. WE CAN KEEP IT IN THE BUDGET. AND AGAIN, I GET IT. YOU DON'T SEE THE VALUE IN IT. 
          WE'RE MORE CONCERNED WITH FUNDING OUR PERENNIAL NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT LMPD, LMPD OR TAX BREAKS AND SUBSIDIES FOR DEVELOPERS. COUNCIL MEMBER CRAMER, YOU SAID THE RIDERSHIP DOESN'T MATCH THE EXPENSE. THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS. PUBLIC TRANSIT IS A PUBLIC SERVICE. IT'S NOT A BUSINESS. IT'S NOT HERE TO MAKE THE CITY MONEY. IT'S A SERVICE WHICH THE CITY PROVIDES. OBVIOUSLY, I CARE MOST ABOUT THE WORKERS OF LOUISVILLE, THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THIS CITY. BUT I KNOW TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT IS WHERE METRO COUNCIL SEES REAL VALUE. SO I'LL SPEAK IN THOSE TERMS AND I'LL AGAIN QUOTE COUNCIL MEMBER PARRISH. RIGHT. A BUSINESS WON'T COME TO A PLACE THAT DOESN'T HAVE PUBLIC TRANSIT. THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL TO RELOCATE TARC DRIVERS TO JCPS IS UNSUSTAINABLE. THE SOLUTION CAN NEVER BE SHIFTING AROUND, EVER SHRINKING CITY RESOURCES. THE ONLY TRUE SOLUTION IS EXPANSION RIDERSHIP INCREASE IN CITIES LIKE D.C. THAT EXPANDED SERVICE AFTER THE PANDEMIC. I SPOKEN WITH TWO MEMBERS LEADERSHIP, LOCAL AND NATIONAL TARC BOARD MEMBERS, METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'VE NEVER MET ANYONE WHO OPPOSES FULLY FUNDING TARC, EXCEPT FOR PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS WALL. 87, 87% OF RIDERS AND NON-RIDERS WE SURVEYED SAID THEY WERE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THIS. THE PEOPLE OF LOUISVILLE WANT AND NEED THIS AND WERE VOTERS. THE PRIMARY WAS JUST TWO DAYS AGO. CANDIDATES RAN ON PUBLIC TRANSIT AND WON. AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WIN. AND QUICKLY. TARC IS NOT THE ONLY PUBLIC SERVICE THAT NEEDS A TREATMENT. THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT HAS BOUGHT 
          [01:20:01]
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS INTO THE CITY, ALL IN AN ALREADY MEAGER BUDGET, WE SHOULD RESTORE THEIR FUNDING AND ALSO EXPAND IT YEAR OVER YEAR. I'D LOVE TO PORE OVER THE DATA THAT WE'VE COLLECTED FROM RESIDENTS IN LOUISVILLE. YOU CAN FIND ME AND I CAN GO OVER IT. THANKS. THANK YOU, AMANDA, FOR. AMANDA FULLER, AMINA SHEILS ON DECK. HI, THIS IS AMANDA FULLER SPEAKING. I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX. I'M CURRENTLY SERVING A SECOND TERM ON THE COUNTY EXTENSION DISTRICT BOARD WITH CATHERINE SHAKE, WHO YOU HEARD FROM RECENTLY. I'M ALSO A STEERING COMMITTEE WITH FOOD AND NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS SETTING UP THE GREATER LOUISVILLE FOOD COUNCIL. I ALSO OWN MY OWN MY OWN URBAN FARM AND ORCHARD IN THE PORTLAND NEIGHBORHOOD. I KNOW THIS IS THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. IT'S NOT YOUR BUDGET. A LOT OF YOU ALREADY KNOW. YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ON THIS BUDGET, COUNTY EXTENSION SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR $390,000 THIS YEAR, INSTEAD, WE GOT A 90% BUDGET CUT OUT IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET, THE EXTENSION DISTRICT BOARD THAT I SERVE ON OVERSEES THE BUDGET FOR EXTENSION. IT'S LOCAL CONTROL OVER THOSE PUBLIC FUNDS. UK IS ONE OF OUR LAND GRANT INSTITUTIONS. KENTUCKY STATE IS OUR OTHER LAND GRANT INSTITUTION, THOSE INSTITUTIONS FUND STAFF WHO ARE AT OUR SERVICE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. THE COUNTIES ARE OBLIGATED BY KENTUCKY STATUTE TO FUND ALSO TO CONTRIBUTE INTO THOSE COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICES, THOSE LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS PAY FOR THINGS LIKE RENT OPERATIONS AND SOME OF THE STAFFING. THE UK AND KSU, CONTROL STATIONS ARE STAFFING ONLY, SO THEY DON'T REALLY PAY FOR THE OPERATIONS IN THE OFFICES. THE MODEL IS SIMILAR FOR SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION. 115 OUT OF KENTUCKY'S 120 COUNTIES FUND THEIR COUNTY OFFICES THROUGH A PORTION OF PROPERTY TAXES THAT ARE DEDICATED FOR THEIR COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICES. MANY OF THOSE ARE COMBINED TOGETHER, SO EXTENSION AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS ARE TOGETHER IN 1 IN 1 LINE ON THE PROPERTY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S CALLED. THE MILLAGE ON THE PROPERTY TAX. JEFFERSON COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE THAT. SO WE'RE VULNERABLE TO THE VAGARIES OF, ANNUAL METRO BUDGETS. WE'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THE DISTRICT BOARD HAS BEEN RESEARCHING AND PLANNING TO TRY TO FIX THAT. WE WANT TO TAKE THIS OUT OF THE METRO BUDGET. WE DON'T WANT TO BE VULNERABLE TO THESE CHANGES YEAR AFTER YEAR. WE HAVE A METRO REPRESENTATIVE ON THE DISTRICT BOARD, AND A YEAR OR TWO AGO, THAT PERSON ADVISED US NOT TO SEEK AN ADDITIONAL TAX LEVY. NOW WE ARE FACING THE VERY PROBLEM THAT WE WERE RESEARCHING AND SEEKING TO AVOID. INSTEAD OF A SMALL INCREASE TO COVER INFLATION AND OTHER RISING COSTS, SHOULD $390,000, WE HAVE A 90% BUDGET CUT IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. THAT'S NOT EVEN ENOUGH TO COVER RENT, WE WERE COMPLETELY BLINDSIDED, AS YOU'VE BEEN HEARING FROM OTHER AGENCIES. BLINDSIDED BY THAT CUT UK SALARY, CONTRIBUTIONS TOTAL MORE THAN $650,000. SO THIS INVESTMENT FROM THE COUNTY, FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY, FROM THIS BUDGET ALLOWS THE EXTENSION OFFICE TO OPERATE ON A ON A REAL SHOESTRING. HERE'S WHAT WE GET WITH THAT SHOESTRING BUDGET TEN COMMUNITY GARDENS SERVING 400 MORE FAMILIES. SOME OF THOSE GARDENS WERE FOUNDED SPECIFICALLY TO SERVE SENIORS, MASTER GARDENERS, VOLUNTEER THEIR SERVICES AT NONPROFITS ALL OVER THE COUNTY. SOIL TESTING. YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT TO MAKE SURE OUR SOIL DOESN'T CONTAIN LEAD WHEN WE PLANT GARDENS, A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR NEW AMERICAN GARDENERS IS THANK YOU FOR FUNDING EXTENSION HEALTH OVER HELICOPTERS. THANK YOU. TO MICHELLE GREENBERG'S ON DECK. 
          OKAY, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE. MY NAME IS AMINA SHELL. AND, I LIVE IN THE SHAWNEE NEIGHBORHOOD. I AM HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR NEW AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND THE URGE FOR COUNCIL TO ALLOCATE MORE FUNDING FOR THESE COMMUNITIES AND ADD THEM TO THE CITY'S BUDGET, MANY OF THESE FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH MANY OF THE SYSTEMATIC PROBLEMS THAT MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS HERE HAVE SHARED. BUT HOWEVER, THEIR VOICES AREN'T HEARD, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET TO THESE ROOMS, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO SAY, I HAVE THIS ISSUE JUST LIKE MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVE SAID, AND FOR ME, I WAS BORN IN KENYA IN 2004. 
          I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE RAISED BY PARENTS WHO ENCOURAGED ME TO HAVE ENGLISH AS MY FIRST LANGUAGE, CURRENTLY SOME PEOPLE SAY, WOW, YOU DON'T EVEN SOUND LIKE YOU SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE, AND THAT IS BECAUSE MY PARENTS ADVOCATE FOR ME TO SPEAK ENGLISH, LIKE MOST KIDS, WE HAVE THIS, SYSTEM WHERE MANY OF THE KIDS DON'T SPEAK THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE ANYMORE. AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE SERVING AS THE FAMILY LIAISONS. AND WITH THE CITY NOT 
          [01:25:05]
SUPPORTING THE FAMILIES, THE KIDS ARE BECOMING ADULTS EVEN WHEN THEY'RE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I WAS AN INTERPRETER AT SEVEN YEARS OLD. I WAS GOING TO FOOD STAMP OFFICE. I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL. I WAS SIGNING PAPERWORK FOR MY PARENTS. AND I FEEL LIKE WITH THE CITY CUTTING BUDGETS FOR OCEAN AND NOT HAVING FUNDING FOR OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS, THIS REALLY HURTS THE YOUTH IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. THE ETHNIC BASED COMMUNITIES THAT SUPPORT THEMSELVES, THAT TRY TO PRETTY MUCH, ELEVATE EACH OTHER WITH ZERO FUNDING, IT'S REALLY HURTING MANY OF US, AND I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW LOUISVILLE IS ONE OF THE CITIES, LOUISVILLE WAS NAMED AN INTERNATIONAL COMPASSIONATE CITY IN 2011. IT IS THE LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA TO HOLD THAT DISTINCTION. IT IS HOME TO A MASS OF, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FILLED WITH, WITH, ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT COMPASSION GUNIT COMPASSION, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER, THE CENTER FOR INTERFAITH RELATIONS, THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF FAITHS, HOWEVER, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT LIVING UP TO THAT TITLE, MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE EXPRESSED THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND EVEN METRO MEETINGS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF INTERPRETERS. SO HOW IS IT FAIR FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS TO BE TOLD, GO AND ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF IF THEY DON'T HAVE AN INTERPRETER? WHERE ARE THE INTERPRETERS? WHERE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO SPEAK UP FOR THESE COMMUNITIES? I REPRESENT ONE COMMUNITY. I WORK WITH TEN COMMUNITIES, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE REPRESENTATIVES. THANK YOU. NIA GREENBERG, KAREEM GREENBERG ON DECK. GOOD EVENING. 
          MY NAME IS LEAH GREENBERG. NO RELATION TO THE MAYOR WHATSOEVER , I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A DIFFERENT ASPECT OF THE EXTENSION SERVICE OFFERED HERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY THAT I HAVE A LOT OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH, I'M CURRENTLY A RISING JUNIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY STUDYING GEOLOGY, AND IN NO WAY WOULD I BE ABLE TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE EFFORTS AND THE SERVICES AND THE SUCCESSES OF THAT EXTENSION SERVICE, I URGE YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER THE BUDGET PROPOSALS TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THEIR BUDGET, ESSENTIALLY RAISING THE 100 YEAR HISTORY OF EXTENSION HERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. WHEN I WAS NINE YEARS OLD, I WAS A SHY, BULLIED KID WHO FELT LIKE I WAS TOO WEIRD TO BE IN THE SPACES I WAS. THEN ONE DAY IN MY FOURTH GRADE CLASS, AN EXTENSION REPRESENTATIVE CAME TO MY SCHOOL AND TOLD US ABOUT THIS REALLY WACKY PLACE CALLED FOUR-H CAMP, WHERE THEY WOULD DANCE AND SING AND DO ALL SORTS OF ACTIVITIES THAT I COULD NEVER IMAGINE DOING . IT WAS ON A PLOT OF LAND DOWN AT LAKE CUMBERLAND. NOTHING COULD HAVE PREPARED ME FOR HOW MY LIFE WAS GOING TO CHANGE, AND THE FRIENDS I WOULD HAVE THE HONOR OF MEETING. I FINALLY UNDERSTOOD AS I GOT OLDER AND WHEN I BECAME AN ADULT VOLUNTEER, THAT WHAT MAKES EXTENSION AND CAMP SO SPECIAL IS THAT IT PROVIDES AN INVALUABLE SERVICE. IT'S A PLACE WHERE KIDS CAN JUST BE KIDS. I BRANCHED OUT FROM CAMP. I WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEEN CLUB, VOLUNTEERED AT FARMERS MARKETS, GOT TO TRAIN YOUNGER COUNSELORS, AND GOT TO WATCH AND WATCH OTHERS LEARN AND GROW. LAST YEAR, AFTER 11 YEARS OF CAMP, I WAS ON STAFF AT THAT VERY CAMP. THE YOUNG KID WHO WAS TOO SHY TO LEAD HER CABIN IN THEIR OWN CHANT, WAS NOW LEADING FULL CAMP DANCES, WORKING AT THE ROCKWELL, HELPING KIDS UNDERSTAND THEIR FEARS AND GET OVER THEM. I CANNOT KEEP TALKING ABOUT ME, THOUGH, BECAUSE MY STORY HAS ALREADY BEEN TOLD. I HAVE ALREADY CHANGED SO MUCH. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF YOUTH IN JEFFERSON COUNTY THAT STILL DESERVE THAT. A MONTH AGO, I WAS VOLUNTEERING WITH A GROUP THAT CAME DOWN WITH THE EXTENSION SERVICE FROM CARRICK AND EISENHOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HERE IN LOUISVILLE. I WAS DOWN AT THE BOAT DOCK AS A LIFEGUARD FACILITATOR. CANOES. ONE LITTLE BOY HAD NEVER BEEN IN A CANOE IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE AND HE WAS SCARED. HE WAS CRYING. WE ENDED UP SPEAKING FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND HE AGREED TO JUST GIVE IT A GO. TEN MINUTES LATER, HE'S FLYING AROUND THE LAKE, BIGGEST GRIN ON HIS FACE, KNOWING THAT HE HAD DONE SOMETHING THAT HAD SCARED HIM AND HAD CHALLENGED HIM. THIS SAME STORY HAS BEEN REPEATED THOUSANDS OF TIMES, TO MYSELF INCLUDED, AND IT REALLY IS A SIMPLE IDEA. KIDS DESERVE A SPACE AND PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP THEM GROW AT THEIR TERM'S. AND THAT IS WHAT THE EXTENSION SERVICES DO FOR YOUTH IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. THESE BUDGET CUTS WOULD ELIMINATE JEFFERSON COUNTY'S PRESENCE AT FOUR-H CAMPS, MAKING IT THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE COMMONWEALTH THAT DOES NOT ATTEND ONE OF THE FOUR FOUR GAMES HERE IN KENTUCKY. I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH A SAYING THAT CAMP COUNSELORS FROM YEARS AGO BEFORE ME TOLD ME, WE ALWAYS GET OLDER AND OUR WORLD ALWAYS CHANGE, BUT THE CAMPERS ALWAYS STAY THE SAME AGE. CONNIE GREENBERG, EMILY FREDERICK ON 
          [01:30:05]
DECK. THANK YOU. DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR HEARING US. MY NAME IS KAREN GREENBERG. ALSO NOT RELATED TO THE MAYOR, BUT VERY PROUD TO BE RELATED TO YOUR LAST SPEAKER. 
          I'M HERE AS A FORMER MOM, TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THIS FOUR H CAMP EXPERIENCE IS SO VALUABLE TO THESE CHILDREN. JEFFERSON COUNTY REGULARLY ROUTINELY SENDS 200, 300 CAMPERS PER YEAR. THESE ARE KIDS AGED NINE THROUGH 13, AND THE TEEN LEADERS ALSO GO WITH THEM. AGES 14 TO 17. AND THEN THEY AGE UP TO BECOME STAFF AND WHATNOT. CAMP OFFERS ALL SORTS OF INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES TO THESE KIDS. HIGH ROPES, LOW ROPES, SWIMMING, CANOEING, KAYAKING, SHOOTING, SPORTS, FISHING, GAMES, CRAFTS, OUTDOOR LIVING, OUTDOOR COOKING, NATURE HIKES, ROCK CLIMBING, CAVE EXPLORATION AND SO MUCH MORE. IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR H CAMP EXPERIENCE, MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN ABLE TO MEET CHILDREN FROM OUR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND ADULTS FROM OVER 20 COUNTIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH, ESPECIALLY SHELBY COUNTY, TRIMBLE COUNTY, CASEY COUNTY, BULLITT COUNTY, RUSSELL COUNTY, PULASKI COUNTY, AND A DOZEN OTHERS. SHE'S 20 YEARS OLD, BUT SHE'S ALREADY GOT THESE CONNECTIONS. SHE HAS THESE EXPERIENCES. SHE CAN RELATE TO ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMONWEALTH. IF THE EXTENSION OFFICE BUDGET GETS CUT AS PROPOSED, THE FOUR H CAMP EXPERIENCE WILL END FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY'S KIDS. THE OTHER 119 COUNTIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH WILL STILL BE ABLE TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO STILL HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE. OUR CHILDREN WILL BECOME ISOLATED AND INSULATED. THIS AFFECTS ALL THE CHILDREN IN THE COUNTY. THIS IS KIND OF AN ALL OR NOTHING GAME. I MEAN, ONCE THE PROGRAM IS CUT, IT'S NOT THAT WE SEND FEWER STUDENTS OR FEWER CAMPERS WITH FEWER RESOURCES. WE EITHER ARE ABLE TO SEND CAMPERS OR WE DON'T SEND ANY. AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY TRAGIC. IN ADDITION, IT WOULD END TEEN CAMP , TEEN CLUB LEADERSHIP TRAINING, VOLUNTEER SERVICES, WORK WITH MASTER GARDENER, GARDENERS, FARMERS MARKETS AND SO MUCH MORE. I PLEASE ASK YOU TO RESPECTFULLY CONSIDER REINSTATING THE EXTENSION OFFICE BUDGET TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM GOING FOR ALL THE JEFFERSON COUNTY KIDS FROM ALL THE JEFFERSON COUNTY NEIGHBORHOODS WHO WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO GET OUT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY AND SEE WHAT THE REST OF KENTUCKY IS LIKE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          EMILY FREDERICK REBECCA FLEISCHAKER ON DECK. HI GOOD EVENING, METRO COUNCIL. MY NAME IS EMILY, AND I'M STARTING MY SENIOR YEAR AT ATHERTON HIGH SCHOOL IN THE FALL. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE BUDGET CUTS THAT WILL IMPACT THE JEFFERSON COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE. AND FOR PROGRAMING, INCLUDING FOR H. FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY, FOR H CAMP FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY. I'M ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER THE MAYOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATION TO CUT FUNDING TO THE EXTENSION OFFICE. I'VE BEEN ATTENDING FOUR-H CAMP RUN BY THE EXTENSION OFFICE SINCE I WAS NINE YEARS OLD. I'M 17 NOW. ATTENDING CAMP HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE, AND IT IS A PLACE THAT I FEEL I CAN BE MYSELF AND BE SAFE AND SPEND A WEEK AWAY FROM MY WORDS AND ANXIETIES. I GREW FROM A SHY KID WHO ONLY TALKED TO A SINGLE STAFF MEMBER AT THE CAMP, TO A TEEN WHO GOAL IS TO BE ON STAFF. THESE BUDGET CUTS WOULD DROP FUNDING FROM 305,000 TO 30,000, AND TAKE AWAY THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND TEENS TO ATTEND CAMP AND OTHER FOUR-H PROGRAMS AND HAVE THESE SAME EXPERIENCES. IT'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP THE TO KEEP THE EXTENSION OFFICE GOING. WHEN THE NEWS ABOUT THE BUDGET CUTS WAS GIVEN TO THE CAMP. WAS GIVEN TO CAMP TEEN AND ADULT LEADERS THIS PAST WEEKEND AT OUR TRAINING, THE SILENCE IN THE ROOM WAS DEAFENING AS WE PROCESSED WHAT WE WERE BEING TOLD. WE ALL LEFT THE TRAINING EMOTIONAL AND UPSET ABOUT WHAT THESE CUTS WILL MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF FOUR-H PROGRAMING IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, PLEASE TAKE TIME TO RECONSIDER THESE BUDGET CUTS FOR THE SAKE OF HUNDREDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO USE FOUR-H AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL SAFE, MAKE FRIENDS, TO GROW, AND TO LEARN LEAHIP AND LIFE SKILLS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. REBECCA FLEISCHAKER ALEXIS JONES ON DECK. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MR. VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I'M REBECCA FLEISCHAKER. I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LOUISVILLE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE CASE WHY OUR DOWNTOWN IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND WHY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ITS MAINTENANCE IS BROUGHT UP TO STANDARD. OUR DOWNTOWN IS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF OUR CITY AND OUR REGION. IT IS HOME TO THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF WORKERS, VISITORS, HOTEL ROOMS, MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS, AND GENERATES MORE TAX REVENUE THAN ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH MEANS THAT DOWNTOWN GENERATES GENERAL FUNDS FOR CITY SERVICES THROUGHOUT ALL 
          [01:35:02]
OF METRO. IN OTHER WORDS, HAVING A STRONG DOWNTOWN TRANSLATES TO A STRONG CITY. TOURISM IS KEEPING OUR HOTELS AND VENUES FULL PROVEN BY THE ACTIVITY IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHTS. HOWEVER, IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE DAYTIME POPULATION HAS DWINDLED DUE TO THE RISE OF REMOTE WORK AND BECAUSE OF THIS SHIFT IN PEDESTRIAN AND PURCHASING ACTIVITY, WE BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY TO DOUBLE DOWN ON ATTRACTING MORE RESIDENTS TO DOWNTOWN. ADDING RESIDENTIAL UNITS INCREASES THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WALKING AROUND ALL HOURS OF THE DAY, EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, AND WHO WILL HELP MAKE THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD MORE INVITING AND SAFER FEELING. LOOKING AT NEW INCENTIVES AND POLICIES THAT ENABLE VACANT LOTS TO BE REDEVELOPED, OR CONVERSION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS TO RESIDENTIAL WILL HELP ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, SUCH AS NEW MONEY COMING FROM THE STATE AND THE $100 MILLION WITH ONE OF THE SIX PROJECTS NAMED TO CONVERT VACANT BUILDINGS. THIS NEW MONEY WILL FUND AMAZING PROJECTS, BUT WILL TAKE TIME AND MUCH MORE MONEY. A MORE IMMEDIATE NEED IS TO CONTINUE IMPROVING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND CREATING A BEAUTIFUL, CARED FOR AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES DOWNTOWN MORE ATTRACTIVE. AS A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M ASKING THAT YOU CONSIDER TWO PROJECTS IN YOUR BUDGET THAT WILL ADDRESS ALL THREE OF THESE FACTORS. I BELIEVE LIGHTING DOES THAT DOWNTOWN STREETLIGHTS, FIRST INSTALLED IN THE LATE 1980S, HAVE STARTED TO FAIL OVER THE LAST DECADE, AND IN SOME CASES, WE HAVE LIGHTS THAT DON'T WORK, LIGHT POLES THAT HAVE BLOWN OVER, GOTTEN HIT, THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. AND ON SOME STREETS THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH LIGHTS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET, $2 MILLION FOR DOWNTOWN STREETLIGHTS. THAT MONEY HAS BEEN ABOUT SPENT. I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT AGAIN. INCREASING THE LINE ITEM IN THE FY 25 RECOMMENDED BUDGET FROM $500,000 TO $2 MILLION. AGAIN, THIS NEEDS TO BE AN INTENTIONAL MULTI YEAR PHASED PLAN AND ALSO TO INCLUDE THE WILDLY SUCCESSFUL BUT DARK ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT OF NULU. LDP HAS ALSO BEEN WORKING ON SPECIAL LIGHTING PROJECTS THAT WILL BRING UNIQUE LIGHTING TO AN AREA THEY ARE ESTHETIC IN NATURE, YES, BUT ALSO ARE ATTRACTIVE AND UNIQUE. SHOW CARE FOR THE AREA AND ADD A SAFETY ELEMENT TO THAT AREA. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE 1.6 MILLION YOU INCLUDED IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET FOR THE LED UNDERPASS LIGHTING, WHICH WILL SOON BE INSTALLED ON MAIN STREET ANY DAY BY SLUGGER FIELD AND THEN MARKET STREET SHORTLY THEREAFTER. WE HAVE A SECOND INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, A STRING LIGHTING PROJECT, FUNDING OUT OF OUR OWN COFFERS. THE PLANNING AND DESIGN COSTS OF ENGINEERING. 
          THIS STRING LIGHTING WILL ILLUMINATE FOURTH STREET BETWEEN GUTHRIE AND CHESTNUT. THIS IS SOUTH OF FOURTH STREET LIVE AND SOUTH OF THE MAYOR'S FOURTH STREET INITIATIVE, BUT WOULD BRING LOVE AND ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT AND SUFFERING END OF DOWNTOWN. THIS IS NOW A SHOVEL READY PROJECT FOR A PORTION OF FOURTH STREET THAT NEEDS THAT LOVE. WE'RE ASKING FOR $460,000 TO BE ADDED TO THE PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET. NEITHER OF THESE PROJECTS THAT I'M ASKING FOR FUNDING IS FOR US. IT IS FOR THE CITY AND FOR EVERYONE TO BENEFIT FROM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU, ALEXIS JONES, CAROL GUNDERSON, GUNDERSON ON DECK. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M ALEXIS JONES, I'M THE PUBLIC RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR LOUISVILLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE. BUT I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR MORE SUPPORT AND FUNDING TWO OF OUR ESSENTIAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, THE TEEN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND KIDS ART ACADEMY, THE TEEN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, YOU CAN CALL IT TLC, IS A TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED TEENS THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES, AND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS TRAINING. NOW, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE MAYOR FOR PUTTING US IN HIS BUDGET, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH AND THAT'S JUST THE TRUTH. WITH THE REQUESTED FUNDING OF $75,000, THE TLC AIMS TO REACH OVER 300 TEENS, PROVIDING THEM WITH ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE IN THEIR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURSUITS. OUR KIDS ART ACADEMY YOU CAN CALL A CAR, IS A BEACON OF CREATIVITY AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL AGE YOUTH WITH. WITH A FUNDING REQUEST OF $50,000, THE CCA OFFERS ARTS EDUCATION, ACADEMIC COACHING, AND STEM FOCUSED CAREER DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO 120 YOUTH ANNUALLY, NURTURING THEIR TALENTS AND PREPARING THEM FOR BRIGHT FUTURES. NOW, MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW WHO WE ARE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T, LOUISVILLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY CENTERS HAS BEEN IN THIS CITY FOR 75 YEARS. LOCATED IN ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AREAS IN LOUISVILLE, WHERE THE AVERAGE INCOME IS LESS THAN $15,000. WE HAVE PROVEN TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY. WE SERVE OVER 400 SCHOOL AGED YOUTH, PRODUCING REMARKABLE OUTCOMES AND SUCCESS STORIES, INCLUDING 1,996% EXCUSE ME OF OUR TLC'S GRADUATES GO ON TO PURSUE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND SUCCESSFUL CAREERS. OUR CAR HAS NURTURED YOUNG TALENTS WHO HAVE GONE TO DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS ON A GLOBAL STAGE. THAT INCLUDES DICKORY JOHNSON, WHO WAS A FINALIST ON AMERICA'S NEXT. 
          EXCUSE ME, I ALMOST SAID AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL. BUT NO, HE'S A KID, IT IS AMERICA'S 
          [01:40:06]
GOT TALENT AND CARSON TAYLOR, WHO'S A PART OF BILLBOARD'S HITS THE MUSICAL IN CLOSING THE FUNDING SUPPORT OF OUR TEEN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND KIDS ARTS ACADEMY PROGRAMS IS NOT JUST AN INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUTH, BUT A COMMITMENT TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. 
          YOUR SUPPORT WILL ENABLE US TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION OF EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS AND ARTISTS, CREATING A POSITIVE IMPACT THAT RESONATES FAR BEYOND OUR WALLS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. THANK YOU. 
          CAROL GUNDERSON, MARIA GUERIN ON DECK. HI. I HAVE TEN HANDOUTS FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE. IF I IF I MAY, YOU CAN LEAVE RIGHT THERE. WE'LL GET THEM. OKAY. GREAT. THANKS. MY NAME IS CAROL GUNDERSON. I'M ALSO. I'M WITH THE FOOD LITERACY PROJECT, AND I'M JOINED BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD AND STAFF AND OUR AWESOME YOUTH COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE CREW, AND ALSO TO MANY PARTNERS TO HIGHLIGHT. SO THANKS FOR BEING HERE, EVERYONE, I MENTIONED I'M WITH THE FOOD LITERACY PROJECT AND AN INVESTMENT OF METRO DOLLARS. NOW IN LAND ACQUISITION CAN POSITIVELY IMPACT COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE LONG TERM. OUR MISSION IS ABOUT YOUTH TRANSFORMING THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH FOOD, FARMING AND THE LAND. THROUGH THIS WORK, THE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH US HERE TONIGHT ARE BUILDING EMPLOYMENT AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS WHILE GROWING AND DISTRIBUTING FRESH, FRESH, HEALTHFUL FOOD TO NEIGHBORS AND INVITING YOUNGER CHILDREN TO HAVE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH A VEGETABLE THROUGH THE FOOD LITERACY PROJECT'S WORK, THOUGH THE FOOD LITERACY PROJECT'S WORK IS ROOTED IN FARMING, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS NEVER HAD LAND OF ITS OWN. TENANT STATUS IS THE DEFINING OBSTACLE TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. FOR THIS WORK, BECAUSE WE CANNOT FULLY INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE, SOIL, RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORS AND OUR COMMITMENT TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. LAST FALL, AFTER WE WERE INFORMED BY METRO PARKS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO RELOCATE OUR FARMING OPERATION, OUR BOARD VETTED DOZENS OF PROPERTIES AND IDENTIFIED LAND WE INTEND TO PURCHASE FOR A FOREVER HOME. A YOUTH DRIVEN FARM THAT WILL PRESERVE OPEN GREEN SPACE AND ENGAGE AND FEED THOUSANDS OF NEIGHBORS. WE ARE WORKING FEVERISHLY TO SECURE THE CAPITAL NEEDED TO PURCHASE LAND THIS YEAR, MAYOR GREENBERG EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO HELP US PURCHASE LAND. WE WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT HIS PROPOSED BUDGET DID NOT INCLUDE ANY FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT AND IN FACT, SUBSTANTIALLY CUT FUNDING FOR OUR PARTNERS AT THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AND DENIED A FUNDING REQUEST FROM CHANGE TODAY, CHANGE TOMORROW. EACH YEAR, METRO GOVERNMENT LAND THAT IS OR COULD BE STEWARDED TO FEED US AND KEEP US SAFE AND HEALTHY IS REPURPOSED FOR DEVELOPMENT, A PATTERN THAT HAS IMPACTED THE FOOD LITERACY PROJECT TWICE IN TWO YEARS. CAPITAL FUNDING IS URGENTLY NEEDED TO PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY. THE FOOD LITERACY PROJECTEQUESTED $1 MILLION, BUT EVERY BIT HELPS. COULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR A $300,000 INVESTMENT TOWARDS OUR PURCHASE OF LAND TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY, BY ROOTING THIS WORK IN COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME, STUDIES SHOW ACTIVE GREEN SPACES HELP REDUCE VIOLENT CRIMES IN NEIGHBORHOODS. URBAN AGRICULTURE ALSO MITIGATES CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOOD APARTHEID. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE COMMITTED TO ACTIVATING OUR FOREVER HOME TO NOURISH OUR COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME. REGARDING GENDER, SHANDA LEE ON DECK. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MARIA GUERIN AND I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IMAGINATION LIBRARY OF LOUISVILLE, THE LOCAL AFFILIATE OF DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M BACK IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY TO. OKAY, SORRY, I'M BACK IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY TO REQUEST THAT YOU CONSIDER ALLOCATING FUNDING IN THE CITY BUDGET FOR THIS PROGRAM . WE SUBMITTED A BUDGET REQUEST OF $150,000 THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT THE MAYOR LAID OUT FOR US, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. SO I'M HERE TO SHARE A BIT MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM AND WHY FUNDS ARE NEEDED. IT IS IMAGINATION LIBRARY'S MISSION TO SEND A FREE MONTHLY BOOK TO CHILDREN UNDER FIVE TO HELP THEM DEVELOP A LOVE OF READING AND PREPARE FOR KINDERGARTEN. AS YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE, MORE THAN 50% OF JEFFERSON COUNTY CHILDREN ENTER KINDERGARTEN UNPREPARED TO LEARN BASED ON KINDERGARTEN READINESS MEASURES AND IMAGINATION LIBRARY IS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT BY ENRICHING THE HOME LITERACY ENVIRONMENT AND MAKING SURE EVERY FAMILY HAS A NEW BOOK TO SHARE EACH MONTH. AFTER PREVIOUSLY ONLY BEING AVAILABLE IN SELECT ZIP CODES, WE EXPANDED TO SERVE FAMILIES COUNTYWIDE LAST SUMMER, AND THE 
          [01:45:02]
RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMING. FAMILIES WHO HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THE PROGRAM TO BECOME AVAILABLE IN THEIR AREA WERE ECSTATIC, AND OUR ENROLLMENT JUMPED FROM 3170 CHILDREN IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR TO 12,522 CHILDREN IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. TODAY OUR ENROLLMENT STANDS AT NEARLY 14,000. CURRENTLY MORE THAN ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE. IN LOUISVILLE IS RECEIVING A MONTHLY BOOK FROM US, A HIGH QUALITY, AGE APPROPRIATE MONTHLY BOOK DELIVERED TO THEIR DOORSTEP. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A HUGE SUCCESS TO BE CELEBRATED, OF COURSE IT HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET. THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION FUNDS MUCH OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAKES IMAGINATION LIBRARY POSSIBLE, BUT WE AS A LOCAL PROGRAM PARTNER ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BOOK COSTS EVERY MONTH. SO WE ACTUALLY GET A BILL EACH MONTH FROM THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION FOR EVERY BOOK THAT WE SEND, IT IS A HIGHLY COST EFFECTIVE PROGRAM. THE BOOK PLUS THE SHIPPING IS ONLY $1.10 PER MONTH. BUT WE'RE SENDING WHEN YOU'RE SENDING AS MANY BOOKS AS WE ARE, THAT ADDS UP QUICKLY. WE CURRENTLY RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS, GRANTS AND PUBLIC DOLLARS. 
          HOWEVER, THERE'S STILL A GAP IN OUR FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO FILL IN ORDER TO REMAIN COUNTYWIDE, WHICH WE DESPERATELY WANT TO DO. YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU A CHART OF HOW MANY CHILDREN WE ARE CURRENTLY SERVING IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND YOU WILL SEE THAT HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN IN EACH AND EVERY DISTRICT ACROSS THE CITY ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED AND RECEIVING A MONTHLY BOOK FROM US. WE CONSTANTLY HEAR FROM PARENTS ABOUT HOW IMPACTFUL OUR PROGRAM IS. SO I WILL END WITH ONE OF THOSE MESSAGES THAT I RECEIVED JUST YESTERDAY. MARIA, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW SPECIAL OUR READING TIME WITH LUNA HAS BECOME. THESE AMAZING BOOKS FROM DOLLY AND THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY ADD MAGIC AND ADVENTURE TO OUR LIVES. LUNA LOVES GETTING EACH NEW BOOK. SHE SQUEALED WITH DELIGHT WHEN SHE GETS A NEW BOOK IN THE MAIL. THANKS AGAIN. IMAGINATION LIBRARY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE KINDERGARTEN READINESS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE NEED FUNDING TO CONTINUE THIS MOMENTUM AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR COIDERATION AND YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. CHANDA. CHANDA. LEE AUBREY MURDOCK ON DECK. 
          HELLO. MY NAME IS SHONDA LEE. I'M A COMMUNY ACTIVIST, LET'S TALK ABOUT INSANITY. INSANITY I DOIN TNG OV A AXPNG I'VEPOKEN TO YOU ALL AT THESE ETINGS ABOUT CERTAIN ISSUES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND WE, THE COMMUNITY, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, IF YOU WILL. WE'VE ONLY GOTTEN THE SAME RESULTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE FUNDING FUNDING FOR EDUCATION IS LIMITED. FUNDING FOR TRANSIT SYSTEM IS LIMITED. FUNDING FOR HOUSING IS LIMITED, FUNDING FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE IS LIMITED. FUNDING FOR OUR YOUTH CENTERS IS LIMITED FUG FOR NONPROFITS. AS YOU CAN SEE, EVERYBODY'S IN HERE ASKING FOR SOME MONEY FOR NONPROFITS TO START UP IS LIMITED, BUT THE FUNDING FOR LMPD IS UNLIMITED. MONEY IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE. THAT'S INSANE. WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT INSANITY WHEN HAVE Y'ALL ACTUALLY VOTED ON? NO. VOTED NO ON LMPD BUDGET AND HELD ON TO IT. AND RE RE CALCULATED. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. THE MONEY FOR MORE POSITIVE PURPOSES. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY QUICK I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER DEBACLE, MORE ON THE CHARGE, THE INCREASED INCARCERATION AND THE RELEASE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE THAT HE WAS RELEASED IN THE TIME THAT HE WAS. WHEN IT TAKES MORE THAN AN HOUR TO BE BOOKED, THE JUDGE IS CALLED ONLY TWICE A DAY, AND YOU HAVE TO BE INCARCERATED AND BOOKED IN ABOUT CERTAIN TIME BEFORE THE JUDGE COULD EVEN BE CALLED. IS THIS MICROPHONE ON? CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? BECAUSE I CAN'T HEAR MYSELF, COMING FROM A PERSON WHO'S BEEN ARRESTED ON LESS CHARGES, WHICH WERE IN FACT BOGUS, AND IT TOOK ME AT LEAST SIX HOURS FOR ME TO BE RELEASED. Y'ALL NEVER GOING TO GET IT RIGHT? TO THE ONE WITH THE EYEBROWS. Y'ALL KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT? NOBODY NEED. NOBODY NEEDS TO OPT OUT. EVERY POLICE FORCE IN AMERICA USES AXON EXCEPT FOR A LOT OF SOME OF THE LMPD OFFICERS, BECAUSE THEY DON'T TURN THEIR BODY CAMERAS ON, WHICH IS AGAIN, INSANE. SO WE SAID CHANGE, NOT. WE ASK FOR CHANGE. Y'ALL JUST LIKE CHANGE. AND WE KEEP ASKING FOR CHANGE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND THE ONE THING THAT WE ARE NOT GETTING IS CHANGE. TRY HELP HEALING THE COMMUNITY TO DECREASE THE NEED FOR POLICING. DON'T POLICE THE COMMUNITY WHILE ALSO DEPLETING THEM OF RESOURCES. AS THE LADY SAID EARLIER, HELP OVER HELICOPTERS. AUBREY MURDOCK SARAH BETH SIMMONS ON DECK. 
          [01:50:12]
HELLO. GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE YOU, I MOVED TO LOUISVILLE JUST UNDER A YEAR AGO, AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT MY MOTHER TOLD ME WHEN I MOVED HERE, SHE WORKED FOR A LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY FOR OVER 40 YEARS. WAS TO CALL MY LOCAL EXTENSION OFFICE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE PLANTS THAT WERE IN MY YARD, TO FIND OTHER RESOURCES THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ME. AND I'VE KNOWN BECAUSE OF HER WORK AT A LAND GRANT INSTITUTION THAT EXTENSION OFFICES AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS ARE A NATIONAL LEGACY THAT WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE. AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SUPPORT, SINCE I'VE MOVED HERE, I'VE USED THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT'S RESOURCES, A NUMBER OF TIMES, INCLUDING TO ADDRESS FLOODING IN MY BASEMENT THROUGH RAIN GARDENS AND OTHER, WAYS TO DEAL WITH THAT, SORT OF THAT ARE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER OTHER METHODS, ALSO, I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THEIR PROGRAMS, PLANTING TREES, DOING NATIVE SPECIES COVER CROPS. THESE ARE ECOLOGICAL WAYS TO ADDRESS EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS ISSUES, INCLUDING FLOODING, INCLUDING THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN A RECENT REPORT THAT SHOWED THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE DROPPING STATES THAT HAVE HAD HIGHER INCIDENCES OF NATURAL DISASTERS. KENTUCKY RATED VERY BADLY ON THAT, AND SO THESE ARE ECOLOGICAL WAYS THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH THOSE IMPENDING ISSUES. SO I WANT TO STATE MY SUP THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY, SINCE MOVING HERE, I'VE MET WONDERFUL PEOPLE WORKING IN NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THIS IS THE WHO'S WHO OF PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE IN THIS ROOM TALKING ABOUT IMPORTANT THINGS, I'M EXCITED FOR YOU TO HEAR THEIR APPEALS TO RETHINK THE BUDGET. I WANT TO ADVOCATE AND MIRROR WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID, THAT IT'S ROBUST PUBLIC TRANSIT, ACCESS TO SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOUTH AND SENIOR PROGRAMS, IMMIGRATION PROGRAMS, LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAMS, CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, EXTENSION OFFICES THAT MAKE PLACES SAFE, NOT POLICE INFRASTRUCTURE. THANK YOU, SARAH BETH SIMMONS. NICK CONDER ON DECK. YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS SARAH SALMONS. I'M THE CHAIR OF THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT HERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS ARE A LOCAL UNIT OF GOVERNMENT. WE'RE ELECTED. WE HAVE SEVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS, DON'T UNDERSTAND NECESSARILY WHY WE'RE NOT ON THE BUDGET UNDER OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS. MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AS MORE OF A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING MOVING FORWARD, BUT EACH EACH CONSERVATION DISTRICT OPERATES WITHIN AN INDIVIDUAL COUNTY, PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO ADDRESS NATURAL RESOURCE ISSUES. WE WORK WITH COOPERATING LANDOWNERS TO MANAGE AND PROTECT LAND AND WATER RESOURCES, NOT ONLY LARGE FARMS, BUT ALSO SMALL SHOTGUNS AND SMOKETOWN, AROUND 60% OF THE LAND IN THE UNITED STATES IS PRIVATELY OWNED, SO IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE REACH OUT WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING ASSISTANCE TO LANDOWNERS TO HELP WITH ALLEVIATE PROBLEMS. THERE'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION WE TRY TO COME UP WITH BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR OUR COUNTY, KIND OF LOOKING AT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE. AND WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE TAILORING THAT MORE AND MORE TO MEET MORE AND MORE, CONSTITUENTS IN THIS IN THE COUNTY, IT KIND OF WARMS MY COCKLES OF MY HEART TO LOOK AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE ASKING FOR FUNDING FOR A LOT OF GREAT COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. AND I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY. I WENT TO THE BATHROOM NEXT DOOR. I KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE A TON OF MONEY, BUT, I MEAN , JUST ONE, JUST ONE CUTTING ONE THING OUT OF THE BUDGET, JUST ONE THING. $200,000 TO CONSERVE A STATUE THAT WAS DECOMMISSIONED FOUR YEARS AGO, THAT WAS GIVEN. GIVEN TO US BY FRANCE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT IT. AND IT WAS IN STORAGE FOR 136 YEARS. THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE AN EGREGIOUS USE OF MONEY WHEN WE'RE SO TIGHT ON, ON OUR BUDGET, AND THEN ALSO GIVING ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO RESOURCES THAT HAVE A LONG LIST OF WEALTHY DONORS WHEN ALL THESE, THESE INSTITUTIONS, BOTH, NOT FOR PROFIT AND FOR, INSTITUTIONS SET UP BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S JUST IT'S BAD OPTICS. AND I HOPE THAT WE DO BETTER FOR US AS AS A CITY. THANK YOU ALL. NICK. CONDOR, CHIEF BILL ON DECK. 
          HELLO. MY NAME IS NICK CONDOR, AND I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF AFSCME LOCAL 3425, THE LIBRARY WORKERS UNION. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS YOU ABOUT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL. THE LIBRARIES IN 
          [01:55:02]
LOUISVILLE ARE AN INEXCUSABLY UNDERFUNDED WHEN COMPARED WITH LOUISVILLE'S PEER CITIES. WE SPEND FAR LESS ON LIBRARIES BY LOCATION AND PER CAPITA THAN VIRTUALLY ANY OTHER MAJOR CITY. 
          THANKFULLY, OUR BUDGET ISN'T BEING CUT THIS YEAR, BUT A 3% INCREASE BARELY ADDRESSES THE YEARS, IF NOT DECADES OF UNDERFUNDING AND NEGLECT. LIBRARY WORKERS ARE IN CRISIS. 
          75% OF OUR MEMBERS DO NOT MAKE A LIVING WAGE. SOME OF OUR MEMBERS ARE AMONG THE LOWEST PAID WORKERS IN ALL OF METRO GOVERNMENT. LIBRARY PAGES START AT LITTLE MORE THAN $12 AN HOUR. 
          LIBRARY CLERKS START AT $15, AND LIBRARY ASSISTANTS START AT $19. OUR HIGHEST PAID MEMBERS, LIBRARIANS MAKE LESS THAN LOW RANKING POLICE OFFICERS. OUR PART TIME MEMBERS DO NOT RECEIVE HEALTH INSURANCE OR OTHER BENEFITS. THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FAILS TO ADDRESS ANY OF THAT. 
          SOME OF OUR POSITIONS REQUIRE A LOT OF EDUCATION. HOW MANY COLLEGE GRADUATES CAN YOU HIRE FOR $19 AN HOUR, ESPECIALLY FOR PART TIME POSITIONS THAT LACK BENEFITS? THE ANSWER IS NOT MANY. IT'S GOT AN INCREDIBLY HARD TO KEEP. WORKERS. TURNOVER RATE IS UNSUSTAINABLE, AND WE KEEP LOSING EXPERIENCED WORKERS TO OTHER FIELDS AND OTHER LIBRARIES. EACH YEAR WE GET A 2% RAISE FOR THE COST OF LIVING, WHILE INFLATION RAISES 3 TO 8. WHEN YOU DO THE MATH, THIS WORKS OUT TO A COST ADJUSTED 10% PAY CUT FOR LIBRARY WORKERS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES A SMALL INCREASE TO FUND NEW POSITIONS AT ADDITIONAL BRANCHES LIKE PARKLAND AND PORTLAND. I'M TELLING YOU NOW THAT UNLESS YOU MAKE THIS JOB MORE ATTRACTIVE, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE AN EXISTING UNDERSTAFFING CRISIS INTO SOMETHING WORSE ALTOGETHER. IT'S NOT JUST PAY AND BENEFITS. WE USUALLY RUN OUT OF MONEY FOR EVERY YEAR FOR LIBRARY MATERIALS. THE PEOPLE OF LOUISVILLE DESERVE A LIBRARY THAT CAN PUT BOOKS ON THE SHELF, AND THEY DESERVE A LIBRARY THAT HAS ENOUGH STAFF TO RUN PROGRAMS AND DELIVER THE SERVICES. WE ALL RELY ON. WE KEEP HEARING WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT CONTRACT, BUT IF YOU DELIVERED THE UNION A PROPOSED SIDE LETTER FOR RAISES. DOES ANYBODY SERIOUSLY BELIEVE WE'D TURN IT DOWN? THIS IS AN EASY NEGOTIATION, BUT ONLY IF THE COUNCIL STEPS UP AND FUNDS THE LIBRARY LIKE IT SHOULD BE. 
          YOU MAY HAVE HEARD A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FROM PEOPLE FAR REMOVED FROM THE FRONT LINES OF LIBRARY SERVICE. BUT I'M TELLING YOU WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE DEMANDING. WE NEED HIGHER PAY. 
          WE NEED BENEFITS FOR PART TIMERS, AND WE'RE TIRED OF BEING IGNORED WHEN WE ASK FOR THESE THINGS. A BUDGET IS A DOCUMENT THAT REVEALS THE PRIORITIES OF A CITY'S LEADERSHIP. WE HEAR MANY OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL SAY THAT WORKERS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU, AND THAT LIBRARIES ARE A PRIORITY AS WELL, BUT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. WE NEED YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND TREAT LIBRARY WORKERS WITH DIGNITY. ON A FINAL NOTE, THIS BUDGET LACKS SOME OTHER THINGS THAT IT SHOULD HAVE SERVICES LIKE THOSE PROVIDED BY TARC OCEAN, THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, AND THE COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR MEMBERS, PATRONS, AND THE CITY AT LARGE. THESE ARE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT WORKING PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE NEED FUNDED AT APPROPRIATE LEVELS. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER WHERE THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED PROPOSED BUDGET FALLS SHORT AND MAKE CHANGES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU. CHIEF BELL. GLORIA, YOU'RE ON DECK. GREETINGS. I'M CHIEF BELL, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF LOUISVILLE SISTER CITIES FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ADVOCATE NOT JUST FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE FUNDING. 
          FULL FUNDING FOR 2023, BUT FOR THE LOUISVILLE SISTER CITIES PROGRAM, BUT FOR ALSO FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER OUR CITY GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER FUNDING FOR FULL FUNDING FOR FULLY SUPPORTING THIS WORK. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR SISTER CITIES CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. WE COLLECTIVELY REPRESENT A LEGACY OF OVER 200 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS, RECOGNIZED BOTH LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY AS A WELCOMING CITY A WITH A DIVERSE INTERNATIONAL POPULATION THAT INCLUDES THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES FROM OUR EIGHT SISTER CITIES, WE DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOUISVILLE'S TO LOUISVILLE'S GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED BRAND. IN 2020, WHEN WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL ACCEPTED THE THEN MAYOR'S CHALLENGE AND CHARGED TO CONTINUE TO STEWARD THESE RELATIONSHIPS, WE EMBRACE THIS MISSION WHOLEHEARTEDLY. SINCE TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE BEEN POWERING UP THE SISTER CITIES PROGRAM, BUILDING UPON SUCCESS IN BOTH RELATIONSHIP AND ECONOMIC IMPACT. THIS SUMMER, WE WILL BE WELCOMING TWO INTERNATIONAL DELEGATIONS, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE AMBASSADOR OF GHANA TO THE UNITED STATES. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE PLANNING FOR OUR FIRST LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE TO MAINZ, GERMANY, WHICH INCLUDES SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS OF METRO COUNCIL. EACH FOCUS ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. IT IS A COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT OF TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, BOARD MEMBERS, INDIVIDUAL LOUISVILLIANS CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THE ROI FOR THE CURRENT INVESTMENT IN SISTER CITIES FAR OUTWEIGHS THE FUNDING WE RECEIVE. WE SEEK TO CONTINUE OUR WORK THAT FOSTERS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND RESULTS IN ECONOMIC IMPACT, THAT ASSIST IN FUNDING THE BUDGET. WE ARE DOING OUR PART AND WE ARE ASKING THE CITY GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO DO ITS PART AS A PARTNER AND BY AND DO ITS PART BY REINSTATING THE FULL FUNDING, 
          [02:00:03]
EITHER THROUGH THE MAYOR'S BUDGET OR THE METRO COUNCIL'S BUDGET. THANK YOU. GLORIA MOURA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR GREENBERG'S BUDGET ELIMINATED THE FUNDING FOR SISTER CITIES PROGRAMS. HELLO. MY NAME IS GLORIA MURRAY. I'M A MEMBER OF THE SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE FOR THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL. AND SISTER CITIES IS A FORMAL CITY TO CITY RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT PROMOTE PEACE AND PROSPERITY. WITHOUT THE CITIES SUPPORT SISTER CITIES DOES NOT EXIST. THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL IS THE CITY'S PARTNER IN MANAGING AND STEWARDING THESE PROGRAMS TO BENEFIT AND SHOWCASE THE CITY. 
          THE FUNDING IS CRITICAL TO KEEPING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAMS MOVING FORWARD. THE CONSEQUENCE OF NOT FUNDING IT WOULD MEAN THAT WE CAN NO LONGER SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE AS SISTER CITIES. I URGE THE METRO COUNCIL TO REINSTATE THE FUNDING. SISTER CITIES PROGRAMS ARE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND ENDORSED BY CITIES IN THE US AND ABROAD. WE SHOULD BE LEVERAGING THESE RELATIONSHIPS, NOT TURNING OUR BACKS ON THEM. 
          NOW MORE THAN EVER. WE SHOULD NOT BE TURNING OUR BACKS ON THEM. SISTER CITY PROGRAMS SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE GOALS. PROMOTE TRUST BUILDING RELATIONSHIP ACROSS CULTURES AND LONG TERM REINVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITIES. I URGE THE METRO COUNCIL TO REINSTATE THE FUNDING FOR SISTER CITIES. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY, STEPHEN BARTLETT, AMELIA BAILON ON DECK. WE JUST BUTCHERED THAT SORRY. HELLO, I'M STEPHEN BARTLETT. I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU ALL, I'M SPEAKING TODAY AS PART OF THE FOOD AND NEIGHBORHOODS COALITION AND ALSO AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS VERY CLOSELY AND HAS FOR MANY YEARS WITH NEW AMERICAN FARMERS, IMMIGRANT REFUGEE FARMERS, MOST FARMERS DON'T DO IT FOR THE MONEY. YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT THEY DO IT FOR THE LOVE OF GROWING THINGS. AND, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE HERE IN LOUISVILLE, WHICH IS HUNDREDS OF EXPERT FARMERS WHO HAVE HAD TO BE HAD HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AND HAVE HAD TO FIND NEW HOMES. 
          AND THEY'VE COME HERE TO LOUISVILLE. WE HAVE FARMERS THAT AS SOON AS THEY GET THEIR FIRST COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOT, PRODUCE ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF FOOD IN A VERY INTENSIVE MANNER. WE HAVE NOW ABOUT 500 NEW AMERICAN FARMERS WORKING ABOUT 19 ACRES THAT ARE BEING MANAGED BY, COMMONWEALTH GARDENS AND ALSO BY AND SUPPORTED BY THE KENTUCKY, UK EXTENSION AND THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT. AND SO I AM APPEALING FOR THOSE BUDGETS TO BE RESTORED. WE ACTUALLY NEED A LOT MORE MONEY WITH ADDITIONAL MONEY IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR HERE IN LOUISVILLE. WE COULD PROBABLY DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF, GARDENERS. AND WE HAVE WAIT LISTS, VERY LONG WAIT LISTS FOR PEOPLE TO GET INTO COMMUNITY GARDENS. WE NEED MORE SUPPORT, NOT CUTS IN THE BUDGET. AND THESE CUTS ARE GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR US. WE'RE AT THE BRINK OF HAVING IT. QUITE AN AMAZING EVOLUTION AND EXPANSION OF URBAN FARMING BECAUSE OF THIS IMMIGRANT POPULATION AND BECAUSE OF NEW NATIVE OF, NATIVE FOLKS, NATIVE BORN FOLKS WHO ARE GETTING INTO GARDENING AND FARMING HERE IN THE CITY. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE CUTTING THE BUDGETS AND MAKING US STRUGGLE JUST TO KEEP WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR. SO I HOPE YOU WILL REALLY DO AS SERGE SAID, AND THAT IS TO REJECT THE BUDGET THAT WAS SENT TO YOU AND REBUILD ONE FROM SCRATCH. I THINK THIS BUDGET IS LIKE A IT FEELS TO ME LIKE AN ABSURDIST, EXERCISE WHERE GARDENS AND FARMS THAT ARE FEEDING HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE DEFUNDED, WHILE A WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDEN, JAPANESE GARDEN IS GOING TO GET $1 MILLION. I DON'T SEE I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS A BALANCED BUDGET AT ALL. AMELIA BALAN, LAKISHA GARDNER ON DECK. HI, MY NAME IS AMELIA BALAN AND I WORK WITH COMMON EARTH GARDENS. WE ARE A PROGRAM OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF LOUISVILLE, AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE FULL ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO THE EXTENSION OFFICE INTO THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT. OUR PROGRAM HAS A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXTENSION OFFICE. WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MANAGE THREE 
          [02:05:01]
OF THE SITES THAT WE SUPPORT. ONE OF THE SITES IS, POTENTIALLY AT RISK OF BEING CLOSED BECAUSE OF THIS, THE CANCEL OF THE FUNDS FOR THE EXTENSION OFFICE. THIS IS TWO ACRES, 120 PLOTS, AND WE ARE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF EXPANDING THIS SITE FOR OUR WAITLIST THAT WE HAVE. BUT WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN'T EVEN SEE A FUTURE RIGHT NOW WITH THAT GARDEN, FROM DATA, WE'VE COLLECTED ONE OF OUR PLOTS, WHICH CAN BE 20 BY 20FT. THIS IS NOT A LOT OF LAND AT ALL, BUT THAT ONE PLOT CAN FEED 11 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON IN A TIME THAT PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO ACCESS FRESH, NUTRITIOUS FOOD, IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE GROWING FOOD FOR THEMSELVES, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. AS STEPHEN SPOKE, THEY HAVE SUCH RICH KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO SHARE WITH NOT JUST THEIR COMMUNITIES, BUT WITH THE NATIVE PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE WHO ARE WANTING TO BE MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT, NOT ONLY IS EXTENSION SUPPORTING US IN THESE COMMUNITY GARDEN SITES, BUT THEY DIRECTLY SUPPORT US WITH THEIR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TO THE FARMERS THAT WE WORK WITH , THEY ARE EXPERTS IN WHAT THEY DO. BUT WITH THE ECOLOGICAL CRISIS THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH , IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE PROVIDE TRAUMA SUPPORT IN, IN, IN INTERPRETATION TO THE THESE COMMUNITIES SO THEY ARE AWARE OF HOW THEY CAN BE BETTER, MORE SUSTAINABLE FARMERS. AND WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE EXTENSION OFFICE OR THE SOIL WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, THESE RESOURCES ARE NOT GOING TO BE SHARED TO COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY BIPOC COMMUNITIES THAT ALSO NEED THIS INFORMATION. SO I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND FUND THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. ACACIA GARDNER, KATIE CAMERON ON DECK. 
          GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LAKISHA GARDNER. AGAIN, I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF A SMALL VOLUNTEER LED NONPROFIT BY THE NAME OF BRINGING JUSTICE HOME. BRINGING JUSTICE HOME FIGHTS, HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY AMONG LOUISVILLE'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. WE DELIVER GROCERIES AND HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES DIRECTLY TO THEIR DOORSTEP, WITH A FOCUS ON THOSE WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS OR DISABILITIES. IMAGINE A NEIGHBOR BATTLING CANCER CAN'T GET TO THE GROCERY STORE. WE PROVIDE THE FOOD NEEDS TO. THEY NEED TO FIGHT THEIR ILLNESS AND STAY HEALTHY. THE NEED IS SIGNIFICANT. 13% OF LOUISVILLE RESIDENTS STRUGGLE WITH FOOD INSECURITY, AND THAT NUMBER JUMPS TO OVER TWICE THE RATE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CURRENTLY, WE SERVE 72 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS 50 HOUSEHOLDS, BUT WITH ONLY 4700 FROM THE INITIAL REQUEST, WE CAN'T REACH EVERYONE. YOUR INVESTMENT OF $15,000 WILL MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. IT WILL ALLOW US TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $25 A MONTH IN GROCERIES FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR. TO OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING OR SUBSTANTIALLY FUND FRESH FRUIT, FRESH PRODUCE DELIVERIES THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON, WE'VE SEEN SUCCESS. OUR PROGRAM HAS RESULTED IN A 42% DECREASE IN NEIGHBORS, REPORTING THEY OFTEN CANNOT AFFORD BALANCED MEALS AND A 60% DECREASE IN THOSE REPORTING. EXPERIENCING HUNGER. BRINGING JUSTICE HOME IS MORE THAN JUST FOOD DELIVERY. WE OFFER SOCIAL SUPPORT, FIGHT ISOLATION AND EMPOWER OUR NEIGHBORS TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES. WE INVEST IN PEOPLE, AND THAT INVESTMENT PAYS OFF IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING OUR REQUEST. TOGETHER WE CAN ENSURE NO LOUISVILLIAN GOES HUNGRY. KATIE CAMERON LIVE OUT ON DECK. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL MY NAME IS KATIE CAMERON AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY, RESOURCES AND COMPLIANCE AT YOUTHBUILD. I'VE BEEN IN THIS ROOM WITH YOU FOR THE LAST 2.5 HOURS, SO I KNOW THAT IF I'M WORN OUT, YOU ALL ABSOLUTELY ARE, TOO. SO I REALLY WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, HANGING IN THERE. YOU'RE HEARING A LOT OF THE SAME MESSAGES OVER AND OVER AND SPOILER ALERT, MINE IS NOT THAT DIFFERENT, BUT I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE MY ORGANIZATION SERVES. SO I FELT COMPELLED TO HANG IN HERE AND ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF NAMES ADVOCATING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, TONIGHT'S VERY IMPORTANT NIGHT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, BECAUSE WHETHER OR NOT WE SEE OURSELVES IN A PARTICULAR LINE ITEM, OUR BUDGET AFFECTS ALL OF US, AS A LEADER AT YOUTHBUILD, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT 
          [02:10:06]
LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING MANY, MANY CITY COUNCILS, HAVE BEEN CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS AND GROWTH AS AN ORGANIZATION, WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU ALL HAVE BEEN CLOSE PARTNERS IN US GRADUATES, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS, WORK, WORK CERTIFICATIONS, VOLUNTEER HOURS, JUST INVESTING IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. SO I WANT TO REALLY START, MY MESSAGE WITH THAT. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO US, INCLUDING, MOST RECENTLY AWARDING OR HOPEFULLY AWARDING FULL FUNDING FOR OUR EAF ARTS APPLICATION, BUT TONIGHT I'M HERE TO MENTION TWO OF OUR APPLICATIONS THAT WERE NOT ALLOCATED, FULL FUNDING UNDER THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL, THE TWO POOR PROGRAMS I'M TALKING ABOUT ARE OUR YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM AND OUR URBAN CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAM AT THE CORE, THESE PROGRAMS ARE ABOUT EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUNG ADULTS. THEY'RE EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMS. THEY'VE GOT A LONG TRACK RECORD. AND WHAT THEY'RE REALLY ABOUT IS PROVIDING YOUNG ADULTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT THE WORLD IS BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES AND FIND THEIR PLACE IN THAT WORLD. MOST OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WE SERVE ARE LOW INCOME. THEY'RE BLACK, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A SECOND CHANCE OR A NEW DIRECTION IN THEIR LIFE. HISTORICALLY, THE CITY HAS BEEN REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR EAF REQUESTS FOR THESE PROGRAMS. MOST OF THE TIME WE GET FULL FUNDING. LAST YEAR, THOUGH, WE RECEIVED 50% OF WHAT WE REQUESTED TO SERVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. THIS YEAR, THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET GIVES US 12% OF WHAT WE'VE REQUESTED OF COURSE, WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF ANY DOLLAR WE GET. I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING, NEGATIVE ABOUT THAT, BUT I WOULD BE REALLY REMISS IF I DID NOT TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT THOSE TWO PROGRAMS ACCOMPLISHED LAST WEEK. MORE THAN 40 YOUTHBUILD STUDENTS GRADUATED AFTER WORKING ON THEIR EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING FOR TEN MONTHS. 
          EVERY SINGLE YOUNG PERSON I SAW ACROSS THE STAGE HAD EARNED FIVE CERTIFICATIONS OR MORE. I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD OF OUR CLASS PRESIDENT, WHO EARNED HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IN 14 CERTIFICATIONS. HE LEFT OUR PROGRAM WITH MULTIPLE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. I'M ALSO EXCITED TO TELL YOU THIS MORNING, SIX URBAN CONSERVATION CORPS MEMBERS LEFT FOR A TWO WEEK INTERNSHIP AT THE GARDENS OF VERSAILLES. THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO FRANCE RIGHT NOW, FUNDED BY A PRIVATE DONOR. LONG STORY SHORT, INVESTING IN THESE PROGRAMS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR ECONOMY. 
          THESE ARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LEAH BOOKOUT, DEANDRE ROBINSON ON DECK. GOOD EVENING. I'D LIKE TO FIRST THANK METRO COUNCIL FOR OPENING THIS DISCUSSION TONIGHT. ATU LOCAL 1447 FOR SUPPORTING TARC SERVICES AND THEIR WORKERS AND ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE SPEAKING OUT TODAY. MY NAME IS LEAH BOOKOUT AND I AM A STUDENT AND POLICY ADVOCATE WITH THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS HERE IN LOUISVILLE. I'VE COME TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR THE TARC BUDGET, PROPOSAL, WHICH WILL DISPLACE BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER BY ELIMINATING JOBS AND FURTHER LIMITING ACCESS TO THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY. LAST SUMMER, I BECAME THE TARGET OF AN ONLINE CHALLENGE THAT ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO HOTWIRE CARS WITH NOTHING BUT A SCREWDRIVER. OVER THE COURSE OF THREE MONTHS, MY CAR WAS VANDALIZED TWICE, INCURRING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE WOULD NOT COVER. UNABLE TO PAY, AND WITH THE PROMISE THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN, MY OPTIONS WERE LIMITED. I DECIDED TO SELL MY CAR AND RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. SINCE THEN, I HAVE GAINED A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF JUST HOW SPRAWLING THIS CITY REALLY IS. 
          DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS IN JEFFERSON TOWN OR JEFFERSONVILLE, JEFFERSON TOWN, MIDDLETOWN ARE ALL DAY AFFAIRS. DINNERS WITH FRIENDS ARE LIMITED BY TIME AND LOCATION, AND AS A STUDENT SOON TO GRADUATE, LENGTH OF COMMUTE HAS BECOME A TOP PRIORITY. WHILE ON THE JOB HUNT. 
          TODAY INSTEAD OF DISCUSSING THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE SYSTEM, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT WE ARE AT RISK OF LOSING WITH THIS BUDGET. TARC IS A VITAL SERVICE FOR NEARLY 5 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR IN KENTUCKY AND INDIANA. THIS SYSTEM BOOSTS THE LOCAL ECONOMY WITH DIRECT SHUTTLES TO UPS AND FORD, SUPPLIERS OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS. PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT AND THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE ENABLE YOUNG LEARNERS LIKE MYSELF TO ACCESS EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES WITH GREATER EASE. ABOVE ALL, TARC REPRESENTS THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN LOUISVILLE, WHICH I THINK YOU HAVE SEEN TODAY. FROM THE MOMENT YOU STEP FOOT ON THE BUS, THE PLAYING FIELD IS COMPLETELY 
          [02:15:04]
LEVELED. WHETHER IT'S A MAN WITH NOTHING BUT A FEW BAGS, LENDING HIS SHIRT TO HELP A MOTHER CLEAN UP A VERY PUKEY BABY, OR AN ELDERLY WOMAN ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS TO HER CANCER TREATMENT. IT IS HERE THAT YOU WITNESS EVERYDAY KINDNESS, SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE HERE TODAY TO GET ON THE BUS AND WITNESS IT YOURSELF. THIS SERVICE IS IN NEED OF REPAIR, NOT RESCINDING. 
          MAYOR GREENBERG TOUTS THAT THIS NEW BUDGET WILL MOVE LOUISVILLE IN A NEW DIRECTION TO THE BENEFIT OF EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT, YET SEEKS TO REDUCE A VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE THAT BOOSTS ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY. TODAY, I SPEAK FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS NOT VERY UNCOMMON. THIS SERVICE WAS THERE WHEN I NEEDED IT MOST, AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO EVERY DRIVER AND PASSENGER THAT ENSURES I REACHED MY DESTINATION SAFELY. I SPEAK FOR THOSE THAT ARE AT EACH STOP WHO HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERN, BUT CANNOT LEAVE WORK AND FAMILY FOR HEARINGS LIKE THIS. I SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO SHARE A SEAT WITHOUT THE SECURITY OF A COMMON TONGUE. I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL AND RECOGNIZE THE VALUE TARC HOLDS IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DEANDRE ROBINSON, TARIQ CLARK ON DECK. SORRY ABOUT THAT. GOOD EVENING, METRO COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS DEANDRE ROBINSON. I AM ONE OF THE OWNERS OF PHOENIX PLACE PHOENIX PLACE IS A HOLISTIC PROGRAM THAT COMBATS MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, RECOVERY FROM A CLINICAL APPROACH, UTILIZING THE EVIDENCE BASED SMART RECOVERY METHOD. WE ARE LOCATED IN THE RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD. PHOENIX PLACE IS A SELF SUSTAINING PROGRAM THAT IS OPERATED INDEPENDENT OF ANY PRIOR FUNDING OR DONATIONS. WE HAVE OPERATED EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY WITH MANY OF OUR CLIENTS, COMPLETING THE PROGRAM AND RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY AS PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS. WE ARE EXPANDING THE PROGRAM AND CREATING THE PHOENIX PLACE HUB. THE PHOENIX PLACE HUB WILL PROVIDE 16 BEDS, 16 RESIDENTIAL BEDS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THE COMPLEX WILL INCLUDE A FULL FLOOR OF INTENSIVE GROUP THERAPY, INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, MEDIA CENTER FOR TECH THERAPY, CASE MANAGEMENT, WRAPAROUND SERVICES, REENTRY SERVICES, A FOOD PANTRY, CLOTHES CLOSET, COMMUNITY GARDEN , COMMUNITY ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES. THESE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR CLIENTS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT HELPED WITH. WITH PHOENIX. THE PROGRAM OFFERS A SOLUTION TO MANY CHALLENGES THAT OUR THAT OUR CITY FACES ON A DAILY BASIS, SUCH AS CRIME REDUCTION, ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH AND HOUSING, THE HOUSELESS. WE ARE ONE OF VERY FEW PROGRAMS THAT OFFER THESE SERVICES WEST OF NINTH STREET. WE WANT TO BE A BEACON OF HOPE IN WEST LOUISVILLE. WE ARE REQUESTING $1 MILLION IN FUNDING TO ASSIST WITH COMPLETING THE EXPANSION. THE REMAINING FUNDS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT ARE SECURED . THE 6521 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING THAT WILL HOUSE THE EXPANSION HAS BEEN PURCHASED, AND WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED THROUGH ZONING FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO OPERATE. WE ARE PREPARED TO CONTINUE TO BE THE CHANGE THAT WE WANT TO SEE AND IMPACT THE LIVES OF SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER OUR REQUEST TO FURTHER SUCH AN IMPORTANT MISSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. 
          HAVE A BLESSED DAY. THANK YOU. TARIQ KOLAKOVIC. IS THAT ANYWHERE, EVEN CLOSE TO THAT? TARIQ. NO. SAINT SAM'S STOCKMAN, CAROLYN KIM ON DECK. NOPE I'M ON THE RIGHT LIST. ALL RIGHT. 
          CAROLYN KIM. NOPE. OH. OKAY. ANSLEY. PEACE. NOPE. OCEAN. WATSON CURT. MASON. THERE WE GO. 
          THANK YOU, PRETTY MUCH KNOW THAT ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE MISSING, I DON'T GET THEIR TIME. 
          [02:20:04]
SO THANK YOU, MY NAME IS CURT MASON, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF, REALLY, THREE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. ONE OF THEM IS THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT. THE OTHER IS THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, AND THE OTHER IS THE FOOD LITERACY PROJECT, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT. 40 YEARS AGO, I MOVED TO LOUISVILLE, AND FOR 40 YEARS I SERVED AS A LIAISON WITH THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT AS THEIR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
          I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT, THE URBAN AGRICULTURAL PART OF WHAT THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT DOES, BUT I WILL SPEAK TO THE OPPORTUNITY THAT'S LOST WHEN THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT CLOSES ITS DOOR BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDING. JEFFERSON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT, LIKE 121 CONSERVATION DISTRICTS ALL OVER THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, HAVE A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THAT BRINGS IN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO EACH CONSERVATION DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY. DON'T UNDERMINE THAT MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT, BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS TO BRING IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TO EVERY COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS NATURAL RESOURCE ISSUES, CASE IN POINT JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS GOTTEN SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FROM USDA TO SOLVE CRITICAL PROBLEMS AFTER ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THIS COMMUNITY. REMOVING LOG JAMS OUT OF BEARGRASS CREEK, HERITAGE CREEK AND FLOYDS FORK TO THE TUNE OF OVER HALF $1 MILLION, THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY BE LOST IF THERE IS NO JEFFERSON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT. THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT BRINGS IN SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING FOR PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO ADDRESS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION ISSUES. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? THERE'S A GREAT MANY ACRES THAT STILL LEFT IN JEFFERSON COUNTY THAT'S UNDER PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT MAKES A DECISION ON THAT LAND IMPACTS ONE OF THE NINE MAJOR WATERSHEDS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. THE INVESTMENT ALONE IN FLOYDS FORK WATERSHED THROUGH PARKLAND WOULD BE, DECIMATED BECAUSE OF POOR LAND USE PRACTICES NOT ONLY FROM DEVELOPMENT, BUT DECISIONS, POOR DECISIONS FROM PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND IN THAT AREA, ALSO WITH THE EXTENSION COUNCIL, I SERVE ON THEIR BOARD AND WITH THE FOOD LITERACY PROJECT, THEIR ASK IS FOR $300,000 TO SUPPORT A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 16 YEARS. WITH THAT LAND PURCHASE, THEY PLAN TO PUT THAT LAND UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENT, WHICH MEANS IT'LL BE GREEN SPACE FOREVER FOR LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PAULINE CUSHMAN. PAULINE. YEAH, I'M SURE YOU DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOUR NAME. 
          AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO BE HERE THIS EVENING. AND FOR YOUR PATIENCE. MY GOODNESS. IT'S MY FIRST EXPERIENCE. AND I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE. MY NAME, AS YOU SAY, IS PAULINE MUKESHIMANA. AND, I'M HERE REPRESENTING GATE OF HOPE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL. I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT YOU WORK TOGETHER IN THE PAST AND ARE HERE AND HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SHARE SO MANY NEEDS. SO GATE OF HOPE SERVES THE IMMIGRANTS AND THE REFUGEES FROM EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA, WHICH IS RWANDA, BURUNDI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND UGANDA, AND FEW KENYANS WHO ARE HERE TO LEAVE, TO STAY, TO BECOME A NEW NEIGHBORS. BUT WHEN THEY COME, YOU KNOW, BEING A REFUGEE THAT THEY HAVE LEFT THEIR OWN HOME, THEIR HOME COUNTRY, BEING IN 17, 20 YEARS IN A NEIGHBORING COUNTRY, AND THEN TAKE THEM FROM A REFUGEE CAMP TO HERE IN THE CITY IN BIG, YOU KNOW, WITH ITS CULTURE AND THE CHALLENGES AND ALL THOSE, WHEN THEY COME TO THE GATE OF HOPE, DOES AFTER THE THREE MONTHS THEY HAVE BEEN HERE, WE STARTED WORKING ALONGSIDE THEM TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE PLACE DURING THE INTERPRETATION, EMPOWERING THEM BY TEACHING THEM THE LAND TO GET THE LANDING PERMITS SO THEY CAN GO TO WORK, AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO EASE THE TRAUMA THAT THEY ARE FACING, AND ALSO BE, LIKE A GOOD HELPER TO BAKE THEM FOR THEIR WELL-BEING 
          [02:25:03]
AND TO BE THE GOOD CITIZEN THAT WE YOU KNOW, WE WANT THEM TO BE, WE DO THAT IN DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, BUT ONE OF THEM IS LIKE THE HOMURA, PROGRAM, WHICH IS DOING, THERAPY THROUGH FARMING, AS WE HAVE SEEN THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS FARMING ISSUE AND THOSE FAMILIES, NOT ONLY THEY FARM TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES, BUT ALSO WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY IN LARGE WHEN YOU GROW THE VEGETABLES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, ORGANICALLY GROWN AND TO FEED NOT ONLY OUR FAMILIES BUT EVEN OUR NEIGHBORS, RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOCATED, WE HAVE MOVED, AND WE ARE LOCATED IN THE SHIVELY AREA WHERE THERE IS. IT IS A DESERT PLACE WHERE WE PLAN TO PLANT TO SERVE THAT, 401, YOU KNOW, 416, ZIP CODE. AND EVEN IN THE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AREA, WE ALSO WORK WITH THE WOMEN WHO ARE GOING THROUGH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME A PANDEMIC HERE IN OUR CITY IN LOUISVILLE, SO MANY WOMEN ARE GOING THROUGH TROUBLE AND GHETTO WALK ALONGSIDE THEM TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND HELP THEM TO NAVIGATE THE SITUATION SO THEY CAN BE ABLE TO KEEP RAISING THEIR CHILDREN AND BE ABLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND BE, YOU KNOW, ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH THEIR WORKING ON THEIR MENTAL AND WELL-BEING AS THEY MOVE ALONG. WE ALSO, SUPPORT THE CHILDREN BECAUSE WE HAVE MANY CHILDREN WHO COME AND THEY NEED MORE HELP TO BE ABLE TO FIT IN THE SITUATION, BUT THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR WEAKNESSES. BUT GATE OF HOPE COMES IN TO HELP AND, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR FINANCIAL, FOR THE MINISTRY TO BE ABLE TO REACH THE GOALS. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. DANIELLE GOOD. YOU JUMPED UP SO YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT THE LAST NAME IS. 
          SORRY MY NAME IS DANIELLE. I ALSO WORK FOR GATE OF HOPE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL. I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE INITIATIVE, WHICH IS WHERE, PAULINA WAS WAS TALKING ABOUT THE TABORA INITIATIVE WAS STARTED AS A RESPONSE TO A NEED THAT REVEREND DYER AND DOCTOR PAULINE, SAW WITHIN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HERE FOR THE GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN TO BE EDUCATED AND INFORMED ABOUT EXPLOITATION, BECAUSE SOME OF THEM WERE BEING EXPLOITED BY PREDATORS WHO WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CERTAIN VULNERABILITIES, BE IT THEIR AGE, HISTORY OF TRAUMA RELATED TO THEIR REFUGEE STATUS, RACE, LACK OF RESOURCES, DIFFERENT PARENTAL OVERSIGHT, LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND LITERACY LEVELS. SO THE TABORA INITIATIVE WAS FOUNDED TO EDUCATE EAST AFRICAN GIRLS ABOUT DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR WELL-BEING AND SAFETY. ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY CONNECTING THEM TO IN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND EQUIPPING ALL THE GIRLS WE SERVE WITH THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO NOT ONLY PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR PEERS, BUT TO ULTIMATELY EMPOWER THEM TO THRIVE IN LOUISVILLE. OUR PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO RUN IN ENGLISH, KINYARWANDA OR SWAHILI. IN SCHOOLS THROUGH GROUPS OF UP TO 12 STUDENTS WHO MEET EITHER WEEKLY OR BI WEEKLY OVER SEVERAL WEEKS IN A SEMESTER TO TALK AND DO EXERCISES THAT COVER A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS, INCLUDING HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND FRIENDSHIPS, RIGHTS AND CONSENT, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND OTHER TOPICS. PARTICIPANTS ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUGGEST TOPICS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS. FOR US TO DISCUSS IS. 
          THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH ENSURES THAT PARTICIPANTS NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS OF EXPLOITATION, BUT ALSO DEVELOP THE NECESSARY WISDOM TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGES EFFECTIVELY. WE ALSO SEE OURSELVES AS A RESOURCE FOR PARTICIPANTS TO FIND ENCOURAGEMENT AND HELP. WE ALL REMEMBER BEING A TEENAGER. BEING A TEENAGER IS HARD, LET ALONE BEING ONE. NOWADAYS, WITH ALL THAT IS HAPPENING ONLINE AND IN THE WORLD, THE CDC RELEASED THE RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE SURVEY THAT FOUND THAT IN 2021, ALMOST 60% OF FEMALE STUDENTS EXPERIENCED PERSISTENT FEELINGS OF SADNESS OR HOPELESSNESS DURING THE PAST YEAR, AND THAT NEARLY 25% OF THEM MADE A SUICIDE PLAN. IT ALSO SHOWED THAT 1 IN 12 TEENS EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL DATING VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL DATING VIOLENCE. TEENAGE GIRLS AND THOSE FROM MARGINALIZED GROUPS LIKE THOSE WE SERVE, ARE AT A HIGHER RISK OF EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES. WE THEN EMPOWER THE GIRLS BY EQUIPPING PARTICIPANTS WITH PRACTICAL SKILLS CENTERED AROUND SELF-ADVOCACY AND CRITICAL THINKING AND ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS. SO THAT THE GIRLS ARE EMPOWERED TO BECOME LEADERS AND ADVOCATES IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THIS GRANT IN SUPPORT OF THE EAST AFRICAN GIRLS WHOM WE WORK WITH. OUR PROGRAM IS FREE OF CHARGE TO PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS, SO RELY ON GRANTS LIKE THIS TO BE ABLE TO RUN THIS PROGRAM AND CONTINUE REACHING GIRLS IN SCHOOLS WHERE THERE IS A GREAT NEED. WE CURRENTLY OPERATE IN DISTRICTS 21 AND TEN, AND WE ARE LOOKING TO FINALIZE A SCHOOL IN SCHOOLS. SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT 23 AND 25. 
          [02:30:03]
THANK YOU. VINCENT CALAME, MARY ROBINSON ON DECK. HELLO. MY NAME IS VINCENT GALANTE, AND I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED $1 MILLION GRANT TO THE KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN, ALSO KNOWN AS KICAD, IN THE LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT BUDGET. I AM A FORMER. I AM THE FORMER STUDENT OF 2019 INAUGURAL CLASS. I RECEIVED A FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP AND WAS ELECTED THE 2020 CLASS PRESIDENT. I'M ALSO A FORMER EMPLOYEE WHO SIGNED A CONFIDENTIAL AGREEMENT UPON ACCEPTING THE POSITION UPON MY ENROLLMENT, I WAS TOLD THAT KICAD WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ACCREDITATION BY SACSCOC, THE REGIONAL COLLEGE ACCREDITATION BOARD, AND I MAY GRADUATE WITH AN ACCREDITED DEGREE. I CONSIDER THIS A BLATANT LIE, AND MISTER MISREPRESENTATION BY THE ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS RATHER VAGUE. IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FOUNDED IN 2009, 2009 OR 2011, IN THE BASEMENT OF 21 C. IN 2014, CHI CANYON REBRANDED AT THE KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF ART AND BECAME THE ARTS DEPARTMENT OF SPALDING UNIVERSITY. I'M SORRY IF THIS IS CONFUSING. DOING BUSINESS IS THE KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN AT SPALDING UNIVERSITY. 
          IN 2018, THE PRESIDENT OF CHI CHI AT SPALDING, MOIRA SCOTT PAYNE, ATTEMPTED TO FRAUDULENTLY RECEIVE ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE REGIONAL COLLEGE BOARD SACS RIGHT HERE AFTER BEING INFORMED OF CHI CHI'S TRANSGRESSIONS, THE PRESIDENT OF SPALDING UNIVERSITY , TORI MCCLURE, AUDITED CHI CAD AND FOUND EVIDENCE OF A SYSTEMATIC CULTURE OF MISAPPROPRIATION, MISREPRESENTATION AND FRAUD WITHIN THE REPRESENT THE ADMINISTRATION. THE MINUTES OF A 2018 INTERNAL MEETING BETWEEN CHI AND SPALDING COULD NOT ACCOUNT FOR APPROXIMATELY $5.5 MILLION RAISED BY CHI PATHWAY TO EXCELLENCE CAMPAIGN, AS WELL AS THE ADMINISTRATION. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. SPALDING'S ADMINISTRATION WAS WILLING TO RESTRUCTURE CHI CAD WITH OVERSIGHT OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS FINANCES, BUT KICAD CHOSE TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT INSTITUTION. THE PRESIDENT OF SPALDING, TORI MCCLURE, FIRED CHI CHI, PRESIDENT SCOTT PAYNE AND THEIR VICE PRESIDENT, JOYCE OGDEN. THEY WERE GIVEN 72 HOURS TO VACATE AND LOST ALL ACCESS TO SPALDING CAMPUS. ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT TORI MCCLURE, THE SCANDAL ALMOST CAUSED SPALDING SPALDING UNIVERSITY AS ACCREDITATION A FEW MONTHS AFTER BEING, DECIDING TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT ART COLLEGE WITH A CONDITIONAL LICENSE OPERATED BY THE KENTUCKY COUNCIL OF SECONDARY EDUCATION, THEY ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE SAYING THEY BOUGHT THE OLD MANSION IN OLD LOUISVILLE, CALLED AS A SPEED MANSION. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE PVA AND DOCUMENTS SPOTTED WITH THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK, THEY HAVE NEVER OWNED THE SPEED MANSION. IT IS OWNED BY ALLESLEY ALLESLEY BROWN, THE THIRD OF THE BROWN FORMAN FAMILY. IT IS RENTED FOR A DOLLAR A YEAR. IN 2020 21, CHI CHI HAD SUBMITTED THEIR APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION WITH SACS, SOUGHT A REPLY FROM SACSCOC IN 2022. 
          OUTLINES APPROXIMATELY TEN PAGES OF INCONSISTENCIES, MISREPRESENTATION AND SHORTCOMINGS OF THEIR ACADEMIC PROGRAM. IN 2022, A BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING OUTLINES SEVERAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, NOTABLY THE LACK OF A CAMPUS, THEIR QUESTIONABLE CURRICULUM, AND THE QUALIFICATIONS OF FACULTY MEMBERS TO TEACH A FOUR CREDIT COLLEGE COURSE UPON INFORMATION AND BELIEF, AND OUTLINED IN ALL THESE VARIOUS DOCUMENTS. I SUBMIT THAT BLAH BLAH BLAH. CHI CAD IS NOT OWN THE SPEED MANSION. THEY GOT A LOAN FROM LAWYER LAURA BROWN, THE CO-FOUNDER OF 21. SEE MUSEUM AND HOTEL. THEY HAVE AN $850,000 ART COLLECTION, WHICH THEY TRIED TO PUT ON THEIR TAXES. ANYWAY, I SUBMIT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO FUNCTION AS A COLLEGE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS UNACCREDITED INSTITUTION IS GETTING A $5 MILLION BAILOUT BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, AND A PROPOSED $1 MILLION GRANT BY THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE. 
          TUITION AT CHI CAT IS $40,000 A YEAR. THE BIZARRE TALKING POINT SPEWED AD NAUSEAM BY CHI CHI'S ADMINISTRATION AND SOME PUBLIC OFFICIALS THAT CHI CAT IS THEIR ONLY INDEPENDENT ART COLLEGE IS NONSENSE. THERE ARE THREE ACCREDITED UNIVERSITIES AND PROGRAMS. YOUR TIME IS UP, SIR. 
          ANYWAY, I CONSIDER THIS TO BE NONSENSE, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THESE DOCUMENTS SO I DON'T GET SUED FOR SLANDER. THANK YOU, MARY ROBINSON. HEY MARY ROBINSON, AUDREY MARTIN ON DECK. 
          YOU PROBABLY KNOW OUR INSTAGRAM. CAN I SEE IF YOU'RE MARY ROBINSON? YOU'RE MARY ROBINSON. 
          YEAH, I JUST CALLED YOU. SORRY HI. AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, MY NAME IS MARY ROBINSON. I'M AN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AT U OF L, EXPECTING TO GRADUATE SPRING 2025 WITH HONORS. AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO THE $1 MILLION IN MAYOR GREENBERG'S PROPOSAL TO FUND THE KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN. OR WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE, AND WHAT YOU WILL KNOW IF YOU CLOSELY LOOK AT THOSE DOCUMENTS, IS A PREDATORY SCAM ART SCHOOL HERE IN THE HEART OF LOUISVILLE. 
          [02:35:03]
I'VE HAD FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE THAT HAS RAISED SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS REGARDING THE QUALITY AND CREDIBILITY OF PROGRAMS. DURING A RECENT TOUR OF KICAD, I OBSERVED THAT SEVERAL PIECES OF ART EQUIPMENT WERE NONFUNCTIONAL. THE KIN WASN'T EVEN, THE KILN WASN'T EVEN HOOKED UP, AND THESE DEFICIENCIES IN BASIC FACILITIES ARE ALARMING AND RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INSTITUTION'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. 
          FURTHERMORE, DURING THIS TOUR, THE DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS, MARIA BELODELLA, EXPLICITLY STATED THAT DEGREES EARNED THROUGH KICAD WOULD NOT BE RECOGNIZED BY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS OR SACS. THIS LACK OF ACCREDITATION IS A CRITICAL ISSUE, AS IT IMPLIES THAT THE DEGREES AWARDED BY KICAD DO NOT MEET THE RIGOROUS STANDARDS REQUIRED FOR RECOGNITION BY REPUTABLE ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 
          ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY REGARDING THE SOURCE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS THAT WERE DISCUSSED DURING THE CAMPUS TOUR LEADING UP TO MY SCHOLARSHIP INTERVIEW. I NEVER ENDED UP GOING TO KICAD. GIVEN THAT KICAD IS NOT ACCREDITED, IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THESE FUNDS WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY THE STATE OR OTHER RELIABLE SOURCES. FURTHER COMPLICATING THE FINANCIAL LEGITIMACY OF ATTENDING THIS INSTITUTION'S. AS A STUDENT AT U OF L, I RECEIVED GRANTS AND FINANCIAL AID THAT ARE DIRECTLY TIED TO MY PURSUIT OF A RECOGNIZED AND LEGITIMATE DEGREE. THIS FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL FOR MY FUTURE CAREER PROSPECTS. IT IS TROUBLING TO CONSIDER THAT THE STATE FUNDING MIGHT BE ALLOCATED TO AN INSTITUTION, OR THE CITY'S FUNDING, FOR THAT MATTER, THAT CANNOT PROVIDE THE SAME ASSURANCES OF QUALITY AND ACCREDITATION. FOR THESE REASONS, I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE PROPOSED FUNDING FOR KICAD. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION AND CAN GUARANTEE THEIR GRADUATES A LEGITIMATE AND RESPECTED DEGREE. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY PERSPECTIVE ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER. I AM A DEEP LOVER OF THE ARTS. IT SAVED MY LIFE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, BUT I AM HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THIS, WHICH I AM NOT IN SUPPORT OF. DO NOT FUND KICAD. AFTER HEARING THE VOICES OF OTHER CITIZENS, I AM CERTAIN THAT THE $1 MILLION CAD IS SET TO RECEIVE FROM THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE IS, IF NOT THE 5 MILLION FROM THE STATE OF KENTUCKY IS BETTER SPENT ELSEWHERE. THANK YOU. AUDREY MARTIN. AUDREY MARTIN. 
          CHASTITY DODSON. SADIE KINZER ON DECK. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME. MY NAME IS CHASTITY DODSON. I AM THE FOUNDER OF THE LOCAL NONPROFIT 300 FOR 300. WE SERVE MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS OF COLOR, AGES 11 TO 14. I CAME TO LOUISVILLE FOUR YEARS AGO, I WAS AN ACTOR AND WRITER IN LOS ANGELES, AND I SAW THE NEWS. I SAW, THE PEOPLE STORMING THE STREETS IN ANGUISH AFTER THE DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR. AND I WONDERED ABOUT THE YOUNG GIRLS HERE. I WONDERED WHO WAS TAKING CARE OF THEM, AND I WONDERED WHO WAS REMINDING THEM OF THEIR VALUE. SO I FINISHED UP MY WRITING JOB AT THE TIME, AND I BOUGHT THREE LAPTOPS AND I CAME AND I KNOCKED ON THE DOORS OF THREE LOCAL GIRLS, AND I HANDED THEM TO THEM, AND I TOLD THEM, YOU HAVE A STORY AND IT NEEDS TO BE HEARD. MY GOAL WAS TO, REACH 300 GIRLS TO WRITE AND SHARE THEIR STORIES, HOPING THAT THOSE STORIES WOULD UNITE ALL OF US AND POSSIBLY SAVE LIVES. SINCE THAT HAPPENED, FOUR YEARS AGO, I KEEP COMING BACK. I THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE THREE, THREE MONTHS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS. AND WHAT I LEARNED IS THAT MORE THAN TELLING THE STORIES WAS IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THESE GIRLS, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ME SHOWING UP AND SAYING, HERE'S A LAPTOP. TELL YOUR STORY. WHEN THE GIRLS BEHIND THOSE STORIES NEED MY SUPPORT OR NEED OUR SUPPORT, THE GIRLS ARE ARE, EXPERIENCING SELF HARM AT THE AGES OF TEN AND 11, THE GIRLS ARE EXPERIENCING DEPRESSION, SUICIDE, AND, LACK OF SELF CONFIDENCE. SO I PUT ASIDE MY MISSION BRIEFLY AND STARTED A PROGRAM CALLED THRIVE THERAPISTS HELPING REVERSE IMPACT OF VIOLENCE AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. THE PURPOSE OF THRIVE IS TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR GIRLS AGES 11 TO 14, BLACK GIRLS WHO ARE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE REQUESTED FUNDING AND WE WERE DENIED. THIS WAS OUR SECOND REQUEST FOR FUNDING. I IT DOES STRIKE ME THAT I CAME TO SHOW THE GIRLS THAT THEY HAVE VALUE, THAT I SHOWED UP FOR THEM, BUT THAT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FUNDING FROM LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY. WE HAVE RECEIVED FUN OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE, BUT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED FUNDING FROM LOUISVILLE. I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT IF THE METRO GOVERNMENT COULD STAND 
          [02:40:03]
WITH ME AND SAY TO THESE GIRLS, A AND NOT ONLY DID BREONNA TAYLOR'S LIFE MATTER, BUT YOUR LIFE MATTERS AS WELL, THRIVE. OUR THRIVE INITIATIVE IS A COLLECTION OF THERAPISTS WE PROVIDE, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, DURING THE YEAR OF 2024, WE PLAN TO IMPACT 75 MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS IN LOUISVILLE THAT, REPRESENTS A THERAPIST FOR EVERY PROGRAM. 
          OUR. THAT IS 272 HOURS OF THERAPY FOR UP TO 150 MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS OF COLOR, THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT RIGHT NOW, THAT DEMOGRAPHIC HAS THE HIGHEST INCREASE FOR SUICIDE OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, THEY'VE SEEN A 182% INCREASE IN SUICIDE RISK. AND SO I'M ASKING TODAY THAT THIS THE CITY WOULD SUPPORT OUR CAUSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M SORRY. SADIE KINZER, KATHY SANDERS ON DECK. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ADDIE KINZER, AND I AM A LEADER IN THE 300 FOR 300 PROGRAM. JOINING THIS PROGRAM HAS BLESSED ME WITH MANY OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS SEEING MYSELF MORE POSITIVELY, RAISING MY SELF-ESTEEM AND IMPROVED MY COMMUNICATION SKILLS AS I BLOOM WITH THE OTHER YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR. 300 FOR 300 ISN'T ONLY A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, BUT A FAMILY THAT ALLOWS ME TO SEE MY SELF-WORTH, MY SELF-WORTH, TO CONNECT WITH GIRLS FROM ALL OVER LOUISVILLE TO NOT ONLY BELONG, BUT TO ALSO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MY PROGRAM LIKE I AM TONIGHT. 300 FOR 300 ACKNOWLEDGES YOUNG ARTISTS LIKE ME IN MY MOST SHARED POEM THAT I WILL NOW SHARE WITH YOU IS TITLED BURNING GAZE. CAN I DREAM WITHOUT SLEEPING AND NEVER HAVE TO WEAR A GRAY HOODIE JUST TO HIDE MY SKIN FROM A PAIR OF GLARING EYES FOLLOWING ME AS I WALK TOWARDS THE GAS STATION, ANOTHER PAIR OF EYES TRAILED BEHIND MY EVERY STEP TO SEE IF ANY BAG OR CAN SLIPS INTO MY POCKETS. THE MERCILESS SURVEILLANCE MAKES MY HEART TREMBLE LIKE AN ASTEROID PLUMMETING TO EARTH. EVEN WHEN I LAY ON MY MATTRESS ALONE, I CAN FEEL THEIR STARES AND MY STOMACH TWISTS UNTIL IT'S A CHURRO. BUT WHEN I CLOSE MY OWN EYES, MY BODY SINKS AND MY SHOULDERS LOOSEN. I DREAM OF LAUGHTER FROM CHILDREN BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER A GAME OF TAG. WHILE THE SUN MAKES EVERY CHILD'S SKIN GLOW. WITHOUT A SINGLE PAIR OF EYES. TRACKING MY STEPS, I CAN FINALLY SPRINT TOWARDS THE SHAMROCK GRASS. WHILE TOSSING MY JACKET INTO THE COOL BREEZE, AND I TELL MYSELF THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FREE . BEING ABLE TO READ THIS POEM IN FRONT OF YOU ALL TODAY SHOWS HOW MUCH I'VE IMPROVED WITH MY SKILLS WITH COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND ALL I CAN DO IS THANK MISS CHASTITY AND HER PROGRAM TO BRING ME THIS FAR . AND EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A MINUTE LEFT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, KATHY SANDERS DARIUS BIBB ON DECK. THANK YOU. MEMBERS OF METRO COUNCIL, FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND YOUR GREAT AMOUNT OF TIME YOU HAVE ALLOCATED TO US TONIGHT. THERE IS A THEME THAT HAS RUN THROUGH THIS WHOLE EVENING WHICH IS YOU ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE OFTEN NOT HEARD, AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE EVERYDAY LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. I HEARD CLEO BATTLE SPEAK THE OTHER DAY AND CLEO SAID, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE IS THAT OUR COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, HAVE A NEGATIVE PERCEPTION, MORE SO THAN PEOPLE WHO COME TO VISIT AND I THINK IF WE ARE REALLY GOING TO GROW AND ATTRACT NEW TALENT, WE HAVE TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND DOING WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER. AND I REPRESENT TONIGHT ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKE LIVES BETTER AND CARE HOURS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SO OFTEN SHUNNED AND PUT ASIDE. AND THOSE ARE ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. CEDAR LAKE IS THE LARGEST PRIVATE PROVIDER OF COMMUNITY BASED AND RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. WE PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES, THINGS THAT OUR COUNTRY MANDATE. WE CARE FOR PEOPLE. ONE OF THOSE SERVICES IS OUR COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORT. IT ENABLES PEOPLE TO LIVE AT HOME, AND WE PROVIDE SERVICES THAT WE HELP THEM BECOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND NOT ISOLATED. WE 
          [02:45:09]
ENSURE THAT THEY RECEIVE THE HELP THAT THEY NEED SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO A RESIDENTIAL SET OR A NURSING HOME WHERE THE COSTS FOR US AS THE CITIZENS TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR CARE IS GOING TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY, BECAUSE THESE ARE 100% PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY, THEY QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID. WE REQUESTED $16,100 TO HELP SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM. WE FACE EVERY YEAR A SHORTFALL OF ALMOST $300,000 FOR THESE PROGRAMS. WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE WAIT LIST BECAUSE THERE AREN'T OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO DO THIS WORK, BECAUSE THEY'RE PULLING OUT, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET FUNDED. IT'S A CAPITATED RATE BY MEDICAID. SO IT'S NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS. WE DID RECEIVE 5100. THAT IS IN THE CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET. WE APPRECIATE THAT. WE HOPE IT CAN BE MORE, BUT I THINK THE RUNNING THEME IS WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY BY LOOKING INTERNALLY. WHAT ARE THE GREAT NEEDS AND HOW CAN WE MEET THOSE NEEDS. AND I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK OF THE METRO COUNCIL TO LOOK AT THIS BUDGET AND MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS PEOPLE. JARIUS BIBB. 
          HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? ALL RIGHT, MY NAME IS JARED BIBB, I AM THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A NONPROFIT CALLED TALENTED MINDS. AND, OUR MISSION IS JUST TRYING TO SERVE THE YOUTH, TRYING TO DEVELOP THE ATHLETIC MINDSET, ESSENTIALLY, THAT JUST MEANS IT'S USING SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY TECHNIQUES TO KIND OF ENHANCE PERFORMANCE. AND HIS DAILY LIFE SKILLS AND A HENCE ALL SKILLS THAT KIND OF BE TRANSFERABLE GOING INTO YOUR SPORT LIFE ALL THE WAY TO YOUR CAREER AND YOUR JOB, HAVE YOU GUYS EVER PLAYED SPORTS? DO Y'ALL PLAY SPORTS IN YOUR LIFE? I'M SURE Y'ALL UNDERSTAND. LIKE THE BEING MENTALLY RESILIENT, SETTING GOALS, BEING MOTIVATED, SELF-AFFIRMATION, SELF BEING TALKED TO, ALL THESE SELF SKILLS, KIND OF HELP YOU GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY. I'M SURE YOU GUYS USE THE SAME SKILLS TO KIND OF GET YOU GOING AND MAKE YOU GUYS SUCCESSFUL. I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR SOLUTION IS THE YOUTH. I AM THE YOUTH. 
          I'M 22 YEARS OLD, MY NONPROFIT, BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS NOW. AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE MAIN REASON WHY MY BUDGET PLAN WAS PROBABLY DENIED, BECAUSE WE'RE SO FRESH AND NEW. 
          BUT IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, WE HAVE SEEN TREMENDOUS IMPACT FROM JUST BEING AT THE YMCA, WORKING WITH DIFFERENT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, GETTING JCPS. ALSO, I'M ALSO A MIDDLE SCHOOL COACH RIGHT NOW, SO IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES WITH THEM AND HELPING THEM OVERCOME AND UNDERSTAND LIKE LIFE IS ALL ABOUT SETBACKS, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW YOU BOUNCE BACK, I THINK THAT'S THE GREATEST WAY TO PREVENT MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IS JUST SHOWING, LIKE, YOU GOT A PLAN STICKING TO YOUR PLAN TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR PLAN, IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT THE END OF THE DAY AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS Y'ALL SEE, I'M ABOUT FIVE FIVE. I PLAYED COLLEGE BASKETBALL FOR THREE YEARS. I WAS VERY SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFUL AT IT. I AVERAGED 22 POINTS A GAME AT LOUISVILLE. I MEAN, IN LOUISVILLE, I LED THE CITY IN SCORING IN HIGH SCHOOL, I DID ALL THEM THINGS AT THE BROWN SCHOOL RIGHT DOWN THE STREET. WE ONLY WON FIVE GAMES OVER FOUR YEARS, BUT I STILL WAS ABLE TO GAIN TEN PLUS BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIPS, ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS, AND GRADUATE IN THREE YEARS. MY PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE. SO I AM A FIRM BELIEVER OF SETTING GOALS AND USING THESE TYPE OF SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY TECHNIQUES TO, YOU KNOW, ENHANCE PERFORMANCE AND ENHANCE YOUR DAILY LIFE, I AM ASKING, I'M NOT REALLY ASKING FOR MUCH. I'M JUST ASKING FOR CONSIDERATION. WE'RE NEW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FRESH. AND I DO BELIEVE IF I DO HAVE EXTENDED ARM IN THE CITY THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO IMPACT MORE STUDENTS, MORE KIDS AND MORE ATHLETES ON A DAY BY DAY SCALE. 
          AND LIKE I SAID, WITH THE FUTURE IS THE YOUTH. I HEAR EVERYBODY, IN THE BUILD. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST TWO HOURS, MY FIRST BUDGET HEARING, AND I THINK THE MAIN GOAL IS TRYING TO GET FUNDING FOR THEIR OWN PROGRAMS, WHICH IS GREAT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE GOTTA START WITH THE YOUTH AND START WITH THE SMALL THINGS LIKE WORKING ON THEIR MINDSET AND HOW TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS. BECAUSE NOWADAYS KIDS SEE DRAFT DAY AND THEY SEE CHAMPIONSHIP, THEY DON'T SEE THE IN BETWEEN. AND I THINK I CAN ATTEST TO THAT ON A DAILY BASIS, GIVEN WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH, GIVEN WHERE I'M AT TONIGHT, WHERE I'M AT NOW, I HAD A LIFE INSURANCE LICENSE, I LOST MY LICENSE, AND I GOT A REAL ESTATE LICENSE SIX MONTHS LATER. SO IT'S LIKE I CAN BE A EPITOME OR A MESSAGE TO A LOT OF KIDS. AND MY TEAM IS FULL OF THE SAME PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS WITH MY CURRICULUM, I CREATED SEEN BY PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONALS AND YEAH, BUT BASICALLY, LONG STORY SHORT, WE'RE TALENTED MINDS AND WE'RE NEW. AND, YOU KNOW, IN CONSIDERATION OF FUNDING OR EXTRA RESOURCES, WE DEFINITELY BENEFICIAL AND GRATEFUL, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE Y'ALL TIME AND DOING THIS FOR THE CITY. 
          IT'S REALLY DOPE. THANK YOU. THAT'S OUR, LAST SPEAKER TONIGHT. WE WILL ADJOURN NOW. 
          [Adjournment
Note: Agendas are followed at the discretion of the Chair. While an item may be listed, it does not mean all items will be heard and/or acted upon by the Committee.]
          [02:50:07]
AND WE RESUME ON WEDNESDAY AT 5:00 FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES. THANK YOU. WEDNESDAY AT FIVE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.