[Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance] [00:01:05] LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 4TH, 2025 WILL COME TO ORDER PLEASE. THE TIME IS CURRENTLY 6 P.M. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, REPUBLIC OF WHICH IT STANDS AND STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD [Member Roll Call] PURSUANT TO 61.826 AND COUNCIL RULE FIVE. A MADAM CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER HAWKINS, COUNCIL MEMBER. SHANKLIN. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. PIERCE. RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER. HERNDON PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. PURVIS PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. LINENGER PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. MCCRANIE HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. RENA WEBER PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER OWEN HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. RAYMOND HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. KRAMER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JOSEPH HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. SYME COUNCIL MEMBER. BASS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. CHAPPELL HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. READ. COUNCIL MEMBER. WINKLER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER. BENSON. BENSON. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BRATCHER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. HUDSON HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. MULVEY. WOOLRICH HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. VACHON AND PRESIDENT. AKERSON. PRESENT. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE 26 IN A QUORUM. ALL RIGHT. WE'VE GOT NO EXCUSED ABSENCES. COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL, I BELIEVE YOU'VE GOT A PAGE. I DO HAVE A PAGE TONIGHT. AND IT'S MY DARLING LIL, AKA LILITH LUCKETT. DO YOU WANT TO [1. ID 25-0740     Council Member Chappell will introduce the Page for District 15, Lilith Luckett.] COME UP HERE AND STAND SO EVERYONE CAN SEE? YOU CAN STAND RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY DESK IF YOU WANT. I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO SEE YOU. SAY HI TO EVERYONE. HI. SO LILITH IS A KINDERGARTNER AT LINCOLN PERFORMING ARTS, WHICH IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET. HER HOBBIES INCLUDE DANCING WITH LOUISVILLE DANCE ALLIANCE, GYMNASTICS, AND SKATING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WHEN I HAVE SEEN THIS GAL TAKE ON SOME PRETTY TREACHEROUS SKATING OPPORTUNITIES, SHE REALLY DOES SKATE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SHE'S FIVE YEARS OLD TODAY, BUT MY FELLOW SISTER IS GOING TO BE TURNING SIX YEARS OLD SOON, AND SHE ASPIRES TO BE A FIREFIGHTER AND AN OLYMPIC GYMNAST ONE DAY. AND SHE'S JOINED HERE TONIGHT BY HER OLDER SISTER ANNIE, AND HER MOTHER, AMY LUCKETT, WHO IS MY WONDERFUL LEGISLATIVE AIDE, AND HER FATHER, JAY LUCKETT. SO EVERYONE SAY HI TO LILITH. HI, GIRLS. COUNCILMAN JOSEPH, YOU'VE GOT A PAGE TONIGHT? YES. [2. ID 25-0749     Council Member Joseph will introduce the Page for District 12, Layla Issabel Baker. ] THANK YOU. I HAVE A PAGE. MY PAGE IF YOU WANT TO STAND UP AS WELL. THIS IS LAYLA BAKER, AND SHE IS AN EIGHT YEAR OLD FROM LOUISVILLE. SHE IS A THIRD GRADER, ALSO AT LINCOLN ELEMENTARY PERFORMING ARTS, WHERE SHE EXCELS IN PAGEANTS, CRAFTING, AND PERFORMING ON STAGE. LAYLA IS A MEMBER OF KENWOOD HEIGHTS CHURCH, WHERE SHE ENJOYS PLAYING VOLLEYBALL AND CHEERLEADING. SHE IS AN AWESOME LITTLE SISTER, AND SHE LOVES HER CATS AND DOGS SO MUCH THAT SHE WANTS TO BECOME AN ANIMAL RESCUER WHEN SHE GETS OLDER. SHE IS ALSO AN ACTIVE GIRL SCOUT. WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE WELCOME LAYLA TO METRO COUNCIL? COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL, I THINK YOU'VE GOT A SPECIAL GUEST. YES. OKAY. [3. ID 25-0670     Council Member Chappell will recognize TreesLouisville for its 10th Birthday.] OKAY, THIS IS ON. I'LL HAVE TO EXCUSE ME. MY HAIR THING JUST SNAPPED, SO I [00:05:02] HOPE I DON'T LOOK LIKE A HOT MESS. BUT WE'RE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT ME TODAY. WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TREES. LOUISVILLE, WHO IS CELEBRATING THEIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY. AND WE'VE GOT HERE TODAY WITH US, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TREES LOUISVILLE, MISS CINDY SULLIVAN, WHO I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THIS LOUISVILLE ICON, AND SHE'S THE ONE LEADING THE WONDERFUL GROUP. AND I GUESS THIS IS OUR LOUISVILLE GROVES GROUP. MAYBE. BUT OR SORRY, NOT LOUISVILLE GHOST TREES LOUISVILLE GROUP. AND THEY'RE JUST FANTASTIC FOLKS. AND THEY DO SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE OUTLINED IN THIS PROCLAMATION THAT I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ, AND THEN I'LL TURN THE MIC OVER TO MISS SULLIVAN. AND YOU CAN SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT TREES. LOUISVILLE, OF COURSE. SO TO ALL WHOM THESE LETTERS SHALL COME. GREETINGS. KNOW YE THAT THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL HEREBY RECOGNIZES TREES. LOUISVILLE. IN HONOR OF TEN YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND A DECADE OF SERVICE TO THE LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY. WHEREAS IN 2015, TREES LOUISVILLE WAS FOUNDED IN RESPONSE TO THE RAPIDLY DECLINING TREE CANOPY IN LOUISVILLE, WITH A FOCUS ON PRESERVING AND EXPANDING THE TREE CANOPY. AND WHEREAS TREES LOUISVILLE ENGAGES RESIDENTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND FOSTERED A CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM PROGRAMING. AND WHEREAS TREES LOUISVILLE HAS PLANTED AND GIVEN AWAY OVER 25,000 TREES, WHICH HAS LED TO CLEANER AIR, COOLER TEMPERATURES AND THRIVING ECOSYSTEMS. AND WHEREAS THROUGH A DECADE OF DEDICATED SERVICE TREES, LOUISVILLE HAS BECOME A TRUSTED PARTNER IN THE CANOPY RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE, ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF LOUISVILLIANS. NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED. THE METRO COUNCIL DOES HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF TREES LOUISVILLE, INVITING ALL TO CELEBRATE AND JOIN IN CREATING A GREENER, HEALTHIER AND MORE EQUITABLE LOUISVILLE, WHERE EVERY COMMUNITY THRIVES UNDER THE SHADE OF A FLOURISHING TREE CANOPY. AND WE HEREBY CONFER THIS HONOR WITH ALL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AND THE SEAL OF METRO COUNCIL AFFIXED HEREUNTO TO TREES. LOUISVILLE. SO BEFORE I HAND IT OVER, I JUST ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IF YOU'RE IN IN LOUISVILLE METRO AND WHETHER YOU WANT TREES PLANTED OR YOU HAVE TREE MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, YOU'RE CALLING TREES LOUISVILLE. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THEM CLOSELY. AS SOMEONE THAT'S ON THE LOUISVILLE TREE COMMISSION AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AND CONTINUE TO DO IS IS REALLY MAKING SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL INTERACT WITH TREES LOUISVILLE, BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY MAKING TANGIBLE CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO, MISS SULLIVAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE ALL SITTING IN YOUR SEATS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TURN YOUR BACKS AND RUN AWAY FROM ME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE, SORRY, I KNOW MOST OF YOU WELL ENOUGH. BECAUSE I TRY AND VISIT YOU. BECAUSE THE TREE CANOPY AFFECTS ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. AND WE ARE WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN ACCESSIBLE AND EQUITABLE TREE CANOPY, WHETHER YOU'RE IN WEST LOUISVILLE OR EAST LOUISVILLE. AND WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND WALKABILITY. AND WE HAVE A LONGEVITY, A LONG LASTING AND SUSTAINABLE URBAN FOREST. AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALL SUPPORT THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN. WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THAT MOVE IN IN 2026. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I THINK THAT WE ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THE URBAN TREE CANOPY AND THE COMMUNITY TREE CANOPY IS FOR EVERYONE'S MENTAL HEALTH. AND THESE ARE STRESSFUL TIMES THAT WE'RE LIVING IN, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING ALL OF THE NATURE THAT WE CAN TO OUR CITIZENS AND OUR FUTURE CITIZENS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS HONOR TONIGHT. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY CINDY HAS THE MOST GLORIOUS HAIR IN ALL OF LOUISVILLE METRO, AND YOU WILL SEE THIS WOMAN OUT PLANTING TREES. SHE IS NOT AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THAT DOES NOT SHOW UP. AND SO SHE IS SO MODEST THAT SHE SAID, YEAH, WE WERE FOUNDED IN 2015. I SAID, CINDY, IT'S YOUR TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY. WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE. AND SHE SAID, OH, I GUESS WE SHOULD. SO THIS IS THE CELEBRATION, BUT I HOPE THAT IT DOES NOT STOP HERE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU CINDY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CRAMER AND COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY, I [00:10:05] BELIEVE YOU'RE RECOGNIZING SOME GUESTS OR NOT GUESTS, BUT INTERNS TONIGHT. [4. ID 25-0708     Council Member McCraney and Council Member Kramer will recognize the University of Louisville Interns and Dr. David Imbroscio.] GOOD EVENING, COLLEAGUES AND VISITORS. IT IS MY HONOR TO WELCOME THE INTERNS HERE TONIGHT. THESE INTERNS HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE TO THE METRO COUNCIL OFFICES. THEIR DEDICATION, THEIR EAGERNESS TO LEARN HAS OVERSHADOWED ANYTHING THAT WE COULD HAVE TAUGHT THEM ON OUR OWN. THEY WERE CURIOUS, AND THEY WORKED ON SEVERAL PROJECTS. THAT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE. IN FACT, ONE OF THE INTERNS JUST HAPPENED TO BE MINE, WORKED ON RESEARCH THAT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT AT OUR MEETING. THAT RESEARCH HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH TUITION REIMBURSEMENT. OTHER INTERNS, I UNDERSTAND, WORKED ON DOING RESEARCH FOR STREET CALMING, DID RESEARCH ON BLOCK CAMERAS, ANALYZED VACANT PROPERTY DATA, MAKING SURE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS BETTER FOR A PARTICULAR DISTRICT. SO WHEN I TELL YOU THAT THIS PROGRAM, SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE, IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, I AM JUST NOT SPEAKING OUT OF TURN. I AM SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE. THEY ARE WONDERFUL AND YOU SEE THEM HERE BEHIND US. AND I WANT TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUE TO COME AND READ THE PROCLAMATION THAT EACH WILL RECEIVE TONIGHT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MCCRANEY. SO I HAVE A ONE OF THE PROCLAMATIONS AND THEY ARE ALL VERY, VERY SIMILAR. I DO ALSO WANT TO MENTION BEFORE I START THAT PROFESSOR AMBROSIO SENDS HIS REGRETS. HE INTENDED TO BE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING, BUT SOME THINGS HAVE COME UP IN HIS WORLD THAT MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO ATTEND. AND SO HE DOES WANT TO SEND ALONG HOW PROUD HE IS OF HIS STUDENTS AND SHARE WITH THEM HIS SHARE WITH YOU AND YOUR SUCCESS. BUT HE REGRETS HE COULDN'T BE HERE. SO THE PROCLAMATION SAYS TO ALL WHOM THESE LETTERS SHALL COME. GREETINGS. KNOW YE THAT THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL HEREBY RECOGNIZES, AND THEN HAS OF COURSE, THEIR NAME IN HONOR OF HIS OR HER PUBLIC SERVICE AS METRO COUNCIL INTERN, WHEREAS HE OR SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE. AND WHEREAS, SHE HAS SERVED THE PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF THE HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBER AND WHEREAS, SHE BROUGHT CURIOSITY AND POSITIVE ENERGY AND WITH HIS EVERY DAY AND WAS A DELIGHT TO BE AROUND. AND WHEREAS WE ARE CERTAIN WE CAN EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM HIM AND WISH HER SUCCESS IN ALL FUTURE ENDEAVORS, THIS THESE PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES HERE UNTO APPERTAINING IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF WE HAVE CAUSED THESE LETTERS TO BE MADE, AND HEREBY CONFER THIS HONOR WITH ALL RIGHTS AND THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT TO BE HERE UNTO AFFIXED DONE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, ON THIS DAY IN NOVEMBER, AND SIGNED BY THE COUNCIL PERSON. SO WHAT WE WOULD ASK IS. COUNCILMAN, COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY WILL READ THE NAMES, AND WHEN SHE'S FINISHED WITH THE NAMES, IF WE COULD MOVE INTO THE WELL AND THEN THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE YOUR PROCLAMATIONS WITH YOU, IF YOU COULD COME INTO THE WELL AS WELL AND PRESENT THE PROCLAMATIONS. SO IF I MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAME, PLEASE CHARGE IT TO MY HEAD, NOT MY HEART, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME TOO. JUST SLAP ME ON MY CHEEK AND I MEAN SHOULDER, NOT MY CHEEK AS YOU WALK. OH THAT'S FUNNY, KAMANI KILLINGS. MICHAEL PACKWOOD. MATER GARRIDO. MIA. MOLLY. CARMEN HAGAN O'DANIEL. RENEE SCHLUTERMAN, NATHAN TROGDON, KAYLEE. WATSON, BADEN. MOSS, CAROLYN. BURGIN, [00:15:16] JADE. PAUL BUSIEK AND KATE PAUL. WELCOME THEM. THANK YOU. I THINK YOU SHOULD USE THOSE MILITARY MOVES WHERE YOU HIT THE TABLE AND ROLL. YEAH, WHERE YOU. MIGHT NEVER HAVE. I ALWAYS GET, YOU KNOW, I STAND UP, THEN I PHOTOBOMB IT. BUT IF I STAY BACK, THEN NO ONE WANTS TO SEE ME IN THE PICTURE. IS EVERYBODY GOOD? EVERYBODY'S SMILING. LOOK THIS WAY, PLEASE. THANK YOU. TWO, THREE. THANK YOU. READY? ONE. TWO. THREE. THANK YOU ALL. DO I HAVE ENOUGH ICE CREAM? NO. DO YOU HAVE AN INTERN? NO. IS THERE ICE CREAM? NO. I WISH IT WAS. COUNCILMAN HAWKINS, I BELIEVE YOU GOT A COUPLE OF TEAMS TO RECOGNIZE TONIGHT. YOU [5. ID 25-0719     Council Member Hawkins will recognize the winners of the 2025 JCPS Middle School Varsity Football Championship, the Shawnee Middle School Varsity Football team under Coach Jonathan Cole, and the finalists, the Hudson Middle School Varsity Football team under Coach Woody Birdsong.] HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HERE WE GO. I REALLY DON'T NEED IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE. I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE THE RUNNER UP FIRST. BUT FIRST I WANT TO TAKE A SECOND. YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE THESE TWO TEAMS BECAUSE IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS IN THE WEST END. I'M A FIRM BELIEVER, AND I SAY IT, YOU KNOW, WAY TOO OFTEN THAT THE WEST DESERVES THE BEST AS WELL. SO I WANT TO CALL MY COLLEAGUE KEN HERNDON DOWN HERE. FIRST. I'M GOING TO ASK HIM TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION. PROCLAMATION, BECAUSE THIS TEAM IS IN HIS DISTRICT. IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE 2025 RUNNER UP HUDSON MIDDLE FOOTBALL TEAM. AND THEY HAD A GAME TONIGHT, SO ONLY SO MANY OF THEM COULD SHOW UP. SO DURING KEN'S DISTRICT I WAS REACHED OUT TO. SO I'M GOING TO LET KEN GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN COACH WOODY BIRDSONG, HUDSON MIDDLE SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM. WHEREAS COACH WOODY BIRDSONG, WEST END LOUISVILLE NATIVE, HAS DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENT ATHLETES OF HUDSON MIDDLE SCHOOL, SERVING AS BOTH A MENTOR ON AND OFF THE FIELD. AND WHEREAS COACH WOODY BIRDSONG PREVIOUSLY COACHED THE LOUISVILLE JAGUARS YOUTH FOOTBALL PROGRAM FOR SEVERAL [00:20:04] YEARS. WHEREAS IN 2023, COACH BIRDSONG WAS BLESSED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME THE FIRST HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT HUDSON MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR. WHEREAS UNDER COACH BIRDSONG GUIDANCE, THE HUDSON MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM MADE REMARKABLE PROGRESS AND THE PROGRAM GREW TO HAVE 60 ATHLETES AND BEING A TEAM THAT GREW IN SKILL, DISCIPLINE, SPORTSMANSHIP, TEAMWORK AND EXEMPLIFYING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF YOUTH ATHLETICS. AND WHEREAS, ON NOVEMBER 1ST, 2025 AT 7:30 P.M. UNDER THE LIGHTS OF J-TOWN HIGH SCHOOL, COACH BIRDSONG LED THE HUDSON MIDDLE SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM TO AN EXTRAORDINARY CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY, WHERE THEY CAME IN AS THE RUNNER UP TO SHAWNEE MIDDLE SCHOOL, BRINGING PRIDE AND EXCITEMENT TO THE SHAWNEE COMMUNITY, THEIR FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS, FINISHING THE SEASON SEVEN AND FOUR. AND WHEREAS THIS ACHIEVEMENT REFLECTS NOT ONLY ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE BUT ALSO COACH BIRDSONG'S UNWAVERING BELIEF IN HIS PLAYERS, HIS ABILITY TO INSPIRE RESILIENCE, AND HIS COMMITMENT TO BUILDING STRONG CHARACTER IN THE YOUNG MEN UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP. AND WHEREAS, THE SUCCESS OF THE HUDSON MIDDLE SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM SERVES AS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED BY DEDICATED EDUCATORS, COACHES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THESE PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THEREUNTO APPERTAINING. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, WE HAVE CAUSED THESE LETTERS TO BE MADE AND HEREBY CONFERRED THIS HONOR WITH ALL RIGHTS AND THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT TO BE HERE UNTO AFFIXED THIS DAY, THE 4TH OF DECEMBER, 2025. HELLO. I AM NOT COACH WOODY BIRDSONG. HE IS ACTUALLY ALSO OUR HEAD BASKETBALL COACH. THEY HAD A GAME TONIGHT, SO ME AS THE ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. MY NAME IS DOMINIQUE BROWN. I CAME TO, YOU KNOW, SHOW LOVE FOR MY MY STUDENTS, MY ATHLETES, MY BOYS, A LOT OF MY BOYS IS ON THE BASKETBALL COURT RIGHT NOW. SO I BROUGHT TWO OF MY BOYS WITH ME TODAY. AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING. AND Y'ALL JUST SEEING HUDSON FOR WHAT WE WANTED IT TO BE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO NEXT THIS IS THE GRANDSTAND. GUYS, IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE. AND BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANT TO CALL MY COLLEAGUE DONNA PURVIS. THERE IN HER DISTRICT. SHE CAN READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR THAT. THE CHAMPIONS OF 2025, SHAWNEE MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND. GOOD FOR YOU AND I WHEN I WAS AN ATHLETE. SO I GUESS IF YOU ALL WANT TO KNOW WHAT REAL WINNERS LOOK LIKE, HERE YOU ARE. DO YOU HAVE? RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU ALL. I KNOW THAT IT WAS NOT AN EASY SEASON, COACH, I THINK THIS WAS YOUR FIRST TIME DOING THIS. YOU DID IT TO PERFECTION. OKAY, SO I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO SEE YOU ON THE SIDELINES IN A FEW YEARS. KANSAS, PITTSBURG OR HOPEFULLY. OKAY. JUST MAKE SURE YOU SEND THE TICKETS HERE OKAY? ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. SO ALRIGHT, I'M GOING TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION. I WANTED TO THANK ALSO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN TAMMY HAWKINS FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. HERE GOES. LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL PROCLAMATION TO ALL WHOM THESE LETTERS SHALL COME. GREETINGS. KNOWE THAT THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL HEREBY RECOGNIZES COACH JONATHAN COLE, SHAWNEE MIDDLE SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL [00:25:01] TEAM. WHEREAS COACH JONATHAN COLE, WESTERN LOUISVILLE NATIVE, BORN AND RAISED, HAS DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENT ATHLETES OF SHAWNEE MIDDLE SCHOOL, SERVING AS BOTH A MENTOR ON AND OFF THE FIELD. AND WHEREAS COACH JONATHAN COLE PREVIOUSLY COACHED THE RAMS TEAM FOR SIX YEARS BEFORE TAKING A YEAR OFF AND MOURNING THE LOSS OF HIS LATE FATHER AND MOTHER SIX MONTHS APART FROM EACH OTHER. BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, LET ME RECOGNIZE HIS FATHER WAS A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE WEST END AND VERY POPULAR GUY, BUT A VERY GIVING GUY. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CARRYING ON YOUR FATHER'S TRADITION OF GIVING TO THE COMMUNITY. I'M GOING TO CONTINUE ON. WHEREAS COACH COLE TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH AND TURNED HIS PAIN AND PASSION INTO PURPOSE AND BEGAN COACHING SHAWNEE MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL, KNOWING THIS PARTICULAR TEAM HAD NOT YET WON A GAME THAT YEAR. WHEREAS UNDER COACH COLE'S GUIDANCE, THE SHAWNEE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM WENT FROM NOT WINNING A SINGLE GAME TO BEING A TEAM THAT GREW IN SKILL, DISCIPLINE, SPORTSMANSHIP, TEAMWORK AND EXEMPLIFYING THE HIGH STANDARDS OF YOUTH ATHLETICS. AND WHEREAS, ON NOVEMBER 1ST, 2025 AT 7:30 P.M. UNDER THE LIVES OF DAYTON HIGH SCHOOL, COACH COLE LED THE SHAWNEE MIDDLE SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM TO AN EXTRAORDINARY CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY, BRINGING PRIDE AND EXCITEMENT TO THE SHAWNEE COMMUNITY, THE FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS. FINISHING THE SEASON TEN AND ZERO. AND WHEREAS RIGHT. GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, WHEREAS THIS ACHIEVEMENT REFLECTS NOT ONLY ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE BUT ALSO COACH COLE'S UNWAVERING BELIEF IN HIS PLAYERS, HIS ABILITY TO INSPIRE RESILIENCE, AND HIS COMMITMENT TO BUILDING STRONG CHARACTER IN THE YOUNG MEN UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP. AND WHEREAS, THE SUCCESS OF THE SHAWNEE MIDDLE SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM SERVES AS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED BY DEDICATED EDUCATORS, COACHES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THESE PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THEREUNTO APPERTAINING. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF WE HAVE CAUSED THESE LETTERS TO BE MADE AND HEREBY CONFER THIS HONOR WITH ALL RIGHTS AND THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT TO BE HEREUNTO AFFIXED. DONE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY ON THIS FOURTH DAY OF DECEMBER. IT HAS TAMMY HAWKINS ON HERE. BUT ANYWAY, I'M GOING TO SAY TAMMY HAWKINS AND COUNCILWOMAN HERBERT LITTLE, METRO COUNCIL'S DISTRICT ONE AND FIVE. CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS. THANK YOU. AND BEING THAT THEY WERE THE CHAMPIONS, I'D LIKE EVERYBODY TO COME UP AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU. I THINK THAT TROPHY IS AS BIG AS DONNA, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO. TO SHORT STANDING IN THE FOREGROUND. HERE. COLE. AS A TEHER. AND I KNEW IN SIX WES. KP GOG. H W YOU EAH,EAH. YOU. STUDENT BODY. READY? ONE, TWO. YEAH. YEAH, I FIGURED THAT OUT. AND. BECAUSE I DIDN'T TEACH THE WAY THEY WANT ME TO, I. SO ANYTHING. WELL, I'VE GOT A. YES. [00:30:02] SO WHAT DO Y'ALL WANT TO DO? TRY TO KEEP IT OPEN. YEAH. I THINK. WHAT THEY WANT TO. THAT'S THE THAT'S THE THING. WELL YOU HAVE NO COMMENT. BECAUSE YOU'RE ALL CLOSE TO THE CAMERA. SO THE KIDS. OKAY. THANKS. YEAH. YEAH. WELL, WE HAD SOME TROUBLES IN SCHOOL OR [6. ID 25-0724     Addresses to Council – December 4, 2025] WHATEVER. AND, MADAM CLERK, ARE THERE ANY ADDRESSES TO COUNCIL? YES, SIR. OKAY. LET ME REMIND THOSE ADDRESSING COUNCIL OF THIS. NUMBER ONE IS TO REFRAIN FROM USING PROFANITY, REFRAIN FROM DEROGATORY STATEMENTS TOWARDS COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND WE HAVE A COUNCIL RULE THAT ON ANY GIVEN TOPIC, THERE CAN ONLY BE THREE PEOPLE SPEAKING FOR OR AGAINST IT. SO THE IDEA IS THIS IS IF WE WERE HAD A SOMETHING DEALING WITH WITH A BASEBALL TEAM, IF THE MOMENT THREE PEOPLE SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE BASEBALL TEAM, THE FOURTH WOULD BE CUT OFF. SO THOSE ARE THE RULES. WITH THAT BEING SAID, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER, DEBORAH O'GORMAN. AND THEN WE HAVE SOME PAPERS HERE. FIRST OFF, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. I'M HERE ON THE SAME ISSUE AS ALWAYS, METRO LOUISVILLE. I SHOW YOU A LOT OF PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN ABOUT THE OLD GALLERIA. OH MY GOD, WHAT DO WE HAVE SHOPPING. I GET BUSINESS FIRST OFFICE VACANCY IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE. TOWER JUMPS. WHY? AND WHAT IS EVERYBODY COMING TO THIS SATURDAY? LIGHT UP LOUISVILLE. THE STREET IS SHUT. EVERYBODY CALLS US METRO. AND WE GOT 2500 APARTMENTS GOING UP BEFORE THE END OF THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR. LDG BOUGHT THE GREYHOUND BROWN BROTHERS, AND WE GOT 200 APARTMENTS GOING DOWN BY THE BASEBALL FIELD AND MORE. AND NOT TO MENTION, WE'VE GOT A FEW MORE THINGS GOING HERE AND THERE. AND WE GOT THE OLD STEWARTS, I MEAN, NOT THE OLD, EXCUSE ME, THE WHOLE BUNCH OF BUILDINGS AROUND HERE. EMPTY. ANYBODY KNOW WHERE THE REAL COURIER-JOURNAL USED TO BE? RIGHT THERE AT THIRD AND LIBERTY. THEY USED TO MAKE THE INK UNDERGROUND. I'VE TALKED TO KROGER'S A COUPLE TIMES. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS IN CINCINNATI, AND I TALKED TO ALDI'S, WHO LOVES ALDI'S. WE ALL LOVEGER'S ON THIRD STREET AND WE GOT IT CLOSED DOWN BECAUSE OF A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ARE DOING NAUGHTY STUFF AT THE SAN ANTONIO END, GOING ACROSS THE STREET SELLING STUFF. LET'S GET BACK. WHERE CAN THE PEOPLE SHOP IN METRO LOUIS? 2000 APARTMENTS GOING UP AND MORE ARE HERE. WHERE CAN THE PEOPLE COME DOWNTOWN? WE REMEMBER BACONS. OH MY GOD, BACON'S THE OLD FOURTH STREET LIVE HAD A BASEMENT. WE USED TO GO GET OUR HAIR DONE, PLAY DOWNTOWN AND EVERYTHING. DAVID KORESH BOUGHT THE GALLERIA FOR $1, BUT 7.5 MILLION. HE GAVE ARMSTRONG ME THAT DEAL, I WAS THERE, THAT'S WHAT I USED TO DO FOR A LIVING. MARKETING FOR THE CITY. THEN EPILEPSY TOOK AWAY MY CAREER. NOW I DO WHAT I DO. THE POINT IS WE NEED SHOPPING. ALL. WE ALL RIDE VANS, WE RIDE LYFT, WE'RE ON DISABILITY. YOU GET MAYBE GET FOOD STAMPS OR MONEY FOR YOUR INSURANCE. BUT HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH TO THE DAGGONE SHOPPING? WE GOT 3000 PEOPLE AT LEAST ON DISABILITY AND METRO. WE DON'T HAVE. NO, WE CAN'T GO 28TH STREET. WE CAN'T GO TO U OF L. WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO SHOP? I RESPECT YOU, BUT SOME TIMES YOU WANT TO GO HOME. I GOTTA GET SOME MILK. MAYBE NOT, BUT YOU MIGHT. OUR BEAUTIFUL KEN HEARN IS MY CITY COUNCIL AND I RESPECT HIM. AND I RESPECT YOU ALL. I KNOW IT'S FUNNY. YEAH, IT'S REALLY FUNNY, BUT I WORKED THE ELECTIONS FOR 28 YEARS. I GOT US OUT, MAN. WHEN A MAN CAME IN WITH A GUN. NOW WE'RE AT LINCOLN ELEMENTARY. I DO WHAT I CAN FOR THE CITY ON MY DISABILITY, BUT I WANT US. WHY CAN'T WE HAVE SHOPPING AND METRO? KROGER'S WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. ALDI'S WANTS TO HEAR YOU. IF YOU WANT THE MANAGEMENT'S NUMBERS I'LL GET THEM CUZ THEY KNOW I DON'T TAKE. WHEN I SOLD HUMANA AND I WORKED FOR ESPN, I DON'T TAKE NO. HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CECIL CALHOUN. TO [00:35:11] THE PRESIDENT COUNCIL. I'M ASKING FOR ACCOMMODATION ON MY SPEECH. RIGHT. YOU'RE ASKING PRESIDENT COUNCIL. I'M ASKING FOR ACCOMMODATION ON MY SPEECH. YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE ACCOMMODATION? YES. YES, SIR. YOU HAVE IT. OKAY, OKAY. I'M GOING TO PLAY A TAPE, Y'ALL. AND IT SOUNDS EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNCIL, EVERY DISTRICT. AND COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. I APOLOGIZE FOR TAKING THE DELAY IN THE RESPONSE. I TRIED TO PULL SOME INFORMATION FROM THE MICROFILM AS YOU AND I TALKED BEFORE. ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE STATE OF UTAH, SO THERE'S NO GETTING INTO IT. IT LOOKS LIKE THE ADDRESSES WERE PUT IN THERE AT THE TIME OF TRANSFER. BUT AGAIN, IT YOU KNOW, Y'ALL CAN LAUGH ALL YOU WANT TO ALL THE ALL THE STUFF THAT COMES THROUGH THE CARS GO TO FRANKFORT. WE KNOW KNOW SHE WENT TO UTAH AND I GOT A PAPER HERE WHERE IT'S NOT IN LOUISVILLE. I MEAN, REPRESENT MYSELF IN COURT. WE HAVE A CLERK WRITE A A PAPER WHICH IS ILLEGAL TO THE COURTS. SHE CANNOT DO THAT. SHE CANNOT DO THAT. I WROTE AN AMENDMENT. DIDN'T EVEN ONE OF THEM ANSWER TO IT? NOW, END OF THE DAY, MY CAR WAS IN THE STORAGE UNIT. THEY PEOPLE PUT CARS IN THE IN THE COURT OVER HERE AND HAVE ADDRESS WAS A LIE. SO THEY ARE PLAYING WITH MY ADDRESS WHERE THEY CAN GET YOU COURT FOR FRAUD. Y'ALL THINK I'M STUPID? I'M CRAZY. I'VE BEEN LOCKED UP. I'VE DONE EVERYTHING. WE CAN GO IN COURT AND I STILL AIN'T GOT NO FELONIES. SO ANY DAY THAT FOR THIS WOMAN HERE FOR COUNTY COURT TO TRY TO TAKE MY MIND. IF ANYBODY OUT HERE CARES ABOUT DISABILITY ACT OR PEOPLE ON MENTAL, Y'ALL PLAYING WITH FIRE. JUST LUCKY THE I AM. I'VE GOT TO DIG THE TO KEEP TAKING IT. LIKE I SAID, THIS COULD BE A FRAUD. AND TRUTHFULLY, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY CAN LOOK AT THIS. AND EVERY TIME I COME IN THIS SHOW, Y'ALL JUST LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M NOBODY. Y'ALL DO THIS. PEOPLE'S TAG REGISTRATION AND LIVELIHOOD. I LOST $200,000 HOME, AND I CALLED JOE MAN SEVERAL TIMES, AND HE'S A VERY NICE MAN. AND I TOLD HIM I GAVE $20, WALKED OUT, WALKED OUT OF A RESTAURANT. I AIN'T TYPE PERSON TO MAKE PROBLEMS, BUT IF I PUT IN THAT SITUATION, AIN'T NO POLICE OR NOBODY TO STOP ME. OR THE FEDS. Y'ALL KEEP PLAYING WITH ME. THANK YOU, JARED RANDALL. THAT'S RIGHT. OH, I KNOW I TRIED REALLY HARD TO LISTEN. ANOTHER ONE. YOU KNOW. HOW Y'ALL DOING? I THINK AS A COUNTRY, WE'RE LOSING OUR HUMANITY AND OUR WILL OUR WAY. WE HAVE WE HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT'S BASICALLY LIKE A HE WAS HE WAS MAKING FUN OF IMMIGRANTS AND ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ, WHAT THEY CALLED IT, AND MAKING FUN OF SWIMMING AWAY FROM ALLIGATORS. WE HAVE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. EVERY ONE OF THEM VOTED TO FUND A GAZA GENOCIDE, CUT OFF UN AID TO KIDS IN GAZA CALLED UNWRA. AND THAT WAS ANDY BARR. AND MORGAN MCGARVEY VOTED TO DO THAT. SO IT'S A PROBLEM IN BOTH PARTIES. I'M NOT PARTIZAN WITH THAT. WE HAVE ONE MONTH TO FILE TO RUN AN ELECTION TO CHANGE THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY. WE GOT A SENATE RACE, WE GOT A HOUSE RACES AND VOTED ON FUTURE GAZA [00:40:04] FUNDING FOR ANOTHER GAZA. GENOCIDE IS GOING TO RELY ON THOSE RACES. I'M ASKING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE LIKE ATTICA SCOTT, SHAMIKA, PARIS. RIGHT. DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO RUN FOR. SOME OF THESE SEATS ARE WE'RE STUCK WITH WHAT WE GOT. WE CAN STAND IN FRONT OF THESE PEOPLE'S OFFICES WITH SIGNS AND SAY FREE GAZA AND THEY DON'T CARE. AND I MEAN, I THINK A REVOLUTIONARIES I THINK OF LOCALLY, I THINK SHAMIKA PARIS. RIGHT, WHICH I, I WISH WOULD RUN FOR MAYOR. I'M THINKING OF ATTICUS GOD I, I WISH WOULD RUN FOR US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. I THINK A JP, AOC, CORI BUSH, RASHIDA TLAIB WITH DSA. I THINK OF AL GREEN, BERNIE SANDERS, DOCTOR CORNEL WEST, CLAUDIA DE LA CRUZ WITH PSL, JILL STEIN WITH THE GREEN PARTY. THOSE ARE REVOLUTIONARIES. MOST OF OUR LEADERS, LIKE I SAID, EVERY HOUSE REP IN KENTUCKY VOTED TO FUND A GAZA GENOCIDE, EXCEPT FOR THOMAS MASSIE. AND I THINK WE NEED A PRIMARY. ALL THOSE HOUSE REPS. WE NEED A PRIMARY, ANDY BARR, AND WE NEED A PRIMARY. MORGAN MCGARVEY. I MEAN, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, ONLY 8% OF DEMOCRATS SUPPORT THE GAZA GENOCIDE, ONLY 9% OF 1834 YEAR OLDS OF BOTH PARTIES SUPPORT THE GODS GENOCIDE. SO THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS DO NOT SUPPORT THIS GAZA GENOCIDE, IF ONLY 9% OF THEM DO SO. I MEAN, THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF OUR HOUSE REPS IN KENTUCKY, INCLUDING ANDY BARR AND MORGAN MCGARVEY, VOTED FOR THAT. GUY'S A GENOCIDE. ANYWAY. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JARED RANDALL. J A R E D R A N D A L L. YOU CAN LOOK ME UP ON GOOGLE. I'M GOOGLE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ELLEN. SHANNON. ELLEN. SHANNON. ELLEN. SHANNON. THANK. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALAN SHANNON. THIS IS MY COLLEAGUE ELIZABETH CANFIELD. WE'RE HERE WITH THE SBA SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. WE'RE HERE IN REGARDS TO THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN, THE INJURY, THE IMPACT INJURY THAT HAPPENED WITH THE US PLANE CRASH ON NOVEMBER THE 4TH. WE ARE HERE TO SEE IF THE NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND THE SMALL BUSINESSES FOR THE IMPACT THAT THEY HAD. THANKS. SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100 BUSINESSES THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THE UPS CRASH. IT WAS EXACTLY ONE MONTH AGO TODAY. AND SO OUT OF THOSE 100 BUSINESSES, WE ARE OFFERING A PROGRAM TO COME IN WITH HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED LOANS, LOW INTEREST RATES, LOANS TO HELP THEM BRIDGE THE FINANCIAL GAP BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN THEY MIGHT HAVE AN INSURANCE SETTLEMENT COME THROUGH. THIS IS OPEN TO ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN AFFECTED IN THAT SPECIFIC AREA, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED DOWN THE SUPPLY CHAIN. SO WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACTS THAT WE ARE STILL HERE. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING APPLICATIONS. WORD OF MOUTH IS KEY. A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, SO WE'VE HAD BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE AFFECTED SPREAD THE MESSAGE TO OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS. THERE'S CURRENTLY A COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER OUT BY THE AIRPORT, 200 HIGH RISE DRIVE, AND OUR BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER IS THERE AS WELL. SO WE ARE STAFFED WITH APPROXIMATELY FIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES WHO CAN HELP INDIVIDUALS GO THROUGH THE LOAN PROCESS. ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. WE HAVE TRANSLATORS ON SITE AND THOSE HOURS ARE THE HOURS IS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM 9 A.M. TO 7 P.M. ALSO, THE SMALL BUSINESS AND THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DOES NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE INSURANCE SETTLE. YOU CAN STILL APPLY FOR THE LOAN. OKAY, SO I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THAT. WHAT ELSE? WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME IN THERE WITH THESE PARTICULAR TYPE OF LOW INTEREST PAYMENTS FOR LOAN THERE. YOU DO NOT NEED TO MAKE A PAYMENT FOR THE FIRST YEAR, AND THERE'S [00:45:02] ZERO INTEREST THAT ACCRUES WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR. SO AGAIN THESE FEDERAL LOANS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRIDGE ANY TYPE OF GAP THAT MIGHT EXIST BETWEEN THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS NOW AND DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN SOME SOME SORT OF SETTLEMENT MAY COME INTO SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES. A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE TRYING TO KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES ON THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE HOLIDAYS, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY CHALLENGING. IF YOU DON'T HAVE INCOME COMING IN, THEY'RE STILL PAYING RENT ON A LOT OF THESE BUILDINGS, UTILITIES, IF THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THOSE UTILITIES UP. AND OBVIOUSLY THE FINANCIAL, THE FINANCIAL LOSSES. SO WE WILL BE HERE. WE INVITE YOU GUYS TO PLEASE SHARE INFORMATION. WE'LL BE EMAILING OUT INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THE RESOURCE CENTER IS LOCATED. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. I WILL SAY THIS. NORMALLY WE DO NOT ALLOW SPEAKERS TO TO TAG TEAM, BUT BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MADE AN EXCEPTION HERE TONIGHT, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. KIM TELFORD MAP. HELLO, MY NAME IS KIM TELESFORD MAP. I ATTEND SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES CATHOLIC CHURCH AT 32ND AND BROADWAY, AND I'M A MEMBER OF CLOUT. DURING OUR 2024 LISTENING PROCESS, WE HEARD THE STORIES OF MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH MANY SHARING CONCERNS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH. FOR THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT LOUISVILLE IS FAR BEHIND OUR PEER CITIES. THE BIGGEST GAP IS THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH SAFE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO IMMEDIATELY. IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ARE STUCK WAITING ON APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE WEEKS OR MONTHS AWAY. RIGHT NOW, THEIR ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS THE EMERGENCY ROOM, WHICH OFTEN ISN'T ABLE TO MEET THEIR NEED. AND THIS GAP IN SERVICES LEAVES MANY LOUISVILLIANS AT HIGHER RISK FOR POLICE INTERACTION, WHICH DOES NOT SERVE THEM OR LMPD. WE JUST CONCLUDED OUR LISTENING SESSION AGAIN, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISING THAT WHEN CLOUT LISTENED TO OVER 500 PEOPLE THIS FALL, WE HEARD MORE STORIES ABOUT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CONCERNED ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THEIR KIDS AND LOVED ONES, LIKE THE STORY OF A YOUNG MAN IN HIS 30S WHO HAS LOST THREE FRIENDS TO SUICIDE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN IN A CRISIS LIKE THE STORY FROM A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL WHO SHARED THAT THEIR E.R. IS OVERCROWDED WITH PEOPLE IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, EVEN WHEN THEY THEY NEED RESOURCES THAT E.R. JUST CAN'T PROVIDE. OR LIKE THE STORY OF A MOTHER WHOSE SON WAS DEALING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AT NIGHT. BUT SHE HAD NOWHERE TO TAKE HIM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DEDICATED YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTER THAT'S OPEN 24 SEVEN. THE SOLUTION WE NEED IS A 24 SEVEN CRISIS CENTER THAT WILL SERVE NOT ONLY ADULTS, BUT ALSO YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND SEVEN COUNTIES HAS A PLAN TO LAUNCH THIS CRISIS CENTER AS SOON AS NEXT YEAR. WE ARE THRILLED THAT SEVEN COUNTIES HAS ALREADY RECEIVED STATE APPROVAL TO COVER ALL OF THE ONGOING OPERATING COSTS THROUGH THEIR MEDICAID PROGRAM. ALL THEY NEED TO GET STARTED IS A ONE TIME INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY TO RENOVATE AN EXISTING LOCATION. YOU ARE CITY LEADERS CAN MAKE THIS A REALITY BY SUPPORTING FUNDING FOR THE CRISIS CENTER. WE CAN ACT NOW AND STRENGTHEN LOUISVILLE'S MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, OR WE CAN DELAY AND CONTINUE TO HEAR STORY AFTER STORY ABOUT PEOPLE IN CRISIS WHO ARE FAILED BY THEIR COMMUNITY. IT'S TIME FOR LOUISVILLE TO BECOME A CITY WHERE KIDS IN CRISIS CAN GET IMMEDIATE CARE. 24 SEVEN. WHERE ADULTS IN NEED RECEIVE HELP, NOT HANDCUFFS, AND WHERE ALL OF US CAN BE PROUD THAT WE HAVE A CITY WHERE PEOPLE ARE TAKING CARE OF OTHERS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SHAWN SPENCER. THANK YOU. ARE WE ABLE TO PUT THE TIMER BACK ON THE SCREEN? WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW. THERE'S OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO HOPE IT WORKS FOR YOU. IF NOT, JUST GIVE ME A WAVE. OKAY. FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I KNOW I CALLED KIND OF LATE TO GET ON THE LIST. THAT WAS DUE TO MY DAUGHTER'S [00:50:06] SURGERY. SO THE PEOPLE THAT DID REACH OUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. I AM HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE CENTER AND OUR PROPOSAL FOR A MID-YEAR BUDGET. ASK OF $988,000. THIS IS DOWN FROM THE 2.1 MILLION THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE BUDGET MEETING IN JUNE. IS WHAT I WAS HERE ORIGINALLY TO TALK ABOUT. I'M CHANGING IT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT HAS NOT CAME FROM THE WEST LOUISVILLE DREAM TEAM, THE TENANTS, NOT EVEN FROM TARC. SO I WANT TO GO BACK AND I WANT TO CLARIFY SOME OF THIS JUST SO THAT EVERYONE IS ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND EVERYONE HEARS ALL OF THE SAME INFORMATION AT THE SAME TIME. OKAY. FIRST, THANK YOU TO THE METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT FROM THE BEGINNING. TAMMY HAWKINS, SHAMEKA PARRISH WRIGHT, JP LEININGER, JENNIFER CHAPPELL, DONNA PURVIS, THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE NIA CENTER IN YOUR FORETHOUGHT, FOR RESEARCHING AND FOR SUPPORTING COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP. COUNCILWOMAN HAWKINS PARRISH RIGHT. KEN HERNDON, EVEN REPRESENTATIVE JOSH WATKINS, MISS DONNA PURVIS, THANK YOU FOR VISITING THE BUILDING. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT WHAT DOES AND DOES NOT GO ON IN THE BUILDING WITHOUT ACTUALLY COMING TO THE BUILDING. SO NO MATTER WHAT SIDE, IF YOU'RE SUPPORTING OR AGAINST US, WE APPRECIATE YOU AT LEAST TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR SCHEDULE TO COME DOWN AND LOOK FOR YOURSELF. THE PURPOSE OF THE NIA CENTER THAT OPENED IN 1998 WAS TO RECTIFY SOME OF THE DISCRIMINATORY WRONGS THAT THIS CITY HAS IMPACTED AND PLACED ON A CERTAIN POPULATION, NOT NECESSARILY JUST BLACK PEOPLE, WOMEN, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PEOPLE IN LOWER SOCIAL ECONOMIC CLASSES. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT JUST A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD THING. THE PURPOSE OF THE NIA CENTER WAS TRANSPORTATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS ON THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THE BUILDING. THAT IS ONLY 25% OF THE PURPOSE OF THE NIA CENTER. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT. BUT THE NIA CENTER'S 100% PURPOSE WAS TO SERVE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROJECT, WE OPENED UP A PETITION. WE HAVE OVER 2000 SIGNATURES ONLINE AND IN WET COPY, WET COPY, 600 COMING FROM ALL ZIP CODES. 4020508 TEN FOUR 620 327 11 1514 THREE 17 1618, 25, 58, 22, 99, 1912, 401654713, OH FOUR, 0059, 0047 AND 40291. TRY TO GET YOUR ATTENTION. WAS IT 10S? YES. AND YOUR TIME IS UP. I'M SO SORRY I TRIED TO GET YOUR ATTENTION. OKAY. DOES ANYBODY ELSE KEEPING TRACK TO MAKE SURE THAT TIME. YEAH. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO SAY COME OUT. THERE HAVE BEEN SUCCESS STORIES. TONI LEVY OWNS A WHOLE BUILDING IN WEST LOUISVILLE NOW, WHICH IS A SUCCESS STORY. THERE'S BUSINESSES LIKE MINE, A PRINT CENTER, THE ONLY PRINT CENTER IN WEST LOUISVILLE, MA'AM. AND FOR EVERYBODY WHO SUPPORTS COMMUNITY LED OWNERSHIP, MA'AM, DEVELOPMENT. STAND UP. RUTH AND SHUMATE READ. SUPPORT COMMUNITY. YES. ALL OUR BUSINESS. SUPPORT COMMUNITY. IF YOU WATCH ME, I'LL GIVE YOU A 32ND WARNING. IF YOU WATCH ME, I'LL GIVE YOU A 32ND. OH. I'M GOOD. JUST TELL ME WHEN I'M READY. ARE YOU READY FOR ME? OKAY, WONDERFUL. WELL, FIRST, I WANT TO THANK METRO COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC OF AMENDING THE MASK ORDINANCE. I'M FIRMLY AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT. AND JUST TO SPEAK FIRST, ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, AFTER MONTHS OF THE LEFT DEMONIZING ICE AND COMPARING ICE TO THE GESTAPO INTO NAZIS, THEY HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED AT AN ALARMING RATE. AND AS HAS BEEN STATED BEFORE BY METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THIS AMENDMENT, ICE IMMIGRATION CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT IS A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND IS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NOT STATE OR LOCAL JURISDICTION, THUS MAKING THE AMENDMENT THE AMENDED ORDINANCE NOT ENFORCEABLE. IF, AS WAS SUGGESTED BY COUNCILMAN LINENGER, THE SPONSOR OF THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT, THAT THE [00:55:03] ICE AGENTS COULD BE ORDERED BY LMPD OR ANY OTHER LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO REMOVE THEIR MASK. IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, THAT WOULD BE SETTING UP A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THE FEDERAL AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. IF SUCH A SCENARIO WERE TO OCCUR, MORE THAN LIKELY, THAT WOULD HAVE REPERCUSSIONS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD, AMONG OTHER ACTIONS, IMPACT JEFFERSON COUNTY FINANCIALLY. BOTTOM LINE WE AS CITIZENS OF LOUISVILLE, UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT. IT IS TO CREATE CHAOS AND IT IS AN AGENDA. IT IS TO DEMONIZE. IT IS TO DEMONIZE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND IN THIS CASE, SPECIFICALLY OUR FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, ICE, WHO, LIKE IT OR NOT, ARE TO REMOVE ILLEGAL ALIENS FROM OUR COUNTRY. IF YOU VOTE YES TO AMEND THIS ORDINANCE, YOU ARE STATING THAT ICE OFFICERS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO WEAR A MASK, THUS ALLOWING THE ICE OFFICERS AND HIS OR HER FAMILY TO BE DOXED AND PLACED THEIR LIVES IN GREAT DANGER. AS A CITIZEN IN LOUISVILLE AND SPECIFICALLY METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX, I ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS AMENDMENT TO THE MASK ORDINANCE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ANDREA PARR. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ANDREA PARR AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE. I'M CALLING ON THE COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON THE MASK BAN AMENDMENT. YOUR VOTE CAN PROTECT PUBLIC TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF LOUISVILLE. JUST WEEKS AGO, THE HERALD-LEADER REPORTED THAT 5% OF KENTUCKIANS ARE IMMIGRANTS, CONTRIBUTING $14 BILLION EACH YEAR IN ECONOMIC INPUT. TO MAKE THESE NUMBERS REAL FOR US, IMMIGRANTS MAKE UP 1 IN 13 KENTUCKY BUSINESS OWNERS, 1 IN 10 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, 1 IN 6 DOCTORS AND 1 IN 4 SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS. IMMIGRANTS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. THERE ARE NEIGHBORS LIKE THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER FROM INDIA, WHO CAME HERE FOR A FELLOWSHIP AND STAYED BECAUSE SHE LOVED THE CITY, OR THE CHILD OF GUATEMALAN IMMIGRANTS WHO STARTED A BAKERY WITH HER HUSBAND AND NOW HELPS NEIGHBORS START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHOSEN LOUISVILLE AS THEIR HOME AND WORK HARD TO HELP OUR CITY GROW, AND WE SHOULD HONOR AND RESPECT THAT. I'M NOT HERE TO TELL YOU THAT ICE RAIDS ARE VIOLENT, CRUEL, AND INEFFECTIVE, BUT PLEASE CONSIDER HOW THE ABSENCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY CREATES TERROR. THAT IN TURN HURTS OUR BOTTOM LINE. IT MAKES PEOPLE AFRAID. AFRAID TO GO TO WORK, AFRAID TO GO TO SCHOOL, AFRAID TO GO TO THE DOCTOR. AFRAID TO GO TO CHURCH. I'VE SEEN THE POLICE BUDGET THAT THIS COUNCIL PASSED. OUR COUNCIL IS CONCERNED WITH CRIME AND SO WE MUST BE AWARE OF THE INCREASED POTENTIAL. FOR IMPERSONATION, ROBBERY, ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC TERROR IF THIS AMENDMENT IS NOT PASSED RIGHT NOW, THE FBI IS TELLING AGENTS TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES, AND THAT FAILURE TO DO SO CREATES CRIMINAL OPPORTUNITY AND ERODES PUBLIC TRUST. THERE HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED CASES OF SUCH IMPERSONATIONS. WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE FACELESS AND NAMELESS, THE DAMAGE IS INEVITABLE. YOU'RE ALL HERE AS PUBLIC SERVANTS AND AS PUBLIC SERVANTS. I HAVE FAITH IN YOUR OUTRAGE THAT THE DOJ REPORT THAT DETAILED THE HUNDREDS OF OF THE HUNDREDS OF CHICAGO RESIDENTS WHO WERE ABDUCTED, LESS 97% HAD NO CRIMINAL RECORD. NO ONE IN THIS ROOM HAS A JOB WHERE A 3% FAILURE OR ACCEPTANCE OR 3% ACCURACY RATE WAS ACCEPTABLE BY ALLOWING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO CONCEAL THEIR IDENTITIES AND AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY, WE EXPOSE OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS TO THE SAME DANGERS BECAUSE WITHOUT POLICE PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE IS NO INCENTIVE TO STOP SOMEONE, TO NOT STOP SOMEONE FOR JUST LOOKING LIKE THEIR NAME MIGHT BE ALVAREZ OR ALI. YOU'RE ALL HERE TONIGHT WITH YOUR NAMES AND YOUR FACES, BECAUSE DEMOCRACY MEANS THAT PUBLIC SERVANTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ALIKE BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE PEOPLE THEY ARE PLEDGED TO SERVE. I IMPLORE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. AND YASSER. AND YASSER. THANK YOU, [01:00:03] COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO MADE POSSIBLE THIS OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS ABOUT REMOVING FACE MASKS FOR ICE AGENTS. I THINK I'M GOING TO SAY A SHOCKING THING. MAYBE ADDRESS ONE OF THE ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM. I DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE CROSSED OVER A US BORDER ILLEGALLY. WERE THEY IGNORANT ABOUT BREAKING OUR LAW? DIDN'T THEY KNOW THE USA HAS REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION? WE ALL KNOW IGNORANCE IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW IS NOT AN EXCUSE. A PERSON CANNOT AVOID LIABILITY FOR BREAKING A LAW SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ITS EXISTENCE. AND IF WE COULD, OUR ENTIRE LEGAL SYSTEM WOULD COLLAPSE. AND WITHOUT THE RULE OF LAW, OUR NATION WILL COLLAPSE. OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS ENVIED. GENERALLY, IT'S A BEACON GIVING PEOPLE EVERYWHERE TRUST IN AMERICAN STRENGTH. DESPITE OUR $35 TRILLION DEFICIT. SHOULD WE FEEL SORRY FOR THESE IMMIGRANTS? BECAUSE MAYBE THEY WON'T GET GOOD HEALTH CARE OR HOUSING BACK IN THEIR HOMELAND. MAYBE THEY'LL SUFFER IN POVERTY. ANYONE WHO SUFFERS WILL ALSO HAVE A FELT NEED AND DEEP DESIRE TO CRY OUT TO GOD FOR HELP. AND GOD IS MERCIFUL. MAYBE GOD WOULD USE THEIR CRIES FOR HELP TO OFFER GREAT GIFTS AND WONDERFUL CHANGE IN THEIR HOMELANDS. BUT WHAT IF THEY'LL BE SEPARATED FROM THEIR CHILDREN? DON'T WE CARE ABOUT CHILDREN? AN IMMIGRANT WILL NOT BE SENT BACK TO A NATION AT WAR, OR WHERE THEY WILL BE PERSECUTED. WE HELP REFUGEES AND THEIR CHILDREN. I SORT OF DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR AMERICAN HOUSEPAINTERS OR OTHER WORKERS WHOSE BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN SEVERELY AFFECTED BY IMMIGRANT COMPETITION. SOME PAINTERS, SOME PAINTERS WHO HELPED ME SAID THEY DIDN'T RESENT MEXICANS AND LIKE THEM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY JUST COULDN'T MAKE THE LIVING THEY FORMERLY HAD MADE AND THEY COULDN'T PASS THEIR BUSINESSES ON TO THEIR CHILDREN. IT JUST WASN'T ENOUGH. BUT THEY WILL ENGAGE IN OUR CULTURE IN NEW AND IMPORTANT WAYS, AND GOD WILL HELP THEM. I FEEL SORRY FOR ICE AGENTS WHO HAVE UP TO $50,000 BOUNTIES PLACED ON THEIR HEADS BY CARTELS WHO RESENT THEIR WORK TO CAPTURE AND DEPORT DANGEROUS CRIMINALS. ICE DOES NOT TARGET PLAIN OLD UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE PROTECTED. NO, THEY DO NOT KNOW. THEY DO NOT. WHO? WHO ARE, BY THE WAY, WHO IS THIS? WE MAY NOT LIKE WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY, BUT SHE'S GOT A RIGHT TO SAY IT. THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE HERE. OKAY, SO LET'S HAVE SOME ORDER TO DEPORT. THANK YOU. TIME'S UP. THANK YOU. ALEXIS MCFADDEN. HELLO. MY NAME IS ALEXIS MCFADDEN. AS AN INCREDIBLY CONCERNED LOUISVILLE RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 26, I AM HERE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MASK AMENDMENT. WHEN I ATTENDED THE COMMITTEE MEETING ON MONDAY OF THIS WEEK, I HEARD MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND THREATS OF DIGOXIN. WHILE THESE COULD BE POTENTIALLY VALID AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE ENTITLED TO THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY ON THE JOBS THAT THEY CHOSE TO DO, DOXING IS ALREADY CONSIDERED A CRIME. ACCORDING TO KENTUCKY SB 267. FROM 2021, THE PERSONAL SAFETY OF OFFICERS IS ALREADY A CONSIDERATION. WHAT I DID NOT HEAR, HOWEVER, WAS ANY MENTION AT ALL OF CONCERN FOR OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE BEING RIPPED OFF OF THE STREETS, TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES AT LESS THAN A MOMENT'S NOTICE, WITHOUT ANY CHOICE OR DUE PROCESS. I FIND THAT TO BE ABHORRENT, IMMORAL, AND INHUMANE. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ALREADY HAVE ALL OF THE POWER. THEY ARE CURRENTLY ABLE TO HARASS PEOPLE AND ABUSE THEIR AUTHORITY WITHOUT ANY ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC. AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING MASK ORDINANCE WOULD ENSURE THAT IF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DOES ABUSE THEIR POWER, THE INDIVIDUAL WHOSE RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED CAN TAKE ACTION AGAINST THAT PERSON. I ALSO SEE THIS AMENDMENT AS A MEANS TO PROTECT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES WITH INTEGRITY. WITHOUT A WAY TO ACCURATELY DOCUMENT WHO WAS AT FAULT IN THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATIONS OF HARASSMENT AGAINST THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE WILL RESORT TO WIDESPREAD BLAME OF ALL OFFICERS AND ICE AGENTS, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY INCLUDE EXTRALEGAL MEANS LIKE DOXING. [01:05:01] AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING ON MONDAY, I ALSO HEARD ARGUMENTS ABOUT HOW LOUISVILLE HAS NO JURISDICTION OVER FEDERAL AGENTS. HOWEVER, IN KENTUCKY V LARRY LONG, A 1988 CASE IN WHICH AN FBI AGENT WAS ACCUSED OF COMMITTING TWO BURGLARIES. THE DECISION STATES THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT BE MADE TO TOLERATE UNDUE INTERFERENCE FROM THE STATES IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL LAW, BUT NEITHER SHOULD ANY STATE BE MADE TO TOLERATE UNWARRANTED INTERFERENCE WITH THIS DUTY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF ITS CITIZENS, YOU ALL HAVE A DUTY TO STAND UP FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS WITHOUT CHECKS AND BALANCES. LET THIS AMENDMENT. LAW ENFORCEMENT BECOMES TYRANNY, AND PEOPLE BECOME MORE AND MORE FRIGHTENED OF THE PEOPLE WHO SWORE TO PROTECT THEM. WHEN ICE AGENTS COME INTO OUR CITY, THEY NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS, ALLOWING THEM TO RUN AROUND KNOWING THAT THEY WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS IS INCREDIBLY DISTURBING. AND I, FOR ONE, DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE THAT IS SEEN AS OKAY. TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT, THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO PROTECT YOU AS WELL. IMAGINE YOU WERE ASSAULTED BY AN OFFICER OF THE LAW OR YOUR PARENT OR GRANDPARENT, YOUR PASTOR. WOULDN'T YOU WANT THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE JUSTICE? HOW CAN YOU DO THAT IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT OFFICER'S NAME? TO THE COUNCIL, YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE TERRIFIED. VIOLENT, ARMED, AND MASKED STRANGERS ARE CURRENTLY ABLE TO STAND IN THE PLACE OF DUTY BOUND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND PEOPLE ARE NOT SHOWING UP TO WORK. STUDENTS ARE NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL. WORSHIPERS ARE NOTABLY ABSENT FROM THEIR CONGREGATIONS. THESE ARE NOT THOUGHT EXERCISES. THEY ARE VERY WELL, VERY REAL ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING YOUR VERY REAL CONSTITUENTS. THIS IS A TIME FOR ALL OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL TO PROVE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THE DAILY LIVES OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AND TAKE TANGIBLE ACTION TO PROTECT THEM. I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE YES ON THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THAT CONCLUDES THE ADDRESSES OF COUNCIL. NEXT, WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF COUNCIL [7. ID 25-0723     Regular:  Metro Council – November 13, 2025] MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 13TH, 2025. ARE THE CORRECTIONS OR DELETIONS? I WAS PROMPTED FOR THIS. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED AS WRITTEN. [Committee Minutes] NEXT, WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, ALL IN 2025. THE REGULAR COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE NOVEMBER 13TH. THE REGULAR PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE. NOVEMBER 18TH. THE REGULAR LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. NOVEMBER 18TH. THE REGULAR GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, AUDIT AND APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE MEETING. NOVEMBER 18TH. THE REGULAR AD HOC COMMITTEE ON EFFICIENCIES OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. NOVEMBER 19TH THE SPECIAL PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING OF DECEMBER 1ST, THE SPECIAL EQUITY, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, HOUSING, HEALTH AND EDUCATION MEETING OF DECEMBER 2ND. THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS MEETING OF DECEMBER 2ND. THE SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING OF DECEMBER 2ND. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR DELETIONS ITEMS FOR THOSE IN FAVOR OF OF OF ACCEPTING THESE MINUTES? SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION HERE? NO. OPPOSITIONS. THE MINUTES ARE [Communications to the Council] APPROVED AS WRITTEN. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS TO THE COUNCIL? YES, SIR. WE DO. PLEASE READ THOSE IN THE RECORD. DEAR PRESIDENT AKERSON, I AM APPOINTING THE FOLLOWING TO THE ZOO FOUNDATION BOARD. DORMA MCKENZIE. A NEW APPOINTMENT TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 17TH, 2028. KRISTEN MAGLIOCCO A NEW APPOINTMENT TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 17TH, 2028. THIS IS TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD METRO COUNCIL APPROVAL. THESE APPOINTMENTS DOES NOT REQUIRE. SINCERELY, CRAIG GREENBERG, MAYOR. DEAR PRESIDENT AKERSON, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE, I'M APPOINTING AND REAPPOINTING THE FOLLOWING TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND BOARD. BRIDGET JOHNSON A NEW APPOINTMENT TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 31ST, 2027. KIMBERLY SICKLES REAPPOINTMENT TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 31ST, 2028. A YOUR PROMPT ACTION IS MOST APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, CRAIG MAYOR. DEAR PRESIDENT AKERSON, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT ORDINANCE, I'M APPOINTING ROBERT BLAIR A NEW APPOINTMENT. TERM EXPIRES JUNE 30TH, 2026. YOUR PROMPT ACTION ON THIS APPOINTMENT IS MOST APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, CRAIG GREENBERG MAYOR. DEAR PRESIDENT AKERSON, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ANTI DISPLACEMENT COMMISSION ORDINANCE, I'M APPOINTING THE FOLLOWING TERRENCE ELLIOTT. A NEW APPOINTMENT TERM EXPIRES JUNE 26TH, 2026. YOUR PROMPT ACTION ON THIS APPOINTMENT IS MOST APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, CRAIG GREENBERG, MAYOR. DEAR PRESIDENT AKERSON, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST OVERSIGHT BOARD ORDINANCE, TO APPOINT THE DIRECTOR OF THE TRUST TO ADMINISTER TRUST ACTIVITIES AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES OF THE BOARD, I AM APPOINTING JULIA WILLIAMS A NEW APPOINTMENT. YOUR PROMPT ACTION ON THIS APPOINTMENT IS MOST APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, CRAIG GREENBERG MAYOR. YOUR PRESENT ACCURACY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOUISVILLE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU ORDINANCE, I'M APPOINTING THE FOLLOWING JOSH ZICK A NEW APPOINTMENT TERM EXPIRES AUGUST 16TH, 2028. YOUR PROMPT ACTION ON THE APPOINTMENT IS MOST APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, CRAIG GREENBERG MAYOR. DEAR PRESIDENT AKERSON, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE, I AM APPOINTING AND REAPPOINTING THE FOLLOWING TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. REBECCA OSTRICH A REAPPOINTMENT TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER THE 29TH, 2028. ANITRA BEATTY BEATTY REAPPOINTMENT TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER THE 29TH, 2028 HELEN HACKER A REAPPOINTMENT TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER THE 29TH. 2028 BEN CECIL A REAPPOINTMENT TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER THE 29TH. 2028 SPENCER HEWITT A NEW APPOINTMENT TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER THE 29TH, 2028 LADONNA BARNETT A NEW APPOINTMENT TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER THE 29TH, 2027. YOUR PROMPT ACTION ON THESE, THESE APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENT IS MOST APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, CRAIG GREENBERG, MAYOR READ IN FULL. [01:10:02] THOSE APPOINTMENTS NEEDING COUNCIL APPROVAL WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AUDIT APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE. THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS ORDER OF BUSINESS B THE CONSENT CALENDAR CONSENT OR THE CONSENT CALENDAR COMPRISES OF ITEMS 24 THROUGH 34. ARE [Consent Calendar] THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS? DELETIONS TO WHAT, MADAM CLERK, A SECOND READING OF THOSE ITEMS. EXCUSE ME. THIS LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE. MADAM CHAIR, CAN I MOVE ITEM 35? ITEM 35. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO MOVING ITEM 35 FROM OLD BUSINESS TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR? SO I THINK THAT'S. YEAH. THANK YOU. JACK. THE OBJECTION KEEPS IT ON OLD BUSINESS. OKAY. MADAM CLERK, A SECOND READING OF THOSE ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION WAS FORWARDED FROM THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. ITEM 24, AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $8,600 FROM DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, A ONE ALL STORES, INC. TO FUND PUMPKINS IN THE PARK. HELD OCTOBER THE 18TH, 2025 AT PARKLAND PLAZA. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION WAS FORWARDED FROM THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. ITEM 25 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 091, SERIES 2025 RELATING TO FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 OPERATING BUDGET BY TRANSFERRING $50,000 FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUND METRO GENERAL OPERATIONSISVILLE DISTRICT NINE. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION WAS REPORTED FROM THE EQUITY, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, HOUSING, HEALTH AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE. ITEM 26 A RESOLUTION HONORING MR. ALAN STEINBERG BY DEDICATING THE CORNER OF PETERSON AVENUE AND GRINSTEAD DRIVE AS ALAN STEINBERG'S HISTORIC BCK HILL IN H HONO. ITEM 27 A RESOLUTION HONORING NANCY FLORES BY NAMING THE ALLEYWAY BEHIND NANCY FLORES AS NANCY KRESS ALLEY IN THE COMPANY'S HONOR. ITEM 28, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT $100,000 OF FUNDING FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY THROUGH THE BRIDGING GAP IMMUNITY, IMMUNIZATION, AND PREVENTION SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS. ITEM 29, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT $65,623.57 OF FUNDING FROM THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, CDPH THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT GRANT PROGRAM, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION WAS FORWARDED FROM THE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE. ITEM 30, AN ORDINANCE OF THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE REDUCTION OF BOUNDARIES BY THE CITY OF OLD BROWNSBORO PLACE FOR A TRACT OF LAND TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 5.555 ACRES, AND BEING AND LOCATED AT 7302 BROWNSBORO ROAD, RETURNING SAID TRACT TO THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE FORMER COUNTY OF JEFFERSON. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION WAS FORWARDED FROM THE LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. ITEM 31 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING OR APPROVING THE GRANTING OF LOCAL INCENTIVES TO PHYSICIAN CARE COORDINATION CONSULTANTS, LLC, AND ANY SUBSEQUENT ASSIGNEES OR APPROVED AFFILIATES THEREOF, PURSUANT TO KRS 154, SUBCHAPTER 32, ITEM 32, A RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO THE CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCES APPROVING THE APPROPRIATION TO FUND THE FOLLOWING NONCOMPETITIVELY NEGOTIATED SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT FOR LOUISVILLE METRO ANIMAL SERVICES TO PAY FOR SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES. ALLEY CAT ADVOCATES, INC. $90,000. ITEM 33 A RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO THE CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCES APPROVING THE APPROPRIATION TO FUND THE FOLLOWING NONCOMPETITIVELY NEGOTIATED SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT FOR LOUISVILLE METRO ANIMAL SERVICES TO PAY FOR BLOOD WORK ANALYSIS. DEVICE ID DISTRIBUTION, INC. $85,000. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION WAS FORWARDED FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. ITEM 34 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 149, THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES, TO AMEND THE DEFINITION TO EXPAND WHAT CONSTITUTES A PERSISTENT ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. PROPERTY READ IN FULL. ALL RIGHT, I'M PROBABLY BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. THIS REQUIRES A ROLL CALL. VOTE. MADAM CLERK, OPEN THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER. PERISH, RIGHT? YES. COUNCILWOMAN. HARVEST, ARE YOU ABLE TO VOTE? CAN YOU TELL ME? YES. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN RENAL WEBER. YES. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN JOSEPH. YES. PAYING ATTENTION. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. NOPE, HE'S NOT THERE. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE 25 YES VOTES. THE CONSENT [35. O-266-25     AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $50,000 $17,000 FROM DISTRICT 1 NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS TO LOUISVILLE METRO PARKS TO FUND THE DISTRICT 1 PARK ACTIVITIES ACCOUNT FOR A COMMUNITY EVENTS IN DISTRICT 1 SHAWNEE PARK TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2025 (AS AMENDED). 12/2/25 Special Appropriations Committee Amended; Recommended for Approval 11/5/25 Appropriations Committee  Held Action Required By: April 30, 2026 Sponsors: Tammy Hawkins (D-1) ] CALENDAR PASSES. THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS OLD BUSINESS. MADAM CLERK, ITEM NUMBER 35. AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $17,000 FROM DISTRICT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS TO THE LOUISVILLE METRO PARKS TO FUND THE DISTRICT ONE PARK ACTIVITIES ACCOUNT FOR A COMMUNITY EVENT IN SHAWNEE PARK TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER THE 27TH, 2025, AS AMENDED. ALL ITEMS PROPERLY BEFORE US. COUNCILMAN PARKER, THIS CAME OUT OF YOUR COMMITTEE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM? YES. THANK YOU. I KEPT THIS ON OLD BUSINESS BECAUSE. NOT BECAUSE I WANT TO KILL IT, BUT BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROCESS. SO IT IT IS ON OLD BUSINESS AS POLICY STATES, BECAUSE IT WAS AMENDED. AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO A PRESENT VOTE, WHICH WAS MINE. THERE, PER OUR POLICY, THERE WAS NO SPEAKER AT THE [01:15:02] COMMITTEE MEETING TO SPEAK TO IT. SO THAT WAS A PROBLEM. AND THEN ALSO THAT ACTUALLY ENDED UP KIND OF BEING A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, BECAUSE THAT GAVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME BECAUSE THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THIS ONE THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. WE NEEDED TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS COPACETIC. WE FIXED A FEW THINGS IN IT, BUT THEN IN DOING THAT AND THE DELAY THAT MADE IT A REIMBURSEMENT, WHICH IS ALSO WE'RE NOT TYPICALLY SUPPOSED TO DO SO THERE. HENCE, THAT WAS MY PRESENT VOTE. EVERYTHING'S FIXED NOW. SO MY ISSUE WAS MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS THAN THE END RESULT. SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE SPONSOR. COUNCILMAN HAWKINS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. SPEAKERS DON'T SHOW UP. I DID THE WORK OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO SEE. THE EVENT WAS SUCCESSFUL. IT'S OVER. AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. I SEE NO ONE ELSE IN MY QUEUE. THIS IS A ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES A ROLL CALL. VOTE. MADAM CLERK, OPEN THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARIS. RIGHT. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. HAWKINS, ARE YOU ABLE? OH, THERE WE GO. COUNCILWOMAN BASS. YES, MA'AM. IT DID. THANK YOU. ARE YOU ABLE TO VOTE, SIR? OKAY, FOLKS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A TALK SOON ABOUT THE SYSTEM AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO REPLACE IT. MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE 25 YES VOTES AND ONE PRESENT VOTE. THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED. MADAM CLERK, READING ITEM NUMBER 36. AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING [36. O-274-25     AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $6,500 $7,000 FROM NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER: $2,500 FROM DISTRICT 14; $1,500 FROM DISTRICT 13; $1,000 EACH FROM DISTRICTS 12 AND 21; AND $500 EACH FROM DISTRICTS 18 AND 25; THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, TO SOUTHWEST FAMILY MINISTRIES, INC. DBA EXODUS FAMILY MINISTRIES FOR FOOD PANTRY STAFFING, UTILITIES, AND SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD FOR ITS FOOD PANTRY (AS AMENDED). 12/2/25 Special Appropriations Committee  Amended; Recommended for Approval Action Required By:  May 13, 2026 Sponsors: Crystal Bast (R-14), Khalil Batshon (R-25), Jonathan “JJ“ Joseph (R-12), Dan Seum, Jr. (R-13), Betsy Ruhe (D-21), Marilyn Parker (R-18)] $7,000 FROM NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER $2,500 FROM DISTRICT 14, 1500 FROM DISTRICT 13, $1,000 EACH FROM DISTRICT 12, AND 21 $500 EACH FROM DISTRICTS 18 AND 25 THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO SOUTHWEST FAMILY MINISTRIES, INC. DOING BUSINESS AS EXODUS FAMILY MINISTRIES FOR FOOD PANTRY, STAFFING, UTILITIES, AND SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD FOR ITS FOOD PANTRY, AS AMENDED. READ AND FULL. COUNCIL. PARKER. THIS CAME OUT OF YOUR COMMITTEE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. YES. THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS ON OLD BUSINESS SPONSORS LOOKING FOR PROBABLY ADDITIONAL FUNDING. AND I WILL TURN THIS OVER TO COUNCILWOMAN BASS. COUNCILWOMAN BASS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. SO EXODUS MINISTRIES, THEY FEED ABOUT 100 PEOPLE. OF ABOUT A YEAR AGO. SO THEY DO A FOOD PANTRY IN OUR IN MY DISTRICT, WHETHER IT BE FOR POVERTY, ADDICTION, LACK OF EDUCATION, HUNGER, FORMS OF OTHER OPPRESSION. EXODUS KIND OF COMES IN AND THEY FILL THOSE NEEDS OF FOOD INSECURITIES. AND I WORK WITH EXODUS A LOT. WE'RE ASKING FOR SUPPORT WITH EXODUS TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR FOOD PANTRY IN THE DISTRICT, AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR 25,000. AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 7000, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY SUPPORT TO COME IN AND HELP WITH THOSE FOOD INSECURITIES. RIGHT. SEEING NO ONE ELSE IN MY QUEUE. THIS IS AN AUDIENCE REQUIRES A ROLL CALL VOTE. MISTER CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION. OKAY. COUNCILMAN PARISH. RIGHT. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. IT'S HARD TO GET IN THERE. 1300 FROM DISTRICT THREE. PLEASE. COUNCILMAN REED, YOU'RE NEXT TO MY CUE. 750 FROM DISTRICT 16. COUNCILMAN WOOLRIDGE, YOUR NEXT TO MY CUE. 500 FROM 24. COUNCILMAN BRADSHAW, YOUR NEXT 522. COUNCILMAN RENEE WEBER, YOUR NEXT. THANK YOU. 500 FROM D8. COUNCILMAN OWEN 500 D9. COUNCILMAN PURVIS, 500 FROM DISTRICT FIVE. COUNCILMAN HERNDON, YOUR NEXT TO MY CUE 500 500 FROM DISTRICT FOUR. WHERE ARE WE AT TOTAL WAS THE ASK. WE HAVE A NEW. THE CURRENT TOTAL IS $12,050. THE ASK WAS 25,000. OKAY, SO THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF ROOM. COUNCILMAN HAWKINS, WERE YOU LOOKING TO GET HIM BACK TO YOU? OF COURSE I WAS. I LOVE THIS 1500 COUNCILMAN CHICKEN. I HAVE MY OWN PANTRY, BUT I WILL HELP YOU GUYS IN IN IN YOUR AREA. SO, 500 FROM DISTRICT TWO. OKAY, FOLKS, I'M NOT SEEING ONE ELSE IN MY QUEUE. COUNCILMAN BRATCHER, YOU WERE ALREADY [01:20:02] CALLED. I'M GOING TO GO TO A THOUSAND. WHO WANTS TO BUMP ANOTHER 500? I BELIEVE ANYONE ELSE. YOU ARE AT $14,550. THE OTHER 10,004 50. AT 1500. YES, MA'AM. ONE SECOND. ANYONE ELSE? I'M LOOKING AROUND. I DON'T SEE OR HEAR ANYONE. COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY, DISTRICT SEVEN 500. ALL RIGHT. THIS WILL BE THE LAST. COUNCILMAN. CAN YOU ADD 500 TO MINE ALREADY, PLEASE? SONYA. LOOK IT AROUND. I SEE NO ONE ELSE. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A PROPOSED AMENDED ORDINANCE BEFORE US. MOTION. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF AMENDING IN OPPOSITION. WE NOW HAVE. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE NOW HAVE THE AMENDED ORDINANCE BEFORE US. THIS REQUIRES A ROLL CALL. VOTE. MADAM CLERK, OPEN THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARISH. RIGHT. YES. COUNCILMEMBER. HAWKINS. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE 26 YES VOTES. THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED. MADAM CLERK NUMBER 37. AN [37. O-278-25     AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,000 $12,250 FROM NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER: $2,500 EACH FROM DISTRICTS 9, AND 24, AND 25; $2,000 FROM DISTRICT 2; $1,000 EACH FROM DISTRICTS 16 AND 19; AND $750 FROM DISTRICT 15; THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, TO JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF KENTUCKIANA, INC. FOR JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT’S CURRICULUM MATERIALS (AS AMENDED). 12/2/25 Special Appropriations Committee  Amended; Recommended for Approval Action Required By:  May 13, 2026 Sponsors: Andrew Owen (D-9), Ginny Mulvey-Woolridge (R-24), Khalil Batshon (R-25), Barbara Shanklin (D-2), Scott Reed (R-16), Anthony Piagentini (R-19), Jennifer Chappell (D-15)] ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $12,250 FOR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER $2,500 EACH FROM DISTRICTS NINE, 24 AND 25. $2,000 FROM DISTRICT TWO. $1,000 EACH FROM DISTRICT 16 AND 19, AND $750 FROM DISTRICT 15 THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF KENTUCKIANA, INC. FOR JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT CURRICULUM MATERIALS, AS AMENDED. RIGHT AND FOR MOTION. SECOND, THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 37, RIGHT. NO. THIRD. YES 37. RIGHT. ALRIGHT. THIS CAME OUT OF COUNCILMAN PARKER'S COMMITTEE. COUNCILMAN PARKER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. YES. THANK YOU. THIS IS COUNCILMAN OWENS, AND I THINK IT WAS AMENDED BECAUSE WE ADDED MORE MONEY AND HE'S STILL LOOKING FOR MORE. YES. THANK YOU. CHAIR. I THINK COUNCILMAN ENGEL CARRIED THIS TORCH FOR MANY, MANY YEARS FOR FOR JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF OF KENTUCKY. MOST OF YOU KNOW THIS THESE PROGRAMS AS BIZTOWN FINANCE PARK FINANCE PARK ADVANCED YOU KNOW ALL THE THINGS. THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AND JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FELLOW NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A SUITE OF AGE APPROPRIATE LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR K THROUGH 12 YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. AND THE THREE THINGS THAT I JUST MENTIONED ARE KIND OF THE PRIMARY PLACES WHERE MOST OF US KNOW THEM. SO THEY'VE REQUESTED 50,000, HOPING WE CAN DO AS WELL AS WE CAN HERE. IT'S GOING TO REFLECT VERY POORLY ON ME IF I DON'T DO AS WELL AS COUNCILMAN ENGEL HAS DONE IN THE PAST. SO IF YOU GUYS COULD STEP UP AND SUPPORT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF KENTUCKY, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. OKAY, I HAVE COUNCILMAN HERNDON IS NEXT TO MY FIRST MY CUE 500 FROM D4. COUNCILMAN RUDY 750 FROM D21. COUNCILMAN MCCRANIE D7 1000. COUNCILMAN SEAN, I'M ALREADY I'VE ALREADY CONTRIBUTED. I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK OFF OF COUNCILMAN OWEN SAID. I'VE VISITED THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT SITE. COUNCILMAN, FORMER COUNCILMAN ENGEL REALLY KIND OF CARRIED THE TORCH HERE. AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN. MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR THEM. IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY. I REALLY WISH THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF IT WHEN I WAS A LITTLE YOUNGER, SO THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN JOSEPH. AS A SCHOOL TEACHER, I'LL SAY THERE'S NO FIELD TRIP LIKE AT JA BIZTOWN FIELD TRIP, AND ANY OF MY JC STUDENTS WATCHING WOULD BE WOULD BE AGREEING, I THINK. SO WE'D LIKE TO GET $500 IN DISTRICT 12. COUNCILMAN WINKLER, IN HONOR OF MY SON, WHO WAS THE PIZZA COMPANY CEO THIS YEAR AT BIZTOWN $1,000 PLEASE. COUNCILMAN HUDSON 1023. COUNCILMAN RINO WEBER. AS THE FATHER OF THE FORMER CEO OF DRB, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE $1,000. OKAY, COUNCILMAN PARISH RIGHT, YOU CHIMED IN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IN HONOR OF ALL SIX OF MY KIDS THAT PARTICIPATED IN BIZTOWN AND MY SON, WHO WAS THE MAYOR AND DISTRICT 3300. COUNCILWOMAN BASS, IN HONOR OF MY SON AND DAUGHTER. THAT WAS ALSO A PART OF THIS. I'D LIKE TO DONATE A THOUSAND. COUNCILWOMAN RAYMOND 500 FROM D10, PLEASE. I'VE GOT NO ONE ELSE IN MY QUEUE. I CAN ROOM [01:25:08] COUNCILMAN. SAME. THANK YOU. 500 DISTRICT 13, PLEASE. ALRIGHT, THAT'S THE LAST OF MY QUEUE. UNLESS SOMEONE'S GOING TO CHIME IN. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THIS ORDINANCE BEFORE US. DO I HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND? ITEMS BROUGHT BEFORE US. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. I ANY IN OPPOSITION? IN OPPOSITION. WE NOW HAVE THE AMENDED ORDINANCE BEFORE US. THIS REQUIRES A ROLL CALL. VOTE. MADAM CLERK, OPEN THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARISH RIGHT. YES. COUNCILWOMAN PURVIS. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE 26 YES VOTES. I BELIEVE SOMEONE WAS ASKING WHAT THE FINAL TOTAL WAS. THE FINAL TOTAL WAS ONE SECOND. IT IS $21,300. OKAY, MADAM CLERK, READING NUMBER 38, AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,800 FOR [38. O-282-25     AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,800 FROM NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER: $4,800 FROM DISTRICT 9; THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, TO LOUISVILLE FOLK SCHOOL, INC. FOR ITS FOLK MUSICIANS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM. 12/2/25 Special Appropriations Committee  Recommended for Approval Action Required By:  May 13, 2026 Sponsors: Andrew Owen (D-9) ] NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER $4,800 FROM DISTRICT NINE THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET TO LOUISVILLE FOLK SCHOOL, INC. FOR ITS FOLK MUSICIANS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM FOR COUNCILMAN PARKER, THIS CAME OUT OF YOUR COMMITTEE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THIS ONE'S ALSO COUNCILMAN OWEN, AND I BELIEVE HE'S LOOKING FOR FUNDING FOR THIS ONE. THANK YOU. CHAIR. SO THIS IS THE THE LOUISVILLE FOLK SCHOOL, THEIR GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SHARING FOLK AND TRADITIONAL MUSIC THROUGH ADULT CLASSES, PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AND YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. FUNDS FOR METRO COUNCIL WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT ARTIST VISITS TO NINE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE COST FOR EACH SCHOOL VISITS ABOUT $1,200, WHICH COVERS THE COST OF THE ARTIST FEE, AND EACH VISITING ARTIST WILL PERFORM FOR A TOTAL OF FIVE CONCERTS FOR IN SCHOOL. LAST YEAR THEY THEY WENT TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS SCHOOLS IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. DISTRICT 110, 18, TWO, 21, 24, 25, FOUR, FIVE, EIGHT AND NINE. THIS YEAR THEY'VE GOT LINED UP ALREADY AUBURNDALE ELEMENTARY AND DISTRICT 13. FOSTER TRADITIONAL IN DISTRICT ONE, I THINK. FOSTER TRADITIONAL. YEAH I SAID THAT SAINT MATTHEW'S PERRY ELEMENTARY KENTUCKY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, FIELD ELEMENTARY, CHENOWETH, BLOOM, LINCOLN AND COCHRAN AND ARE LOOKING FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. SO JUST LOOKING THE TOTAL ASK HERE WAS 10,008. AND I THINK WE'VE GOT ABOUT FIVE. SO JUST LOOKING FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE SUPPORT FOR LOUISVILLE FOLK SCHOOL, WHO WHO DO A LOT OF WORK AROUND THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CHAPPELL, YOUR FIRST MIKE. YOU SURE? I THINK IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION. BUT ALSO IN HONOR OF OUR PAGES TONIGHT WHO GO TO LINCOLN ELEMENTARY, $300 FROM DISTRICT 15. COUNCILMAN RUBY, FOR ALL THE KIDS IN SCHOOL IN D 21 500. I'M SEEING NO ONE ELSE IN MY QUEUE. I'M LOOKING AROUND. MISTER CHAIR. MISTER CHAIR. COUNCILMAN PARISH. RIGHT. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. MISTER CHAIR 750 FROM DISTRICT THREE, PLEASE. ALL RIGHT. AGAIN, I'M LOOKING AROUND. I SEE NO ONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE. COUNCILMAN KLINGER. THANK YOU, MISTER PRESIDENT. FOR THOSE KIDS AT COCHRAN ELEMENTARY AND MY GOOD FRIENDS WHO LOVE THE FOLK SCHOOL. $200 FROM DISTRICT SIX, PLEASE. COUNCILMAN HAWKINS, DISTRICT ONE 500. OKAY, I'M LOOKING AROUND. WE HAVE THE PROPOSED AMENDED ORDINANCE BEFORE US. ITEMS FIVE BEFORE. THIS REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSITION HEARING? NO OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW HAVE THE AMENDED ORDINANCE BEFORE US, WHICH REQUIRES A ROLL CALL. VOTE. MADAM CLERK, OPEN THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARISH. RIGHT. YES. DID WE MEET THE TOTAL? WHAT WAS THE TOTAL? COLLECT WAS $7,050. THERE WAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 3750. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COVER THAT? WELL, NOT AT THIS TIME. GOOD CALL, BUT I WILL. I WILL GIVE 300 MORE. OH. THANK YOU. WE CAN'T DO THAT UNLESS WE MAKE A MOTION TO REOPEN IT. OKAY, I'LL LET IT BE. OKAY. THANK YOU ANYWAY. COUNCILWOMAN PURVIS. YES. COUNCILWOMAN RAYMOND, THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE 26 YES [39. O-276-25     AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 35.005 OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING TUITION ASSISTANCE. 12/2/25 Special Budget Committee  Recommended for Approval Action Required By:  May 13, 2026 Sponsors: Barbara Shanklin (D-2),  Shameka Parrish-Wright (D-3)] VOTES. THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED. MADAM CLERK, READING ITEM NUMBER 39, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 35.005 OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING TUITION ASSISTANCE. READ AND FULL. SECOND, LET'S SEE HERE. I BELIEVE, COUNCILMAN KRAMER, THIS CAME OUT OF YOUR BUDGET COMMITTEE. YOU HAVE GOT THE FLOOR, SIR. IT DID. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THIS CAME OUT OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WITH A NO VOTE. THAT'S WHY IT'S ON OLD BUSINESS. THERE WAS A GOOD BIT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WAY THE CURRENT TUITION [01:30:04] REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM IS SET UP. AND AFTER THOSE QUESTIONS WERE ASKED, ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WAS WAS CONSIDERING POSSIBLY OFFERING AN AMENDMENT, AS I UNDERSTAND, THAT AMENDMENT HAS BEEN PROFFERED. AND SO I WOULD OFFER THE FLOOR TO COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY BEFORE. COUNCILMAN, BEFORE YOU TAKE THE FLOOR, MADAM, I'M SHOWING THAT THE SPONSOR OF THIS ARE COUNCILWOMAN SHANKLIN AND COUNCILWOMAN PARISH. RIGHT. WHICH I WILL GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THIS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE. WHICH ONE OF YOU LADIES WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS FIRST? IS COUNCILWOMAN SHANKLIN SPEAKING? COUNCILMAN SHANKLIN, ARE YOU HERE TO SPEAK TO THIS? THANK YOU. ON THIS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. I WENT THROUGH IT WHEN I WAS, WELL, PARTIALLY WHEN I WAS GETTING MY DOCTORATE. AND IT'S A GOOD THING AND I, YOU KNOW, AND I DO LIKE COUNCILMAN MCCRANEY'S IDEA. PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO IT. GOTCHA. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PARISH. RIGHT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS? YES, I, I DO SUPPORT THIS. I DIDN'T I LEARNED ABOUT IT, BUT I'VE ALSO BENEFITED FROM TUITION REIMBURSEMENT. AND I KNOW THAT THE AMOUNTS BEING ADDED MAKES IT BETTER FOR THE FAMILIES. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT WHO STILL QUALIFY FOR MANY SERVICES BECAUSE OF THEIR INCOME LEVELS AND, AND HAVE FAMILIES. AND SO I THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR OUR LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES. SO I FULLY SUPPORT THIS. AND I HAD NO ISSUES WITH COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY'S AMENDMENT. COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. THEY WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO OUR ATTENTION. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR A WHILE, BUT THEY PUSHED IT ON THROUGH. AND THIS IS TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. VERY GENEROUS TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. MY INTERN, AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED EARLIER, WORKED ON RESEARCH AND WE LOOKED AT SAINT LOUIS. WE COMPARED OUR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT TO A LOT OF REGIONAL OFFICES, GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN NASHVILLE, OHIO, CINCINNATI, NASHVILLE, MEMPHIS, AND SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, AND MOST OF THEM AVERAGE ABOUT 3000 TO $3500 IN REIMBURSEMENT. AND THEY DON'T HAVE AS MANY STIPULATIONS AS OUR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. SO TO GO FROM 2000 TO OFFERING 4000 FOR EACH EMPLOYEE IS QUITE GENEROUS. BUT THE REASON AND THE RATIONALE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS BECAUSE THEY WANT MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS, AND THEY THINK THAT THIS WILL BE A GREAT PROMOTION FOR THE CITY. AND I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY. MY AMENDMENT WAS TO TO SUGGEST THAT IF THERE'S A POOL OF MONEY REMAINING FROM THOSE WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT, TO ALLOW THOSE WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT TO REAPPLY FOR THE REMAINING BALANCE THAT'S IN THE BUDGET. AND THEY WILL ALSO DO THAT ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS AND DISTRIBUTE THOSE FUNDS EQUALLY. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WAS REALLY GOOD WITH SAYING THAT THEY SUPPORT THAT AMENDMENT, AND I AM ASKING YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THIS TUITION REIMBURSEMENT ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE MAKING A MOTION FOR AN AMENDMENT, CORRECT? I WANT TO ASK THE CLERK, IS THE AMENDMENT MADAM CLERK, SHE'S GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU. PLEASE, MADAM CLERK, DO I NEED TO FORMALLY MAKE THE AMENDMENT? YES, MA'AM. AND IT IS ATTACHED IN THE SYSTEM. IT IS ATTACHED. SO I MOVE THAT THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM ORDINANCE INCLUDE THE STATED MATERIALS IN THE MATERIALS THAT'S IN YOUR SYSTEM. THAT INCLUDES YOUR SECOND, SECOND ITEMS BEFORE US. COUNCILMAN WINKLER, YOUR FIRST IN MY QUEUE. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMEMBER, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THIS. I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, GIVING PEOPLE UP TO THE IRS LIMIT IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT SECTION D HERE, OKAY? AND I AM NOT A TAX ATTORNEY. SO I'M I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR INTERN DID THIS RESEARCH, BUT THE THE ONE THING I'M NOT SURE OF IS THE LAST STATEMENT THEY MAY QUALIFY TO RECEIVE HALF THE TUITION COSTS UP FRONT. IS THAT ALLOWED BY OUR IRS RULES OR DOES THAT MAKE IT TAXABLE INCOME. BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO START GETTING TAXED ON THIS MONEY. SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION OR IF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION. YES, I WILL THROW THAT TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, TO [01:35:04] THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. NATALIE. NATALIE, YOU GOT THE FLOOR. GOOD EVENING. NATALIE JOHNSON WITH THE JEFFERSON COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT OFFERING PARTIAL TUITION UPFRONT MAKES THAT TUITION TAXABLE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK AND CONFIRM THAT. MR. PRESIDENT, HOLD ON A SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WHO WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND FIRST, MADAM? YOU. WELL, I WILL SAY SUGGEST THAT THAT WAS NOT A PART OF MY AMENDMENT AND THEREFORE I CANNOT SPEAK TO IT. AND SOMEONE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WOULD HAVE TO BE MORE CLEAR ON THAT PORTION OF IT. THANK YOU. YEAH, AGAIN. I MEAN, I'M TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT ACCIDENTALLY THEN SUBJECTING EMPLOYEES TO A TAX HIT THAT I DON'T THINK WE INTEND TO. RIGHT. I DON'T THINK IT'S YOUR INTENT. CERTAINLY NOT MY INTENT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, NATALIE, IF, LIKE, YOU NEED TEN MINUTES TO LOOK AT THAT AND WE SHOULD TABLE THIS, MOVE ON TO ANOTHER ITEM AND COME BACK, OR YOU NEED, LIKE, TWO MINUTES TO LOOK AT IT, AND WE CAN DISCUSS. NATALIE, CAN YOU GET US A TAX OPINION IF WE GIVE YOU IF WE WERE TO TABLE THIS AND COME BACK TO IT AT A LATER TIME DURING THIS MEETING? NATALIE, WE LOST YOU. I'M HERE. WE LOVE IT, ANSWERED SADLY. YES. I'M HERE. YES. GIVE ME. LET ME SEE IF I CAN COME UP WITH A QUICK ANSWER FOR YOU ALL I GOT YOU BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS. THE QUESTION WAS, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD PROBABLY POTENTIALLY FAVOR PAYING FOR THE TUITION VERSUS HAVING SOMEONE PAY OUT OF POCKET WHERE THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. AND AT THAT TIME, IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME TAXABLE ISSUES, IN WHICH CASE THEY WOULD LOSE 28% OF THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT SITUATION. BUT IF YOU GET US AN ANSWER FOR THAT AND GIVE US A HOLLER BACK, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ISSUE. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TABLING ANY IN OPPOSITION FOR TABLING ITEM [40. O-283-25     AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 084, SERIES 2022, RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 CAPITAL BUDGET, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 080, SERIES 2023, RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 CAPITAL BUDGET, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 181, SERIES 2022, RELATING TO THE YEAR-END OPERATING BUDGET TRANSFERS BETWEEN VARIOUS AGENCIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022, AMENDING ORDINANCE 101, SERIES 2024, RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 CAPITAL BUDGET, AMENDING ORDINANCE 091, SERIES 2025, RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 OPERATING BUDGET, AMENDING ORDINANCE 092, SERIES 2025, RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 CAPITAL BUDGET, AND AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING YEAR-END OPERATING BUDGET TRANSFERS BETWEEN VARIOUS AGENCIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 AND TO PROVIDE VARIOUS TRANSFERS AS DETAILED HEREIN. (AMENDMENT BY SUBSTITUTION) 12/2/25 Special Budget Committee  Amended; Recommended for Approval  Action Required By:  May 13, 2026 Sponsors: Kevin Kramer (R-11), Markus Winkler (D-17)] NUMBER 39, MADAM CLERK, READING ITEM NUMBER 40. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 084, SERIES 2022 RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023. CAPITAL BUDGET AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 080, SERIES 2023 RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 2024. CAPITAL BUDGET AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 181, SERIES 2022 RELATING TO THE YEAR END OPERATING BUDGET TRANSFERS BETWEEN VARIOUS AGENCIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 2022. AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 101, SERIES 2024 RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025. CAPITAL BUDGET AMENDING ORDINANCE 091 SERIES 2025 RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026. OPERATING BUDGET AMENDING ORDINANCE 092 SERIES 2025 RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026, CAPITAL BUDGET AND AND ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE YEAR END OPERATING BUDGET TRANSFERS BETWEEN VARIOUS AGENCIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025 AND TO PROVIDE VARIOUS TRANSFERS AS DETAILED HEREIN. AMENDMENT BY SUBSTITUTION. READ AND FULL ITEMS BROUGHT BEFORE US. COUNCILMAN KRAMER, THIS CAME OUT OF YOUR COMMITTEE AND IS SPONSORED BY BOTH YOU AND COUNCILMAN WINKLER. SO I WILL GIVE FIRST YOU AND THEN COUNCILMAN WINKLER TO SPEAK TO THIS. THANK THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT I WILL OFFER A BRIEF SET OF BACKGROUND, AS I DID IN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE THE OTHER DAY. THIS ORDINANCE IS BEFORE US. TONIGHT STARTED AS A CONVERSATION ABOUT A CONTRACT THAT WE HAD ENTERED INTO WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE AT SAINT MARY AND ELIZABETH. THEY REALIZED THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TO COMPLETE THE CONTRACT THE WAY THAT WE HAD AGREED. AND THERE WAS OUT OF THE EIGHT PLUS MILLION DOLLARS, THERE WAS 5 MILLION THAT WAS UNSPENT. THERE WAS CONVERSATION BACK AND FORTH ABOUT SINCE THEY WEREN'T GOING TO LIVE UP TO THE CONTRACT, WOULD THEY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RETURNING THE ENTIRE AMOUNT? THEY HAD DONE SOME REALLY GOOD WORK AT SAINT MARY ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, AND THE WORK THAT THEY'VE COMPLETED WILL OFFER TREMENDOUS BENEFIT FOR THE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY. AND SO THE FEELING WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO SEE THE BENEFIT OF OUR INVESTMENT. AND SO THE THE AGREEMENT WAS THAT THAT WE WOULD SIMPLY NOT ALLOCATE THE FULL AMOUNT AND THAT UP TO WHAT WE HAD SPENT WAS, WAS SPENT AND THE REST WOULD STAY WITH US. AT THAT POINT, THERE WAS CONVERSATION ABOUT, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THAT MONEY THAT HAD NOT BEEN ALLOCATED. WHEN I REACHED OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND SUGGESTED THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO TO DETERMINE HOW TO DO THIS, HE COMMENTED THAT THEY WERE ALREADY WORKING ON THE YEAR END ADJUSTMENT, THAT IT WASN'T READY YET, BUT THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THEM TOGETHER. WE WENT AHEAD AND MOVED FORWARD. MY OFFICE OFFERED AN ORDINANCE I THINK I KNOW FOR CERTAIN. COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL'S OFFICE ALSO OFFERED AN ORDINANCE. IN THE INTERIM, THE MAYOR'S FOLKS WORKED VERY QUICKLY AND PUT TOGETHER A YEAR [01:40:04] END AMENDMENT, A YEAR END ADJUSTMENT THAT TOOK INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE MONIES THAT THAT WE HAD FINISHED THE YEAR WITH THAT WERE NOT YET ALLOCATED. AND SO IT WAS PROPOSED INSTEAD TO PUT ALL OF THOSE MONIES TOGETHER IN ONE BUDGET. THAT'S THE BUDGET YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. AND SO THE MAYOR PROPOSED THE YEAR END ADJUSTMENT. WE GOT THAT IN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. AND THEN THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS, COUNCILMAN WINKLER MET AND SPOKE WITH FOLKS ON HIS SIDE. ON HIS SIDE OF THE AISLE. I MET AND SPOKE WITH FOLKS ON MINE. WE MET AGAIN WITH THE MAYOR AND SUGGESTED PROPOSED THAT THESE WERE THE KINDS OF CHANGES THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE. AND THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS AN AMENDMENT BY SUBSTITUTION. IT TAKES THE MAYOR'S ORIGINAL YEAR END ADJUSTMENT, AND IT SUBSTITUTES IN THE ORDINANCE THAT COUNCILMAN WINKLER AND I WERE ABLE TO WORK OUT WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AND AND AGAIN WITH THE MAYOR. SO THIS CAME OUT OF BUDGET COMMITTEE WITH A NEAR UNANIMOUS VOTE. AND I WOULD THROW THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMAN WINKLER TO MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS TO WHAT I MIGHT HAVE MESSED UP. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU, CHAIR. KRAMER, I WOULD JUST ECHO CHAIR KRAMER'S COMMENTS AND JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR TO WHAT I SAID IN COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY, THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD THINGS IN THIS ORDINANCE, AND THERE'S FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS AND POOLS. THERE'S FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES. THERE'S FUNDING FOR 23 HOUR CRISIS CENTER DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, REALLY PRIORITIES ACROSS OUR CITY THAT I KNOW ALL OF US SHARE. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE THE SURPLUS. AND I THINK WE'RE PUTTING IT TO GOOD USE AND HOPE TO HAVE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE NEXT IN MY CUTE. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR BUDGET CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE THE BUDGET PROCESS WHEN WE DO THESE ADJUSTMENTS, THESE ARE COMPLICATED PROCESSES TO MAKE EVERYBODY'S VOICE HEARD. I THINK THE PROCESS ONCE AGAIN WORKS. AND IT YOU REALLY DO SEE EVERYBODY'S VOICE HEARD THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND JUST APPRECIATE US STICKING TO THAT WHENEVER THESE THINGS. THE BUDGET IS A IS, YOU KNOW, MIGHT ARGUABLY BE THE MOST COMPLICATED THING WE HAVE TO HANDLE AS A COUNCIL EVERY YEAR. AND WHEN THERE'S ADJUSTMENTS TO IT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE STICK TO IT. SO JUST WANTED TO THANK BOTH THE CHAIR AND THE VICE CHAIR FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND THE MAYOR'S COLLABORATION IN WORKING THROUGH THIS WITH US. SO THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I'VE GOT NO ONE ELSE IN MY QUEUE. I'M LOOKING AROUND. COUNCILWOMAN SHANKLIN, YOU'VE GOT MY FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMAN WINKLER AND COUNCILMAN KRAMER FOR WORKING WITH. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE MAYOR. I FOUGHT SO LONG TO GET MONEY FOR THAT COMMUNITY CENTER. AND THE MAYOR PUT $1 MILLION IN THERE, AND THEY CAME BACK AND PUT ANOTHER 500,000 IN THERE. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD. I'M EXCITED, AND I JUST APPRECIATE IT AND HOPE THAT EVERYBODY WILL VOTE FOR THIS. AND ALSO, THEY ACTUALLY PUT 250,000 MORE IN THERE TO CARE, WHICH I WORK WITH ALL THE TIME. AND IT MEANT A LOT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE NEEDING FOOD. AND AS OF MONDAY, WE'LL BE GIVING OUT FOOD AGAIN AND YOU'LL BE SURPRISED. I WISH ALL OF YOU COULD COME OUT THERE AND BE A PART OF THAT AND JUST GIVE A BOX OF FOOD TO SOMEONE YOU KNOW, BUT IT MEANT SO MUCH TO ME TO SEE YOU GUYS HAVE PUT THAT EXTRA MONEY IN THERE FOR DARE TO CARE. SO THANK YOU AND I HOPE EVERYBODY VOTES FOR THIS. THANK YOU. MISTER CHAIR. I HAVE A COMMENT. ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD MADAM. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. I WON'T BE LONG. I SAID MY PIECE IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING. BEING ON THE BUDGET, I DON'T THINK THE PROCESS WORKS AS WELL AS IT COULD WORK. I DO BELIEVE IN MORE CO-GOVERNANCE WITH THESE THINGS AND MORE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC INPUT. AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE EVEN BEING ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME WERE CONTACTED AND WORKED THIS OUT WITH. I DO TRUST THAT THE VICE CHAIR AND THE THE VICE CHAIR AND THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE HAS THE BEST INTEREST. I DO THINK THAT IT FUNDS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS, ESPECIALLY THE PROMISES MADE THAT WERE ALREADY THERE. I DO THAT, AND IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW COUNCILWOMAN SHANKLIN AND AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO SEEM NEGATIVE. I DO THINK WE NEED A BETTER, MORE INCLUSIVE PROCESS FOR THIS BUDGET PROCESS BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE COMMITTEE COMMUNITIES TO ANSWER TO THAT ARE ASKING US. WE JUST HAD SOMEONE SPEAK ABOUT THE NIA CENTER AND ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING. AND I KNOW THAT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A PECKING ORDER AND WE'RE ALL NOT INCLUDED. AND I DO FEEL LIKE COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL DID GIVE HER HER RECOMMENDATION EARLIER FOR HER AREA AND THE THINGS THAT SHE LAID OUT IN HER LEGISLATION OUTLINED HOW THAT MONEY, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T SPENT THE WAY [01:45:01] IT WAS SUPPOSED TO, IT WAS GOING TO BE USED FOR BIRTHING OPTIONS AND THINGS THAT BENEFIT EVERY ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS. SO I'M HAPPY I'M I SAID I WAS A RELUCTANT YES, I AM VOTING FOR IT, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T, ON RECORD SAY THE PROCESS IS CONVOLUTED AS IT IS, AND IT ISN'T PERFECT AND IT DOES NEED MORE ADJUSTMENT. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, AND I'M GLAD THAT THE GOOD THINGS IN THERE GOT FUNDED. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. YOUR NEXT YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I VOTED FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION IN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. I DID SO BECAUSE I WANTED TO SUPPORT DOCTOR SHANKLIN AND THE IMPROVEMENTS. THE NEWBURGH COMMUNITY CENTER, SOMETHING I TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME, IS THAT WE NEED MORE PLACES FOR OUR KIDS TO GO, PLACES WHERE OUR KIDS ARE SAFE, WHERE THEY HAVE POSITIVE INFLUENCES IN THEIR LIVES. AND THAT GIVES US THAT. THE CRISIS CENTER, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY FANTASTIC. THE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR FUNDING FOR DARE TO CARE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THIS MID-YEAR ADJUSTMENT, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT I CAN'T SUPPORT, INCLUDING LEAVING OUT THE NIA CENTER. I ALREADY SAID MY PIECE MORE BROADLY AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL, BUT I WILL BE NO TONIGHT. DESPITE, AS I SAID, MY SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT AND THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED BUDGET FROM THE MAYOR, COUNCILMAN WINKLER, YOUR NEXT. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. YEAH, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IN RESPONSE TO COUNCILMAN SHANKLIN, IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET, BUT I HAVE EARMARKED AN EXTRA $60 FOR A HARD HAT AND SLEDGEHAMMER FOR YOU FOR WHEN CONSTRUCTION STARTS AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. SO. COUNCILMAN PURVIS, YOUR NEXT TO MY CUE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. YOU WITHDRAWAL. COUNCILWOMAN HAWKINS, YOUR LAST IN MY QUEUE, AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. WELL, THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO SAY SHOUT OUT TO THE TO COUNCILMAN KRAMER AND COUNCILMAN WINKLER. THEY'VE DONE AN AWESOME JOB. SHOUT OUT TO THE MAYOR. I'LL TELL YOU THAT. MY COLLEAGUE THAT SITS BESIDE ME FOR THE LAST 3 TO 4 YEARS OR THREE YEARS, SHE HAS WORE ME OUT ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY CENTER. SHE IS SIT IN LITERALLY SELFLESS, ALLOWING EVERYONE ELSE TO GET THEIR ASK IN. AND IN THIS TIME, SHE SAID, I ONLY GOT A FEW MORE YEARS. YOU BETTER ASSIST TO GET THIS IN. THEY SAY YOU LOUD. WE GOING TO SEE HOW LOUD YOU ARE. SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION IN HER DISTRICT. I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE GETS THEIR TURN AND YOU KNOW YOU YOU GET YOUR TURN. I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN GET MAJORITY OF THIS COUNCIL TO VOTE FOR THIS. YOU KNOW, NO SURPRISE APPEALS. AND I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS MID YEAR BUDGET MAY NOT BE YOUR TURN. BUT BELIEVE ME YOU YOU WILL GET A TURN, YOU KNOW, DURING YOUR TERM. SO THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THIS SINCE 2009. SO HERE IT IS, 2025 AND I FINALLY GOT IT. SO THANK YOU. OKAY, SEEING NO ONE ELSE IN MY QUEUE. THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES A ROLL CALL VOTE. MADAM CLERK, OPEN THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER PERISH, RIGHT? YES. I'M SORRY. YEP. DO YOU HAVE A OKAY? MR. PRESIDENT? YOU HAVE. YOU HAVE 24 YES VOTES AND TWO NO VOTES. THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED, MADAM CLERK, A READING OF ITEM NUMBER 41. SORRY. OKAY. THE RESOLUTION OF THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT. KENTUCKY GIVING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF ONE OR MORE INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BOND FINANCINGS FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS INCORPORATED AND ITS AFFILIATES, AUTHORIZING INITIATION OF THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF AN INDUSTRIAL PROJECT [41. R-045-25     A RESOLUTION OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT, KENTUCKY, GIVING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF AN ONE OR MORE INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BOND FINANCINGS FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS INCORPORATED AND ITS AFFILIATES; AUTHORIZING INITIATION OF THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF AN INDUSTRIAL PROJECT RELATED THERETO; AGREEING TO UNDERTAKE THE ISSUANCE OF series of INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS in one or more series AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME; AND TAKING OTHER PRELIMINARY ACTION. (AS AMENDED) 12/2/25 Special Budget Committee  Amended; Recommended for Approval 11/6/25 Budget Committee  Held Action Required By: April 30, 2026 10/30/25 Metro Council  Reintroduced 10/23/25 Budget Committee  Held 9/18/25 Budget Committee  Held 9/4/25 Budget Committee  Held 8/7/25 Budget Committee  Held 6/23/25 Special Budget Committee Held 6/16/25 Special Budget Committee  Held 6/5/25 Budget Committee  Held 5/8/25 Budget Committee  Held Action Required By: October 24, 2025 Sponsors: Kevin Kramer (R-11), Markus Winkler (D-17)] RELATED THERETO. AGREEING TO UNDERTAKE THE ISSUANCE OF INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS IN ONE OR MORE SERIES AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, AND TAKING OTHER PRELIMINARY ACTION, AS AMENDED. READ IN FULL. SECOND, THE ITEM IS PROPER FOR US. COUNCILMAN KRAMER. KRAMER. THIS CAME OUT OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, SO I WILL ALLOW YOU AND THEN COUNCILMAN WINKLER TO SPEAK FIRST. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT, MR.RESIDENT. THIS ORIGINALLY CAME BEFORE THIS RESOLUTION ORIGINALLY CAME BEFORE US. CHURCHILL DOWNS WAS TALKING ABOUT DOING A MAJOR RENOVATION, $1.2 BILLION, AN INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BOND ALLOWS THEM TO TO DO TWO THINGS. FIRST, IT IT LEAVES LOUISVILLE AS THE PRIMARY OWNER OF THE PROPERTY FOR A PERIOD OF YEARS, WHICH [01:50:07] MEANS THAT DURING THAT PERIOD OF YEARS, BECAUSE WE OWN THE PROPERTY, THERE WILL BE NO PROPERTY TAX. THAT IS THE THE CURRENT STRUCTURE THAT THEY'RE UNDER. THAT STRUCTURE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR A COUPLE MORE YEARS. THIS WOULD EXTEND THAT OUT EVEN LONGER. IN IN THAT DISCUSSION, THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION CONTEMPLATED THE PALLET MONEY AND HOW THAT WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED. PALLET STANDS FOR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES. I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE MADE THAT CLEAR IN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING THE OTHER DAY. PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES AND WHAT THE THE WHAT THE THE AGREEMENT BEFORE US. WHAT THE AGREEMENT THAT THAT CHURCHILL DOWNS IS IN WITH THE WITH LOUISVILLE TODAY HAS HAS A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES THAT GOES TO JCPS TO TO COVER WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE GENERATED IN TAXES HAD CHURCHILL OWNED THE PROPERTY INSTEAD OF US. WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO US TO CONSIDER THE IRB, THERE WAS SOME CONSIDERATION ABOUT THAT PALLET, AND THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE WANTED TO CONTINUE WITH THAT STRUCTURE OR CHANGE IT. WHEN WE LOOKED INTO THE CHANGE, WE WERE INFORMED IMMEDIATELY BY JCP'S ATTORNEYS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE THAT PALLET LANGUAGE. RATHER, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY. AUTHORITY OR NOT. IT'S STILL UP FOR SOME DISCUSSION, BUT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FELT LIKE THAT WASN'T SOMETHING WORTH CHALLENGING AND WANTED TO INSTEAD WORK WITH JCPS TO TO REACH AN AGREEMENT THAT WE COULD ALL BE COMFORTABLE WITH. SO THE ORDINANCE. I'M SORRY, THE RESOLUTION IS BEFORE US. TONIGHT IS A RESOLUTION THAT WAS AMENDED IN COMMITTEE THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING THAT PALLET COME TO US AND BE DISTRIBUTED, THAT PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES WILL INSTEAD REMAIN WITH WITH JCPS. RIGHT? SO THE RESOLUTION SAYS THAT. BUT IN ORDER TO HELP SOME OF US FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE, THE MAYOR DID WORK WITH JCPS AND GET THEM TO AGREE IN WRITING THAT ANY ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT THEY RECEIVE RECEIVE AS A RESULT OF THIS PALLET, THAT REVENUE WILL BE USED TO FUND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. IN LIGHT OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN JCPS RIGHT NOW AND WITH THEIR CURRENT BUDGET SITUATION, THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT CUTTING SOME WHERE THEY JUST HAVE TO THIS RESOLUTION WITH THIS RB LANGUAGE ASSURES THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. THERE WILL BE MONEY FOR THAT THAT COMES FROM THIS. SO THAT'S THE I THINK THE THE BIGGEST PIECE OF THE CONVERSATION. I THINK THAT WAS THE THE BIGGEST HOLDUP AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL RESOLUTION GOES. THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS IN COMMITTEE ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS SUPPORT IN METRO LOUISVILLE IN GENERAL, THOSE I WILL LEAVE THOSE FOR MY FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO COMMENT. BUT THE RB ITSELF DOES DOES A COUPLE THINGS. FIRST, IT ALLOWS THAT WE CONTINUE TO OWN THE PROPERTY SO THERE WILL BE NO PROPERTY TAX. IT ALSO ALLOWS CHURCHILL DOWNS TO ISSUE BONDS THROUGH THROUGH USING OUR NAME. BUT THOSE BONDS BRING NO RISK TO METRO LOUISVILLE AT ALL. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTA THAT CHURCHILL DOWNS WILL BORROW THE MONEY. IT WILL BE THEIR OBLIGATION TO RETURN THAT THEY'RE JUST HAVING US OWN THE PROPERTY IN THE INTERIM. SO WE TAKE NO RISK HERE WHATSOEVER. I THINK IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS THESE KINDS OF DEALS ARE NOT ALL THAT THEY ARE SOMEWHAT COMPLEX, ALTHOUGH WE DO ENTER INTO DEALS LIKE THIS ON OCCASION. UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK PEOPLE SOMETIMES MISUNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEING PROPED. TS ISOT TAX RBHAT WILL ALLOW CHURCHILL DOWNS TO BORROW $1.2 BILLION, WHICH CHURCHILL DOWNS WILL THEN HAVE TO REPAY EVERY PENNY PLUS INTEREST. RIGHT. THAT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH US. WHERE CHURCHILL DOWNS SAVINGS COMES IS THE PROPERTY TAX THAT THEY WILL NOT BE PAYING US BECAUSE WE OWN THE PROPERTY. IT ALSO SHOULD BE POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THEY WILL NOT BE PAYING THE PROPERTY TAX BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING THIS ADDITIONAL WORK, BECAUSE THEY'RE ADDING THESE ADDITIONAL AMENITIES, THEY WILL BE EMPLOYING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS TO DO ALL THIS WORK. EVERY BIT OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE BY THOSE FOLKS IN CONSTRUCTION, THOSE THERE WILL BE A OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE FEE ON ALL OF THAT WORK. SO WE WILL BE GETTING REVENUE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING TO BUILD THIS TAX REVENUE. WE WILL ALSO GET TAX REVENUE FOR ALL OF THE NEW JOBS THAT ARE CREATED. IF WE [01:55:05] DIDN'T DO THE RB, WE WOULDN'T GET ANY OF THOSE ADDITIONAL TAXES, RIGHT? SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A BUSINESS DECISION FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS. THEY BELIEVE THAT THAT A $1.2 BILLION IMPROVEMENT ON THAT PROPERTY MAKES SENSE FOR THEM FINANCIALLY. THEY ARE LOOKING AT LONG TERM HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST THEM TO DO IT, HOW MUCH BENEFIT THEY THINK THEY CAN GET OUT OF IT. AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE IT IS VERY CLOSE ON THE DOLLARS AND THAT SAVING THE MONEY ON THE PROPERTY TAX IS ENOUGH TO MAKE IT GO FORWARD. WE'VE BEEN TOLD WE YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ARGUE WHAT YOU WANT, BUT WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT ABSENT THE RB, THE NUMBERS DON'T WORK. AND SO THE IMPROVEMENTS WOULDN'T HAPPEN. SO WHATEVER IMPROVEMENTS DIDN'T HAPPEN, WE WOULD NOT GENERATE THE REVENUE FROM THAT OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE FEE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS ACTUALLY NETS OUT AS A POSITIVE FOR METRO LOUISVILLE. I HOPE THAT'S NOT TOO MANY WORDS. BUT AGAIN, IT'S A IT'S A PRETTY COMPLEX AGREEMENT. AND COUNCILMAN WINKLER, AGAIN, I'LL THROW THE FLOOR TO YOU TO MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS TO WHERE I MIGHT HAVE STEPPED IN IT. WRONG. NO, I THINK YOU COVERED IT. WELL, MR. MAYOR, I THINK YOU COVERED IT WELL. THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD THAT I THINK YOU LEFT OUT IS THAT THE BONDS ALSO DON'T SIT ON OUR BALANCE SHEET SO THEY DON'T IMPACT OUR OVERALL BONDING CAPACITY EITHER. SO THIS IS TOTALLY OFF BOOK FOR US. AND THE ENTIRE OBLIGATION IS ON THEM. COUNCILMAN CHAPPELL, YOUR NEXT IN MY QUEUE. AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU. YOU ALL KNEW THAT I WAS A BIG FAT NO ON THAT BUDGET MID-YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENT, AND I SAVED MY COMMENTS ON THAT. SO I'M GOING TO TAKE UP A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME RIGHT NOW. ON A RECENT TRIP TO CHURCHILL DOWNS, I WAS FLATTERED WHEN SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES NOTED HOW SPECIAL MY RELATIONSHIP IS WITH CHURCHILL DOWNS. GIVEN THE RACETRACK IS IN MY DISTRICT, IT'S NOT A RELATIONSHIP I TAKE LIGHTLY. CHURCHILL DOWNS HAS TAKEN TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CONNECTION AND WE MEET REGULARLY. THEY HAVE SUPPORTED MY LAST FOUR BOB INITIATIVES AND WE'RE PLANNING ON PROVIDING EVEN THEY'RE PLANNING ON PROVIDING EVEN BIGGER SUPPORT FOR OUR NEXT BOB INITIATIVE. NEXT WEEK, I'LL BE JOINING NEIGHBORS FROM AROUND THE TRACK FOR THE ANNUAL CHURCHILL DOWNS HOLIDAY PARTY. WITHOUT BEING AN EMPLOYEE OR A GAMBLER, I'M AN INDIVIDUAL WHO UNIQUELY SPENDS A LOT OF TIME AT CHURCHILL DOWNS. MIKE, MIKE, MARK AND CLAIRE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP. I VALUE YOU. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHURCHILL DOWNS IS CERTAINLY NOT ONE THAT I WANT TO COMPROMISE, AND I HAVE NO INTENTION OF DOING SO. BUT AS MY FRIENDS AT CHURCHILL DOWNS KNOW, I'M VERY HONEST AND MY STANCE ON THIS MATTER HAS REMAINED THE SAME SINCE DAY ONE. AND IN N. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN CHURCHILL DOWNS INCORPORATED AND CHURCHILL DOWNS RACETRACK, KNOWN AS CDI AND CD. CHURCHILL DOWNS INCORPORATED, OR CDI, IS A PUBLICLY TRADED MULTI-STATE ENTERTAINMENT AND GAMING COMPANY. WHILE CHURCHILL DOWNS IS THE SPECIFIC RACETRACK FACILITY IN LOUISVILLE THAT'S OWNED AND OPERATED BY CHURCHILL DOWNS INCORPORATED. I WANT TO MAKE THAT DISTINCTION, ESPECIALLY AS IT SEEMS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE UNAWARE OF IT. BUT ALSO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHEN CONSIDERING THIS, I. THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMMITMENTS THAT CHURCHILL DOWNS HAS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, CHURCHILL DOWNS PRESENTED ME WITH A BREAKDOWN OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY. THIS ONE PAGER THAT I HAVE HERE, WHILE I'M GRATEFUL FOR WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN, I'M PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION TO YOU ALL SO YOU CAN SAY, IS THIS ENOUGH? $100,000 FOR NEW DIRECTIONS REPAIR AFFAIR. $6,000 FOR DISTRICT 15 BUILDING HOUR BLOCKS AND MERRIWEATHER, FORT HILL AND HAZELWOOD NEIGHBORHOODS. $67,000 FOR THE BACKSIDE LEARNING CENTER, 502 DAY GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS AND FOOD FOR NEIGHBORS ATTENDING DISTRICT 15 DERBY OURWAY MEETING $20,000 FOR SOUTH LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY MINISTRIES. $1,500 FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AROUND THE TRACK, WHICH WAS $500 TO LUCKY HORSESHOE, WILDER PARK AND TAYLOR BERRY. NEIGHBORS ARE INVITED TO THE OPENING NIGN APRIL 26TH. NEIGHBORS ARE INVITED TO THE HOLIDAY PARTY IN NOVEMBER. $40,000 IS WAS PLANNED AT THAT TIME TO GO TO THE KENTUCKY RACETRACK CHAPLAINCY, AND $5,000 WAS ALSO PLANNED FOR I WOULD RATHER BE READING. THAT'S A TOTAL OF $239,500. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS PROVIDED BY CHURCHILL DOWNS NOTE THAT QUOTE THROUGH CORPORATE GIVING OVER $13 MILLION IN CHARITABLE GRANTS AND IN-KIND DONATIONS, IS CONTRIBUTED ANNUALLY TO 800 ORGANIZATIONS. IN A LIST OF THE [02:00:08] 2024 BUSINESS FIRST PARTNERS IN PHILANTHROPY LIST, WHICH IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THEIR HANDOUT THAT THEY PROVIDED. CHURCHILL DOWNS IS RANKED NUMBER SEVEN AND CITED FOR GIVING A TOTAL OF $5,420,000 IN 2024. THESE ARE CONTRADICTORY NUMBERS, BUT NONETHELESS, I HOPE THAT THEY PAINT A CLEARER PICTURE. I ALSO FEEL LIKE IT'S WORTH MENTIONING THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR, I TRIED TO LANDMARK THE BELOVED OVER CENTURY OLD WAGNER'S PHARMACY THAT SITS ON CHURCHILL DOWNS PROPERTY, WHICH LOUISVILLE METRO AS A BONUS. IN THIS, ERB OWNS. IT WAS A BLOW TO HAVE THE RACETRACK AND THE ADMINISTRATION BE SO OBSTINATE IN ITS LANDMARKING. AND WHILE I'M EAGER TO DEVELOP THE LAND AROUND THIS LAND, THIS SHOULD BE LANDMARK. IT WAS A BLOW TO SEE HOW LITTLE REGARD WAS GIVEN TO THIS COMMUNITY REQUEST. NOW SHIFTING GEARS, LET'S LOOK AT CHURCHILL DOWNS PROFIT, ALL OF WHICH IS CLEARLY BROKEN DOWN ON THEIR WEBSITE SINCE THEY ARE A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY, CHURCHILL DOWNS HAS SEEN DOUBLE DIGIT PERCENTAGE INCREASES IN ANNUAL REVENUE SINCE 2022. THEIR REVENUE IN 2000 REVENUE WAS $2.73 BILLION. IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025, IT SHOWED $776.7 MILLION IN NET INCOME. THE SECOND QUARTER SHOWED 216.9 MILLION IN INCOME, AND THE THIRD AND MOST RECENT QUARTER SHOWED 77.1 MILLION IN NET INCOME. THAT'S $370 MILLION IN NET INCOME FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2025, NOT REVENUE. THEY'VE PAID THEIR BILLS, AND THEY STILL HAVE WELL OVER A QUARTER OF $1 BILLION FOR NINE MONTHS PROFIT. AND WE JUST FINISHED THE FALL MEET. AND THAT NUMBER IS SURELY TO INFLATE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT BY THE TIME THAT WE'RE RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR. AS NOTED IN THE JULY 23RD COURIER JOURNAL ARTICLE, THANKS TO THE PASSAGE OF THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT, CHURCHILL DOWNS EXPECTS TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT FAVORABLE IMPACT FROM THE TAX PROVISIONS IN THE BILL. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER MARSHA DAHL SAID THAT THE COMPANY'S ESTIMATING A 550 MILLION TO $60 MILLION IMPACT THANKS TO LOWER CASH PAYMENT TAX PAYMENTS IN 2025. WITH THESE NUMBERS IN MIND, ONE COULD SAY THAT IF CHURCHILL DOWNS WANTED TO UNDERTAKE SUCH A SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION, IT WOULD BE UNDER THEIR BEST INTEREST TO MAYBE SAVE THEIR MONEY AND BUDGET THEIR MONEY IN A MORE JUDICIOUS MANNER OVER THE NEXT THREE THREE DECADES, INSTEAD OF RELYING ON GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS. AFTER ALL, IF I WANTED TO PAY $3,426.88 FOR TWO TICKETS TO LAST YEAR'S OAKS AND DERBY TO SIT IN UNCOVERED GROUND LEVEL BOXES, I WOULD HAVE TO SAVE UP IN ORDER TO PAY THAT PRETTY LITTLE PENNY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO REMIND COUNCIL THAT IN 2018, CHURCHILL DOWNS PURCHASED AND DEMOLISHED ABOUT 100 HOUSES SURROUNDING THE AREA TO CONVERT THAT LAND INTO PARKING LOTS FOR THE TRACK. APARTMENTS ALONG OAKDALE AVENUE WERE ALSO DEMOLISHED FOR EXPANSION PURPOSES. THIS UNTAXED PARKING LOT IS ANOTHER BIG CONTRIBUTOR AS TO WHY THE PROPOSED ERB THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING TODAY WOULD ENCOMPASS 179 ACRES, 17 MORE ACRES THAN WERE PRESENT IN THE 2002 ERB. IT'S ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT WHILE DERBY HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT ALSO PUTS A HUGE STRAIN ON LOUISVILLE METRO DEPARTMENTS, PARTICULARLY LMPD, LOUISVILLE FIRE AND EMS. EVEN WHEN THE TRACK IS NOT IN BUSY SEASON. THINGS LIKE HEAVY TRUCKS FROM CONSTRUCTION PUTS A STRAIN ON LOCAL ROADWAYS AROUND THE FACILITY. LOUISVILLE METRO IS ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR FOOTING THAT BILL. IF I HAD THE ABILITY, I WOULD AMEND THIS RESOLUTION TO, IN THE LEAST, MAKE CHURCHILL DOWNS RESPONSIBLE. RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THEIR PORTION OF USD TAXES, URBAN SERVICES, DISTRICT TAXES. UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T OFFER ANY AMENDMENTS SINCE ANY AMENDMENTS, AS COUNCILMAN KRAMER POINTED OUT, NEED TO BE AGREED UPON BY CHURCHILL DOWNS AND THE ADMINISTRATION, ALL METRO COUNCIL CAN DO IS SIMPLY VOTE THIS UP OR DOWN. IF I ALSO HAD THE ABILITY, I WOULD URGE FOR THE LANGUAGE TO BE ADDED THAT DICTATES, WHEN APPLICABLE AND AS A PRIORITY. CHURCHILL DOWNS HIRES CONTRACTORS BASED IN LOUISVILLE METRO, NOT SOUTHERN INDIANA, NOT LEXINGTON, NOT ELIZABETHTOWN, NOWHERE ELSE. THERE ARE SPECIALIZED TRADES, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE TO COME FROM ELSEWHERE, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE LOUISVILLE BASED. IT'S [02:05:03] DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT THE EXACT NUMBER OF CHURCHILL DOWNS EMPLOYEES WHEN YOU FACTOR IN HOW MANY ARE TEMPORARY OR TRANSIENT, BUT IN THE VERY LEAST WE CAN THEY CAN COMMIT TO KEEPING THESE DOLLARS IN LOUISVILLE METRO'S ECONOMY. I'M ALMOST DONE, FOLKS. GIVEN THAT THE CURRENT ERB DOES NOT EXPIRE UNTIL 2033, EIGHT YEARS FROM NOW, I SEE NO REASON WHY LOUISVILLE METRO SHOULD APPROVE THIS LEGISLATION TONIGHT. SENDING IT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD WOULD GIVE METRO COUNCIL MORE TIME TO REVIEW IT, DO OUR OWN RESEARCH, PROVIDE FEEDBACK, AND GIVE CHURCHILL DOWNS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP UP AND SHOW WHAT REAL CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY LOOKS LIKE IN A CITY THAT NEEDS IT SO MUCH. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU OR I WILL BE IN 30 YEARS, OR IF WE'LL EVEN BE ON THIS SIDE OF THE GRASS, BUT WE CANNOT ALLOW ANOTHER GENERATION TO PASS WITHOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES. THANK YOU FOR MY KIDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. COUNCILMAN HERNDON, YOUR NEXT TO MY CUE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. GENERALLY SPEAKING, I'M FOR THE THOUGHTFUL, TARGETED USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO LEVERAGE PRIVATE INVESTMENT. OR, IN THE CASE OF CHURCHILL DOWNS IN 2020. IN 2002, TO STABILIZE A STRUGGLING COMMUNITY ICON. I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF KENTUCKY LEGALIZING GAMBLING AND FOR CHURCHILL TO OPERATE THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CASINOS SINCE THE SINCE THE CITIZENS OF LOUISVILLE, VIA THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, SAVED CHURCHILL DOWNS 23 YEARS AGO, A REJUVENATED CHURCHILL DOWNS INC. HAS PADDED THEIR CORPORATE PORTFOLIO BY PURCHASING APPROXIMATELY TEN PROPERTIES IN EIGHT STATES FOR AROUND $4 BILLION. NOW, CHURCHILL DOWNS WANTS ANOTHER FAVOR. I DO NOT SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY SIGNING ON TO A 30 YEAR OBLIGATION WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENTS AS ELECTED OFFICIALS. EACH OF US IN THIS ROOM ARE ACCUSTOMED TO MAKING COMMITMENTS TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AS PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THIS COMMUNITY. WE DO IT IN SPEECHES AND MEETINGS LIKE THIS ONE AND IN NEWSLETTERS. IN WRITING. I'M ASKING FOR A SIMILAR COMMITMENT FROM CHURCHILL DOWNS, IN WRITING IN DETAIL AND WITH SUBSTANTIAL PENALTIES ATTACHED, SHOULD THE TERMS NOT BE MET. TO ENSURE THAT THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS OF CHURCHILL DOWNS REMAIN IN LOUISVILLE FOR THE DURATION OF THE AGREEMENT? IF CHURCHILL DOWNS STAYS ON HURSTBOURNE LANE, WHERE ITS HEADQUARTERS ARE NOW, IT WILL COST THEM NOTHING TO DO, SO THEY JUST STAY. THAT BEING THE CASE, IF CHURCHILL DOWNS STILL DECLINES TO COMMIT TO STAY IN WRITING, WE CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT THEY WANT THE BACK DOOR LEFT OPEN FOR A REASON. CHURCHILL LEAVING WOULD NOT BE AS BIG A FINANCIAL HIT AS IF HUMANA OR UPS WERE TO MOVE. BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IF THE OWNERS OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY WERE TO MOVE ITS HEADQUARTERS TO ANOTHER CITY, THE INTERNATIONAL REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE DONE TO LOUISVILLE WOULD BE INCALCULABLE AND IRREVERSIBLE. WE NEED CHURCHILL DOWNS TO COMMIT IN WRITING TO STAY HERE. TWO OF TWO PLEDGES I CALL FOR, ONE FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS TO COMMIT TO STAY HERE. AND TWO, IF I MAY EXPLAIN. AT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE HEARING, CHURCHILL DOWNS REPRESENTATIVE THERE, WHO I GUESS WE DON'T HAVE ONE HERE TONIGHT, UNFORTUNATELY. I'M SURE THEY'RE WATCHING ON TV OR AT THE TURF CLUB ON THEIR COUCHES OR AT THE TURF CLUB. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE TOUTED THAT CHURCHILL HAD SPENT $10 MILLION REFRESHING ITS HURSTBOURNE LANE HEADQUARTERS, WHICH, EXCEPT FOR A FEW CONTRACTORS, ONLY BENEFITS ITS EMPLOYEES INSIDE THAT BUILDING. THEREFORE, MY SECOND ASK, IN ADDITION TO COMMITTING AND WRITING TO STAY HERE, I CHALLENGE CHURCHILL DOWNS TO COMMIT ANOTHER $10 MILLION TO DIRECTLY BENEFIT OUR HOMELESS CITIZENS AS WE SPEAK, THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS TELLS US THAT 620 PEOPLE ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS, ON OUR STREETS. THE MAYOR IS CURRENTLY LEADING A PROGRAM TO MOVE 250 OF THEM INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION. AS A THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR SAVING THEM 23 YEARS AGO AND FOR DOING THIS FAVOR NOW, I CHALLENGE CHURCHILL DOWNS TO DOUBLE THAT. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. COUNCILMAN LEININGER, YOUR NEXT MAC. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. ASKING A QUESTION TO YOU, DOES THE ABATEMENT PAUSE UNTIL THE WORK IS DONE, UNTIL THE WORK IS STARTED, UNTIL THE BONDS ARE DRAWN ON THE TESTIMONY IN COMMITTEE WAS THAT THE WORK WAS NOT GOING TO START IMMEDIATELY DUE TO FINANCIAL [02:10:02] CONCERNS FROM CHURCHILL DOWNS. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THE TAX ABATEMENTS ARE THEREFORE ALSO PAUSED. COUNCILMAN CRAMER, I'LL TENDER THE QUESTION TO YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. FIRST, THE ARB ALLOWS THEM TO TO TAKE OUT THE BONDS. THEY WON'T TAKE THE BONDS OUT UNTIL UNTIL THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE WORK. I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION YOU'RE ASKING, COUNCILMAN. YOU'RE ASKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX. TO COUNCILWOMAN CHAPPLE'S POINT, THEY WILL NOT BE PAYING PROPERTY TAX ON THAT PROPERTY FOR I BELIEVE. AND I'LL TAKE YOUR YOUR NUMBER. I'M I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME. BUT I BELIEVE YOU SAID EIGHT YEARS. SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES ON THAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS ANYWAY. SO IT IS SURELY THEIR INTENT TO START WORK IN LESS THAN EIGHT YEARS. OKAY. THANK YOU. NOTHING ELSE. COUNCILMAN WINDSOR. COUNCILMAN PURVIS, YOUR NEXT. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. JENNIFER, I HAVE TO ADMIT, I HARDLY EVER AGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT YOU SAY. BUT TONIGHT YOU SAID A HANDFUL. AND I KNOW THAT, COUNCILMAN CRAMER, IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THE CITY IS TAKING ON ANY FINANCIAL RISK WITH THESE BONDS. BUT HOWEVER, IT DOES MAKE ME QUESTION, WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO LEND OUR SUPPORT TO THESE FOR PROFIT COMPANIES AND FOR THEM TO GO EIGHT YEARS WITHOUT BEING TAXED ON THE PROPERTY? THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY LOST. I WISH I COULD GO EIGHT YEARS, BUT I TAX HAS BEEN ASSESSED ON MY HOUSE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS BASED ON YOUR STATEMENTS, WHAT I'M THINKING, WHAT I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THE CHURCH, CHURCHILL DOWNS, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE THEIR WAY WITH US. EVERY YEAR AT DERBY. WE LOSE ALL OUR POLICE OFFICERS OUT THERE FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY. AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE THE PRICING, IT MAKES IT ALMOST INCREDIBLE TO ATTEND OAKS, EVEN THURBY NOW DERBY RACE AND IT JUST IT JUST IT'S JUST NOT A GOOD FEELING TO SEE THAT THE RICH KEEPS GETTING RICHER. AND WE HAVE SO MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M FEELING THAT AND I'M JUST I'M JUST NOT FEELING REALLY COMFORTABLE ABOUT KEEP BABYING THEM AND GIVING THEM WHAT THEY WANT BECAUSE THEY SAY WE WANT, WE NEED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE ON THE. STOCK EXCHANGE. AND I LOOK AT THEIR STOCK PRICES QUITE OFTEN AND THEY'RE THEY'RE DOING QUITE WELL. SO I JUST I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CITY CONTINUES TO BE BACKWARDS FOR THIS FOR PROFIT ENTITY. SO AND CAN I ALSO AGREE WITH YOU THE STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE I THINK CHURCHILL DOWNS NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABLE FINANCIALLY TO THE CITY. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM ON THIS, BUT I'M I'M FEELING I'M FEELING SOME KIND OF WAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SHANKLIN, YOU'RE NEXT IN MY QUEUE. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I READ SOMEWHERE I THINK IT WAS THIS MORNING READING THE ARTICLE. DID IT NOT SAY I'M AN ASTON MARCUS OR EITHER KEVIN, THAT THEY WOULD PAY TAXES TO JC? THE MONEY WOULD GO TO JC AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR HOUSE TAXES, MY TAXES. I GOT BACK THIS YEAR. JC TEXAS WAS MORE THAN THE HOUSE WAS WORTH ALMOST. AND SO IF THEY'RE PAYING JC TAXES, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF PRESSURE OFF ALL OF YOU BECAUSE JC TAXES IS HIGH. SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE I DID READ THAT THIS MORNING. OKAY. COUNCILMAN HAWKINS, YOUR NEXT TO MCHUGH. YES, I'M A ECHO OUT FOR MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN SHANKLIN. YOU KNOW, CHURCHILL DOWNS. I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME. YOU KNOW, NOT PAYING TAXES. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. BUT REALLY, WHAT SADDENS ME IS, YOU KNOW, IS JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS IN $188 MILLION DEFICIT. MEANWHILE, WE DEBATING ON WHETHER OR NOT CHURCHILL DOWNS SHOULD PAY TAXES. YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S WHAT SADDENS ME. CHURCHILL DOWNS NEED TO BE GETTING JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OUT OF THE DEFICIT THAT THEY'RE IN. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN OWEN. YOU'RE NEXT IN MY QUEUE. THANK YOU PRESIDENT. SO I DO WANT TO REITERATE THAT THEY WILL BE PAYING A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES TO JC TO MAKE JC ENTIRELY WHOLE FOR THE FOR THE TAX BILL. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE IN THAT REGARD. I TEND TO BE SOMEBODY WHO WHO THINKS THAT [02:15:03] WE OUGHT TO BE A CITY THAT IS OPEN AND EASY TO DO BUSINESS IN, AND I TEND TO BE SOMEBODY WHO THINKS THAT IRBS ARE, FRANKLY, A PRETTY GOOD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL. I SAID DURING THE COMMITTEE MEETING, PRETTY CLEARLY, I THINK THAT I THINK MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS CITY, DON'T CONSIDER CHURCHILL DOWNS TO BE A VERY STRONG CORPORATE PARTNER WITH THE REST OF US. AND THAT'S BEEN THE CASE PRETTY MUCH MY ENTIRE LIFE. I HEAR PEOPLE SAY ALL THE TIME, THEY ONLY CARE WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE THE GATES, NOT WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE THE GATES. AND I WANTED TO, DURING THE COMMITTEE MEETING, TRY TO GET THEIR ATTENTION AND SAY, YOU NEED TO BE LISTENING TO WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. YOU NEED TO BE DOING MORE. I HOPE THEY ARE HEARING US. SOMEBODY SAID AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, YOU LOOK AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL AND YOU LOOK AT WHO THE SPONSORS ARE. IT'S NEVER CHURCHILL DOWNS, IT'S ALWAYS HUMANA, IT'S ALWAYS UPS, IT'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY ELSE. AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP, I DON'T PARTICULARLY THINK OF CHURCHILL DOWNS. NOW, TO BE FAIR, I WAS AT AN EVENT THE OTHER DAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS WHERE THEY SPONSORED AND HOSTED GOVERNOR'S SCHOLARS PROGRAM. IT'S GREAT. I'M NOT SAYING THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING, BUT THEY DON'T DO NEARLY ENOUGH. I WANT TO SAY THAT LOUDLY AND CLEARLY. SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS KIND OF HOPING WOULD HAPPEN BETWEEN THE COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE I THOUGHT I MADE MYSELF DAMN CLEAR, I THOUGHT MAYBE SOMEBODY FROM CHURCHILL MIGHT REACH OUT BETWEEN THAT COMMITTEE MEETING AND TODAY. CRICKETS. NOTHING. AND I WAS HOPING THEY WOULD DO THAT, BECAUSE HAD THEY DONE THAT, AND I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN SOME CONFIRMATION THAT THEY WERE HEARING US AND THAT THEY WERE COMMITTED TO DOING BETTER, I WOULD HAVE VOTED YES TONIGHT. BUT BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M GOING TO VOTE NO, WHICH IS THE WAY I VOTED IN COMMITTEE. AND IT'S FRANKLY, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY OVER THERE IS LISTENING. SO I'M GOING TO END UP VOTING NO WHEN I VERY EASILY COULD HAVE VOTED YES BECAUSE I TRIED. I WANTED ALL OF US TO GET THEIR ATTENTION, AND I DON'T THINK WE DID. COUNCILWOMAN RUBY, YOUR NEXT IN MY QUEUE AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I LIVED IN OAKDALE FOR 15 YEARS, AND I USED TO JOKE THAT NOBODY PARKS CARS IN MY YARD, BUT I COULD SURE SEE THEM FROM HERE. AND I WATCHED AS CHURCHILL DOWNS GREW, AND I WATCHED AS IT WENT FROM A RACETRACK INTO A CASINO, AND I WATCHED HOW NOTHING SEEMED TO HAPPEN OUTSIDE THE TRACKS FENCES. I CONTINUE TO SEE THAT TODAY. EVEN THE PARKING LOTS THAT THEY'VE GOT ARE JUST BIG FIELDS FULL OF GRAVEL, AND IT CONTINUES TO IMPRESS UPON ME HOW RUNDOWN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKS AND HOW THEY HAVE NOT INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY SURROUNDING IT. AND IT DISTURBS ME. I HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE THAT ARE STRUGGLING, THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT. $500 IS NICE. THEY COULD USE A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN THAT. THEY ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED. EVERY TIME DERBY HAPPENS, THEY WONDER ABOUT HOW THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GET HOME. I THINK A THANK YOU WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN $500. HERE YOU GO. I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE WORKED WITH THE PEOPLE HIRED TO WORK ON CHARITABLE GIVING, AND THOSE FOLKS TURN OVER REGULARLY, AND YOU DON'T KNOW FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT WHO'S THE PERSON WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE THERE? AND YOU DON'T GET THE CONNECTIONS THAT YOU NEED. COUNCILMAN CHAPPELL, I'M GLAD YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH THEM, BUT WHAT I FEEL LIKE IS THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING ANYTHING. I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS TONIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN, YOUR NEXT IN MY QUEUE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THIS CHAMBERS VOTING ON A VARIETY OF INCENTIVE PACKAGES FOR BUSINESSES. USUALLY A LOT OF THOSE TAX INCENTIVES ARE PROPORTIONATE TO THE AMOUNT OF TAXES THAT A COMPANY PAYS. DOUBLE OR TRIPLE WHAT IS BEING OFFERED HERE. MOST OF THOSE PACKAGES INCLUDE DISCOUNTS OFF OF OCCUPATIONAL TAX ON TOP OF PROPERTY TAX. LAND DEVELOPERS WHO ARE BUILDING RESIDENTIAL UNITS 80% PLUS BREAKS ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. AND THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'RE INVESTING $50 MILLION, $10 MILLION, $5 MILLION. I'VE ALSO HEARD HERE THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO HELP BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRYING [02:20:02] TO RECRUIT BUSINESSES TO COME HERE, RIGHT? IT'S A LOT OF WORK. AND THE MAYOR'S DONE, I THINK, GREAT WORK IN RETHINKING THAT AND TRYING TO RECRUIT OTHER BUSINESSES TO COME HERE. AND THEN I'VE HEARD MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CHAMBER SAY, OH, WE REALLY NEED TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES GROW AND BE SUCCESSFUL. I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE LOCAL BUSINESS THAN CHURCHILL DOWNS. OKAY. FOR ALL THOSE I LOOK, I BY THE WAY, I DON'T BEGRUDGE ANYBODY WANTING THEM TO DO MORE. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I THINK WE SHOULD PUSH ALL COMPANIES HERE TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE. BUT WHEN WE USE TERMS LIKE ENOUGH, THEIR FAIR SHARE, EXACTLY WHAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS THAT? EXACTLY WHAT PERCENTAGE IS THAT? AND THEN ARE YOU GOING TO HOLD EVERY OTHER BUSINESS THAT COMES IN HERE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR INVESTING A DOLLAR OR $1 BILLION TO THE SAME PERCENTAGE? AND OF COURSE WE'RE NOT. IT'S JUST THIS ENVY ISSUE. IT'S, OH, YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL. ERGO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAMMER YOU EASY TO MAKE AN OTHER OF AN ORGANIZATION BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THE POINT IS FOR THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I HAVE PILES OF STORIES OF I, A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE WHO EVERY MAJOR RACE CERTAINLY DERBY WEEKEND, BUT HE'S DONE THIS IN OTHER WEEKENDS WHERE THEY'RE BUSY. HE GOES AND RENTS A BUNCH OF TOWN CARS WITH SOME BUDDIES, ROLLS THEM IN FOR THE WEEKEND, MAKES THOUSANDS, IF NOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR HIM AND HIS BUDDY OVER THAT WEEKEND BY DOING NOTHING BUT SCHLEPPING PEOPLE AROUND WHO ARE WHO ARE GOING TO THESE EVENTS. HE DOESN'T GO, BUT HE MAKES A TON OF MONEY THAT PUTS FOOD ON THE TABLE, THAT PAYS HIS MORTGAGE, PAYS HIS RENT BECAUSE OF IT, $1.2 BILLION. THE AMOUNT OF CONSTRUCTION JOBS, PERMANENT PERSONNEL THAT ARE GOING TO WORK, THAT PAY TAXES, THAT WILL PAY THEIR MORTGAGES, PAY THEIR RENTS, BE ABLE TO LIVE A MORE SUSTAINABLE LIFE BECAUSE OF THAT. YEAH. IF YOU'RE A COMPANY THAT WANTS TO SPEND $1.2 BILLION IN OUR CITY, GIVE ME A HOLLER. BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU THIS PITTANCE OF A, OF A OF A CONCESSION COMPARED TO THE CONCESSIONS WE'VE GIVEN OTHER COMPANIES TO RECRUIT THEM TO HIRE IN THIS CITY. THIS IS NET NET, A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS CITY TO SHOW OFF, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, THE MORE THAT CHURCHILL DOWNS HAS GOTTEN ON PRIME TIME, HAS GOT NATIONAL COVERAGE. THAT IS ALL GOOD FOR LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. THE AMOUNT OF BUSINESSES THAT GO THERE TO SHOW OFF THEIR CUSTOMERS OR TO OR RECRUIT OTHERS TO COME HERE AND SHOW OFF PART OF LOUISVILLE'S LIFESTYLE. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PART OF IT. AND ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT RELY ON THEM, THAT FROM THEIR EMPLOYEES WHO PROCURE FROM THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES TO HOW MUCH CHURCHILL DOWNS DOES BUSINESS WITH THESE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, IT'S A TREMENDOUS THING. I WISH I WILL SAY TO COUNCILMAN HERNDON'S POINT, I WISH IT WERE SIMPLE TO SAY, LEAVE YOUR YOUR HEADQUARTERS HERE. HUMANA IS HEADQUARTERED HERE. THEY HAVE SHRUNK THEIR WORKFORCE SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND THEIR CEO HAS NOT LIVED HERE SINCE. THE LATE DAN JONES. I BELIEVE HE LIVES NOWHERE NEAR LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. RIGHT. SO WE CAN SAY THAT SOME COMPANY IS HEADQUARTERED HERE ALL THE LIVELONG DAY. BUT HOW DO YOU DEFINE THAT? RIGHT? IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFINE. AND I HAVE YET TO HEAR THAT CHURCHILL DOWNS, BECAUSE I ASKED THIS QUESTION, GIVE ANY INDICATION OTHER THAN THEY HAVE ZERO INDICATION TO LEAVE THE CITY. AND SO IT'S NOT A BLACK AND WHITE ANSWER ON. THEY'RE QUIET ABOUT IT, ERGO, THEY MUST WANT A BACK DOOR OUT. COULD JUST BE HARD TO DEFINE. CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE, BUT THEY HAVE EVERY. THEY'VE INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HERE. THEY WANT TO INVEST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. WELCOME. I'M SO GLAD THIS IS HAPPENING. THIS IS A COMPLETE NET POSITIVE TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY, TO THE WORKERS THAT ARE GOING TO WORK THERE. THE SALARIES ARE GOING TO BE PAID FROM LOCAL WORKERS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FARM OUT THESE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS. THEY CAN'T FARM THEM OUT TO CHICAGO. THEY MUST COME HERE AND WORK. OKAY. THE HOSPITALITY WORKERS THAT WORK THERE, THE LOCAL BUSINESS, SUPPORT THEM. THEY ALL MUST LIVE HERE. THEY WILL PAY HERE THEY WILL. THEIR LIVES WILL BE CHANGED BECAUSE OF THESE INVESTMENTS IN OUR CITY. SO GLAD TO SEE THIS HAPPEN. GLAD TO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE NEXT TIME YOU YOU YOU YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MISTER PRESIDENT. I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES. I'LL GO IN REVERSE ORDER AND START WITH MY [02:25:02] COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT 19. THE. CITY OF LOUISVILLE DOES HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PATTERN OF GIVEAWAYS TO CORPORATIONS, TO FOR PROFIT ENTITIES. I THINK COUNCILMAN PIACENTINI IS COMPLETELY CORRECT WHEN HE POINTS OUT THAT THERE AREN'T A LOT OF QUESTIONS ASKED. MANY OTHER TIMES, FEEL FREE TO LOOK AT MY VOTING RECORD. PUBLIC RESOURCES SHOULD BE FOR PUBLIC USE. OUR PUBLIC LAND SHOULD BE FOR PUBLIC USE. OUR TAX DOLLARS SHOULD BE FOR PUBLIC USE. THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE. AND SO MY HANDS ARE CLEAN, AND I DEFINITELY AM GOING TO HOLD THEM TO THE SAME STANDARDS. I HOLD EVERYBODY ELSE. SOMETHING THAT WAS MENTIONED BY COUNCILMAN OWEN AND I'M I AGREE WITH YOU ON A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID. ONE THING I TAKE ISSUE WITH IS POINTING OUT THAT THE PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES WILL MAKE JCPS WHOLE. THE PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES TO JCPS COMES WITH STRINGS, AND THOSE STRINGS ARE THAT THEY MUST BE USED FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. WHEN WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE CLOSING IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, WHEN WE ARE LOSING THE LAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SHAWNEE, WE CAN'T USE THAT MONEY TO SAVE KING. THAT DOESN'T CUT IT FOR ME. I DON'T THINK JC HAS MADE WHOLE. IF THEY DON'T HAVE CHOICE ON HOW THEY USE THE MONEY. ULTIMATELY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE WITH DERBY AND WHAT THE ATTENTION IT BRINGS TO LOUISVILLE AND THE BENEFIT THAT WE HAVE FOR THE COMMUNITY, THERE ARE EXCELLENT BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY. I LOVE DERBY. BUT DERBY ISN'T FOR US ANYMORE AND PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE KNOW THAT. I FORGIVE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT DIDN'T GROW UP IN LOUISVILLE AND DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE COMMUNITY ORIENTED DERBY USED TO BE. WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT BROADWAY USED TO LOOK LIKE FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE DON'T HAVE WHAT WE USED TO HAVE, AND CHURCHILL DOWNS ISN'T INTERESTED IN KEEPING THAT COMMUNITY FOCUS. FOR LOUISVILLE. WE DON'T HAVE DERBY. WE WERE IN OAKS. WE GOT PUSHED OUT OF OAKS FOR THURBY. NOW IT'S FIVE OH TUESDAY. THAT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK. MAYBE YOU CAN SEE A RACE IN APRIL. CHURCHILL DOWNS IS NOT A GOOD CORPORATE PARTNER. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN ALL OF THAT, WE DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE PUBLIC DECISIONS ABOUT OUR PUBLIC RESOURCES, INCLUDING OUR TAXES. THAT GOES FOR JCPS, WHO DOES HAVE THEIR HANDS TIED ON WHAT WE ARE GETTING IN THE PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES, AND WHAT WE ARE DENIED HERE IN LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BEN RENO WEBER, YOUR NEXT MIC. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO I, I SPEND MUCH OF MY TIME IN THIS BODY TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE PROGRESS THAT WE ARE MAKING AND HAVE MAKING AND RECOGNIZING THE GREAT WORK THAT IS BEING DONE IN ATTRACTING AND RETAINING BUSINESSES HERE. BECAUSE I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN GROWING THE PIE, I THINK THAT THE RESOURCES THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT THAT THAT WE CAN DO TO WORK UPSTREAM, AROUND DISCONNECTED YOUTH, AROUND THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AROUND HOUSING. ALL THOSE THINGS COME FROM A STRONG ECONOMIC ENGINE. AND I WAS IRRITATED WITH MYSELF THAT I HAD NOT RECOGNIZED THE INVESTMENT THAT CHURCHILL DOWNS DID MAKE IN SECURING THEIR HEADQUARTERS HERE. I DID NOT KNOW THAT WE CELEBRATED THAT WHEN IT WAS TEXAS ROADHOUSE, AND WE SHOULD HAVE CELEBRATED THAT WHEN IT WAS CHURCHILL DOWNS. AND THAT'S IT. WHEN I ALSO GOT THE ONE PAGER THAT COUNCILMAN CHAPPELL REFERENCED EARLIER ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS THAT CHURCHILL DOWNS WAS TOUTING, I HONESTLY THOUGHT THAT THERE WERE PAGES MISSING. I WAS LIKE, OKAY, COOL, WHERE'S THE REST OF THE ATTACHMENT? BECAUSE THE IDEA THAT A $70,000 DONATION TO AN ORGANIZATION CITED ON ONE'S OWN CAMPUS THAT ALMOST ENTIRELY BENEFITS THE FAMILIES OF YOUR EMPLOYEES, MANY OF WHOM ARE LIVING ABOVE THE THE I FORGET THE WORD. WHERE DO HORSES LIVE? STABLES. THANK YOU. AND WE'RE LIKE, OH MAN, LOOK HOW AWESOME THIS IS. THAT IS NOT AWESOME. AND THAT IS NOT A REFLECTION OF THE GROWTH OR THE INVESTMENT THAT CHURCHILL IS GOING TO MAKE HERE. I AM SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF THAT INVESTMENT. IT IS, HOWEVER, A RECOGNITION THAT I, LIKE COUNCILMAN OWEN AND HERNDON WANT TO RECOGNIZE, LIKE THE INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE THE [02:30:05] PILLARS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE REASON THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE HERE IS SO THAT WE CAN BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM, RIGHT? WHEN WE SAY YES, WE WANT TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES AND HAVE PEOPLE COME HERE AND WE PUSH THE START TIME OF THE OAKS BACK SO THAT EVERY RESTAURANT IN TOWN IS SCREAMING THAT YOU ARE GOING, YOU ARE SUCKING UP ALL OF THIS REVENUE. THAT'S NOT PARTNERSHIP, THAT'S NOT PARTNERSHIP. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT DAVID JONES SENIOR AND THE EXAMPLE THAT HE SET FOR HIS EMPLOYEES ABOUT WHAT IT IS TO GIVE AND CONTRIBUTE AS THE HEAD OF A LARGE PUBLICLY TRADED CORPORATION, IS IT A REQUIREMENT? NO. IS IT AN EXPECTATION? HELL YES IT IS. THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN HERE, CORPORATE OR INDIVIDUAL. AND I SAY THAT AS SOMEONE WHO IS MARRIED TO THE HEAD OF THE UNITED WAY AND WHO LOOKED AT THESE CORPORATE LEADERS, ALL OF THEM IN THE EYE AND SAID, WHAT ARE WE DOING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY? AND I HOPE IT COMES THROUGH SUPER LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THE ANSWER HERE IS NOT ENOUGH. NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS SORT OF MARXIST IDEA OF LIKE, EVERYONE'S GOT TO, YOU KNOW, CONTRIBUTE THIS SORT OF THING, BUT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT AS HUMANS, WE ARE IN AN ECOSYSTEM TOGETHER, THAT WE ARE ALL BETTER OFF WHEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND CHURCHILL DOWNS IS BETTER, WHEN PEOPLE THERE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES, WHEN WE HAVE WE INVEST IN YOUTH. AND THAT SHOULD BE AN EXPECTATION. ESPECIALLY IT SHOULD BE AN EXPECTATION WHEN WE ARE ASKING FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT. AND I THAT I JUST I HOPE THAT MESSAGE COMES THROUGH CLEARLY. I WISH WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO TAKE MORE TIME AROUND THIS THAN WE DID, BECAUSE I, I WANT THAT TO BE JUST CLEARLY HEARD FOR ALL OF US, BECAUSE WE ARE ALL BETTER WHEN WE DO THAT. AND THAT IS THE INVITATION OF THIS FOR ME. COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL, YOU'RE NEXT IN MY QUEUE AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. A FEW CLARIFICATIONS, ASIDE FROM THE HARDWORKING BACKSIDE WORKERS, NO ONE LIVES AT CHURCHILL DOWNS. AND IF THEY DO, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WHEN WE'RE. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A BROWNFIELD HERE, A VACANT PROPERTY, A DILAPIDATED PROPERTY THAT WE WERE THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING INTO AN ACTIVE PROPERTY WITH RESIDENTIAL UNITS TO COMPARE THIS RESOLUTION THAT OMITS CHURCHILL DOWNS FROM PAYING PROPERTY TAXES AND COMPARING THAT TO A TIF IS A LITTLE ABSURD AND A BIT OF A STRETCH. I'M ALSO TRYING TO DO MY RESEARCH HERE. THERE'S BEEN SO MANY THINGS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF PROJECTS THE THE PADDOCK JUST GOT FINISHED. AND IF YOU RECALL, WHEN THIS WAS INITIALLY INTRODUCED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A MUCH BIGGER PROJECT. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE THAT $1.2 BILLION WAS COMING IN. AND THAT PROJECT INCLUDED A TUNNEL UNDERNEATH OF THE RACETRACK THAT WOULD CONNECT THE GRANDSTANDS TO THE INFIELD, AND IT WAS GOING TO HAVE VIDEO INSTALLATIONS AND THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER THING, AND IF YOU RECALL, ONCE THE TARIFFS STARTED GOING INTO EFFECT, THEY DIALED BACK THIS PROJECT. I THINK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LESS THAN $300 MILLION PROJECT HERE THAT WE THINK IS ACCEPTABLE IN GRANTING THEM 30 YEARS FOR A TOTAL OF 60 YEARS OF NOT PAYING PROPERTY TAXES. SO I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND I'M SORRY THAT I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO TO GOOGLE IT AND PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. I ALSO WANT TO QUESTION WHAT MY COLLEAGUES THINK A LOCAL BUSINESS IS. I DON'T THINK THAT A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY IS A LOCAL BUSINESS. I DON'T THINK THAT CHURCHILL DOWNS IS A LOCAL BUSINESS. I WOULD CONSIDER THINGS LIKE MOOSE GUESTROOM RECORDS, JACK FRY'S, CARMICHAEL'S, OSCAR'S HARDWARE. I COULD GO ON AND ON. THOSE ARE LOCAL BUSINESSES WE JUST HEARD FROM ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THE PLANE CRASH. WHERE IS THEIR HELP? THOSE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES. THOSE ARE LOCAL BUSINESSES. WHERE IS THEIR HELP? OCCUPATIONAL TAXES. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF AFTER THE PADDOCK RENOVATIONS, WE HAD SOME SORT OF NUMBERS IN FRONT OF US, AND I APOLOGIZE IF THAT IS BURIED SOMEWHERE IN SOME SORT OF EMAIL THAT I DID NOT SEE. BUT WHAT WAS THE OCCUPATIONAL TAX BENEFIT FOR THAT PADDOCK RENOVATION? AND KEEP IN MIND, THE DERBY HAPPENS EVERY MAY. CONSTRUCTION HAS TO BE DONE ON A VERY TIGHT TIMELINE. SO THESE AREN'T LONG TERM JOBS. WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THESE PEOPLE AFTER THEY GET DONE WITH THIS PROJECT? AGAIN, THESE ARE A LOT OF TRANSIENT WORKERS. ALSO, YOUR FRIEND WILL ALWAYS MAKE MONEY ON THE DERBY. YOUR YOUR THERE WILL BE PEOPLE PARKING CARS AND SELLING HOT DOGS. AND WHILE THAT IS GONE BY THE WAYSIDE A LOT, THOSE PEOPLE ARE STILL OUT THERE. AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO MEET SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE, I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO OUR DERBY OUR WAY EVENT ON APRIL 20TH, AND THAT'LL BE HELD [02:35:02] AT THE SOJOURN CARLISLE CHURCH ON TAYLOR BOULEVARD. YOU CAN HEAR FROM NEIGHBORS. YOU CAN HEAR FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING MONEY DURING DERBY, PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED. AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS A RESULT OF DERBY, INSTEAD OF WHAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE THE TRACK. I INVITE YOU TO DO THAT, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE COLOR TO YOUR VIEWS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN HERNDON, YOUR NEXT IN MY QUEUE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU. CHURCHILL DOWNS COULD COMPILE A FLOW CHART LIST OF ALL CURRENT POSITIONS IN THE HURSTBOURNE HEADQUARTERS. FROM THE CEO TO THE INTERN AT THE COPY MACHINE. LIST THE POSITIONS AND SALARIES AND PLEDGED TO LOCK IN THE TOP POSITIONS AND OVERALL STAY WITHIN 5 TO 10% OF THE REMAINING TOTAL OF THE EMPLOYEES FOR THE DURATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF THEY WANTED TO START WITH A FOUNDATION TO BUILD THROUGH THE 30 YEARS. AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HUMANA. HUMANA. IF HUMANA WERE ASKING FOR THIS FAVOR, I WOULD BE CONSIDERING IT BECAUSE HUMANA IS EVERYWHERE. HUMANA IS A MODEL CORPORATE CITIZEN. UPS IS EVERYWHERE. BROWN-FORMAN IS EVERYWHERE. CHURCHILL DOWNS IS NOWHERE. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN MADE THE OTHER BY US. THEY HAVE MADE THEMSELVES THE OTHER BY NOT EVEN BOTHERING TO RESPOND TO COUNCILMAN OWEN AND OTHERS REQUEST THE OTHER NIGHT, AND THEY HAVEN'T EVEN BOTHERED TO SHOW UP HERE TO ASK US FOR THIS FAVOR. TO OUR FACES. THEY DON'T DESERVE THIS SUBSIDY AND I WILL VOTE NO. COUNCILMAN WINKLER, YOUR NEXT IN MY QUEUE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU. HOLD ON. YEP. COUNCILWOMAN PARISH. RIGHT. YOU'RE NEXT. AFTER COUNCILMAN PARISH. RIGHT. YOU'RE NEXT TO MY QUEUE, MADAM. AND YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. IT'S HARD TO GET IN THERE. THANK YOU. SONIA, I LOVE THE PASSION HERE. THE REASON. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M. I'M ALL ABOUT VOTING PATTERNS AND MAKING SURE WE STAND WITH OUR VOTE. MY THING IS, CHURCHILL DOWNS. IF THIS HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD CORPORATE PARTNER, THAT'S HAPPENED FOR A LONG TIME. WHAT PUT ME OVER TO A YES WAS SEEING WHAT JAKE COULD BENEFIT FROM. JUST SEEING ALL THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED WITH THAT. THAT IS MY CLEAR REASON FOR. YES. BUT I DO THINK EVERYTHING YOU ALL EXPRESSED SAYS A LOT. NOW, I DID NOT GROW UP HERE. I STARTED COMING HERE BECAUSE OF DARBY. MY VERSION OF DARBY WAS DERBY ON BROADWAY. BUT I ALSO REMEMBER BEING IN COURT HEARINGS AND THINGS WHEN BROADWAY WAS BEING SHUT DOWN. CRUISING WAS BEING SHUT DOWN. I DIDN'T SEE THIS LEVEL OF SUPPORT AND COMPASSION FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES AND THE PEOPLE THAT SUFFERED WHEN, WHEN THAT, WHEN THAT HAPPENED. AND I THINK THAT, YES, I, I DO HAVE CONCERNS WITH HOW THESE THINGS COME ABOUT, BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IF WE IF THINGS GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND ALL THOSE TAX INCENTIVES AND ALL THAT CAME TO OUR CITY, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WE'RE GOING TO FUND THE SAME OLD THINGS WE FUNDED. WE JUST WE'RE WATCHING ORGANIZATIONS THAT FILL THE GAPS OF NONVIOLENCE AND AND TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, HAVING TO SHUT THEIR DOORS, THE CENTER FOR NONPROFIT EXCELLENCE. AND THEN WE HAVE THESE STARTUP PROGRAMS, WHICH THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE MAYOR, THAT GET FUNDED AND GET ALL THESE THINGS. SO, LIKE, WHAT WILL WE DO IF WE DID HAVE THE TAX MONEY FROM THEM? WELL, HOW WOULD WE TREAT THE CITY BETTER? HOW WOULD WE TOUCH EVERY CORNER OF THIS COUNTY? YOU HAVE PEOPLE OUT IN THE COUNTY LINE WHO FEEL NEGLECTED BY OUR CITY BUDGET. YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY AND IN MY DISTRICT WHO CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN 9 MILLION BACK TO THE CITY, BUT RARELY SEE THE SAME MONEY COMING BACK. SO I THINK THAT WE GOT A PROBLEM AND IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM. MY YES, AND I WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE PIECE THAT SUPPORTS JC AND YES, THESE 30 YEARS, 60 YEAR, 90 YEAR DEGREE AGREEMENTS ARE PAINFUL. THEY'VE BEEN PAINFUL FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE NEVER BEEN HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND I THINK THAT WE WE SELL OURSELVES TO CORPORATE ENTITIES, AND THEN WE THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A GOOD OUTCOME. BUT WHEN IT'S OUR TURN TO MAKE DECISIONS ON OUR BUDGET, BECAUSE I DID GET A CALL ABOUT THIS IRB, I NEVER GOT A CALL ABOUT THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENT AND NONE OF THAT. BUT I DID GET A CALL ABOUT THIS. SO IT'S BEEN ABOUT THE GREASY WILL, THE SQUEAKY THE LOUD WHEEL GETS, THE OIL, OR WHO THEY'RE CONNECTED TO. I HOPE THAT THIS IS A HARD LESSON FOR ALL OF US WHILE IT'S OUR TURN, AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE ON EVERY END, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T IN OTHER AREAS. AND I HOPE THAT NEXT BUDGET CYCLE WE THINK ABOUT HOW THESE PEOPLE FEEL. BECAUSE, YES, SINCE I'VE MOVED HERE, CHURCHILL DOWNS HAS ALWAYS LOOKED LIKE DC DOES. THE CAPITAL LOOKS GREAT. YOU GO [02:40:01] FURTHER AND FURTHER FROM THE CAPITAL AND YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE, THE INVESTMENT AND THE THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING. AND I RESPECT COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL, AND I FEEL LIKE WHAT SHE'S EXPERIENCED AND THE ELOQUENCE, I THINK THAT'S AMAZING THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THAT. AND YES, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE GOING TO BE RESOLVED IN ONE NIGHT BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENED OVER TIME AND OVER TIME, AND YOU GOT OTHER PARTS OF OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY, SOUTHWEST NEWBURGH, ALL THOSE AREAS THAT DON'T SEE THE BENEFITS OF THE TAXES THEY PAY INTO OUR BUDGET. BUT WE ARE NOW WE WANT TO GANG UP AND BE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT ONE CORPORATE ENTITY WHO COULD BE A BETTER CORPORATE PARTNER. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. SO IF IT COMES BACK LIKE, OH, YOU VOTED YES FOR THIS. YES. THIS AIN'T MY BATTLE RIGHT NOW. JUST LIKE WHEN DERBY CRUISING WAS SHUT DOWN, WHEN PEOPLE WAS CUT OUT, WHEN BUSINESSES HAD TO CLOSE, AND THE BLACKS AND BLIGHTED NEIGHBORHOODS AND MARGINALIZED NEIGHBORHOODS, WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS SAME LEVEL OF PASSION. I'M PICKING A DIFFERENT BATTLE MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM. COUNCILMAN WINKLER, NEXT TO MY QUEUE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT. PRESIDENT ATKINSON, THERE'S SO MUCH TO RESPOND TO. I'M NOT GOING TO TOUCH ON MOST OF IT. I'M GOING TO TRY TO STAY ON 2 OR 3 SALIENT POINTS. I MEAN, THE ONE THING I WILL ADDRESS IS, YOU KNOW, THE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT IT'S ONLY 300 MILLION VERSUS 1.2 BILLION. I BELIEVE THE TESTIMONY THAT WE GOT ON TUESDAY WAS THAT THAT IS PHASE ONE. THEY ANTICIPATE MULTIPLE PHASES, BUT WITH THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND TARIFFS, THEY CAN'T RIGHT NOW SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS MUCH OF THIS HERE AND THIS MUCH THEN. BUT THEY DO HAVE THE INTENT OF DOING THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROJECT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS, GIVE OR TAKE. IT'S THE FIRST PHASE IS $300 MILLION, AND THAT'S WHAT'S PLANNED FOR BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY POST THIS COMING DERBY. SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THE RECORD THERE. I THINK REALLY THE THE MAIN POINT THAT I WOULD MAKE AND, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN LINENGER TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC DOLLARS, PUBLIC RESOURCE. AND I WOULD JUST REMIND ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PRINTING PRESS AND ALL PUBLIC DOLLARS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY START IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WE GET PUBLIC DOLLARS FROM PEOPLE PAYING TAXES. THOSE PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK SOMEWHERE. AND HAVING EMPLOYERS HERE IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. WE CAN I DON'T DISAGREE THAT CORPORATE THAT CHURCHILL DOWNS COULD BE A BETTER CORPORATE PARTNER. RIGHT. BUT SO COULD YUM. THOSE JOBS ARE IN TEXAS. SO COULD PAPA JOHN'S. THOSE JOBS ARE IN ATLANTA. SO COULD HUMANA. THOSE JOBS ARE CONSTANTLY AT RISK. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK THE PEOPLE THAT USED TO WORK AT PAPA JOHN'S CORPORATION, THAT USED TO WORK AT YUM, WHO, IF THEY'RE STILL HERE, ARE NO LONGER EMPLOYED. WHETHER THEY WOULD LIKE THOSE EMPLOYERS HERE OR WHETHER THEY WE WOULD LIKE TO TELL THEM TO GO POUND SAND AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS A SOCIETY, I'M GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT OFF TOPIC HERE. I MEAN, WE ARE FACING AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT WITH THE EMERGENCE OF AI AND AUTOMATION. WE WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE ON EMPLOYMENT, NOT JUST LOCALLY, NOT JUST NATIONALLY, BUT GLOBALLY. AND THAT IS A CHALLENGE THAT WE WILL ALL HAVE TO WORK THROUGH IN THE MEANTIME, AS WE PREPARE FOR THAT CHALLENGE, ALIENATING OUR EMPLOYERS, TO ME, IS A BAD STRATEGY. AGAIN, I DON'T DISAGREE THAT THEY COULDN'T DO MORE, BUT I AM OF THE MIND THAT ALIENATING THE PEOPLE THAT EMPLOY US IS NOT A GOOD STRATEGY FOR THE LONG TERM SUCCESS OF THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF US. I THINK WE'VE VOICED OUR CONCERNS. I THINK THEY'VE BEEN HEARD. MY OPINION IS WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD AND VOTE AND MAKE THE DECISION. AND I WOULD VOTE AND ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF PEOPLE HAVING JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. COUNCILMAN PURVIS, YOUR NEXT IN THE QUEUE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. I WITHDRAW. I'M TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT THIS. I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN BENSON, YOU'RE NEXT TO MY CUE, AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. ONE OF THE THINGS I TRY TO DO EVERY MORNING WHEN I GET UP AND I LOOK IN THE MIRROR, I THINK I ASK MYSELF, HOW AM I DOING? AND I THINK I'M DOING OKAY, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I'M DOING GOOD ENOUGH TO TELL OTHER PEOPLE HOW TO LIVE. THAT'S ONE THING WE HAVE TO REALLY BE CONSCIOUS OF BEING COUNCIL PEOPLE. WE LIKE TO CONTROL PEOPLE. WE LIKE TO MAKE RULES, TO CONTROL PEOPLE. IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I, I REALIZE EVERY TIME WE MAKE AN ORDINANCE, WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE FREEDOM AWAY FROM SOMEBODY. SO I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE DO AN ORDINANCE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW THIS. I WENT TO A TRADE SCHOOL CALLED ERNST TRADE SCHOOL, AND THE GUY WHO STARTED IT IN 1926, HE OWNED A PLUMBING COMPANY ON SEVENTH STREET. IT WAS CALLED AMERICAN STANDARD, AND THEY MADE TOILETS AND FAUCETS AND STUFF. A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY IS NO LONGER HERE. IN 1955, THERE WAS A COMPANY HERE CALLED REYNOLDS METALS. THEY MADE ALUMINUM FOIL [02:45:09] AND STUFF LIKE THAT. ALUMINUM. THEY WANTED TO BUILD A RESEARCH CENTER ON NEWBURG ROAD. THE FOUNDING FATHER, THE PEOPLE IN IN GOVERNMENT DIDN'T WANT HIM TO BUILD IT. SO THEY MOVED THE HEADQUARTERS TO RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. MY DAD, BEFORE HE RETIRED, HE WORKED AT A COMPANY CALLED SEAGRAM'S DISTILLERY. IT'S ON SEVENTH STREET. THEY MADE WHISKEY. AND MY DAD SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY STRANGE. AND SEAGRAM'S HAS TAKEN THEIR WHISKEY TO INDIANA TO STORE IT BECAUSE WE HAD A GOLDEN GOOSE. AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM. WE'RE GOING TO TAX THEM. WE'RE GOING TO GET ALL WE NEED OUT OF SEAGRAM'S. WELL, THEY'RE NO LONGER HERE. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO CONTROL PEOPLE AND WE'RE SO GOOD IN BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY ON THE COUNCIL IS MILLIONAIRES. AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO CONTROL OTHER BUSINESSES, BECAUSE WE'RE SO GOOD IN MAKING A DOLLAR. I BELIEVE IN THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, AND I THINK I CAN MAKE ABOUT AS MUCH MONEY AS I WANT TO, BUT I LIKE TO HELP OUT AS MUCH AS I CAN. BUT I DON'T REALLY LIKE TO CONTROL OTHER PEOPLE. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN ANY PLACE IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST IN PARIS THIS SUMMER, AND ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE SAY, YOU'RE FROM KENTUCKY, THE CHURCHILL DOWNS, I MEAN, THE DERBY, COLONEL SANDERS, CHICKEN, UK BASKETBALL. I MEAN, THERE'S YOU CAN'T BELIEVE SOMETIMES PEOPLE BELIEVE NAME RECOGNITION IS A BIG DEAL. SOMETIMES ON TV THEY'LL, YOU KNOW, THERE'LL BE A COMMERCIAL, SAY I'M PEPSI OR THIS. THEY'RE WANTING PEOPLE TO BUY THEIR PRODUCT. IF WE REALLY WANT OUR CITY TO GROW. AND AT ONE TIME WHEN I WAS YOUNG, LOUISVILLE WAS CONSIDERED ABOUT THE SIZE OF NASHVILLE. IN INDIANAPOLIS, WE NEVER WAS AS BIG AS CINCINNATI, BUT WE WAS ON PAR. WELL, WE'RE NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO INDIANAPOLIS OR CINCINNATI. MAYBE THAT'S GOOD. MAYBE WE WANT TO STAY SMALL AND NOBODY KNOWS WHO WE ARE. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DIRECT FLIGHTS TO OTHER COMMUNITIES. WELL, I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AVIATION, AND THE REASON WE DON'T HAVE THEM IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES. NOW, IF YOU WANT MORE AND YOU WANT MORE PEOPLE, AS MARCUS WAS TALKING ABOUT, YOU GOTTA HAVE EMPLOYERS. NOW, WHETHER WE LIKE THE WAY EVERYBODY DOES THEIR BUSINESS, BUT AT LEAST THEY'RE WANTING TO HIRE PEOPLE AND IT KEEPS PEOPLE HERE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. AND SO YEAH, WE'RE MAYBE JEALOUS OF SOMEBODY MAKING TOO MUCH MONEY, AND WE THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE PART OF WHAT THEY GOT. GOOD LUCK. AND IF IF THAT'S WHAT WE END UP DOING, WE VOTE. WE VOTE NO AND SAY CHURCHILL DOWNS. WE KNOW THAT THEY CAN'T MOVE THE TRACK, BUT THEY MIGHT MOVE SOME OTHER THINGS. SO WE NEED TO THINK LONG AND HARD AS WE'RE TRYING TO HELP AND HELP PEOPLE MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF HELPING MORE PEOPLE OUT. YOU CAN'T GET THEM WITH A STICK. YOU GOTTA HAVE OPEN HAND. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCILMAN BATSON, YOUR NEXT. AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY HERE. THAT WAS A TOUGH ONE TO FOLLOW, STUART. IT'S A GREAT JOB. AS I OFTEN SAY, TREATING BUSINESSES, VENDORS AND CONTRACTORS. WE NEED TO DO IT IN A BETTER WAY. WE NEED TO TREAT THEM MORE LIKE PARTNERS RATHER THAN ADVERSARIES. THIS SHOWS THAT THERE'S A DIVIDE HERE, AND THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TREAT BUSINESSES IN THIS COMMUNITY AS ADVERSARIES. I DON'T I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE PRECEDENCE IN. I HEAR A LOT THAT TONIGHT THAT CHURCHILL DOWNS IS NOT A LOCAL BUSINESS. CHURCHILL DOWNS BEGAN HERE 151 YEARS AGO AS A LOCAL BUSINESS, AND TODAY IT STANDS AS A GLOBAL ICON THAT STILL CALLS OUR CITY LOUISVILLE. HOME GROWTH SHOULD NEVER BE HELD AGAINST A COMPANY THAT CONTINUES TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE ARBS ARE NOT A SHORT TERM CONSTRUCTION, ARE NOT ABOUT SHORT TERM CONSTRUCTION. THEY'RE ABOUT LONG TERM COMMITMENT. EVERY EXPANSION BRINGS JOBS, TOURISM AND ECONOMIC ENERGY THAT RIPPLES FAR BEYOND THE TRACK. WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT STARTED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ENTERPRISE. WHAT WHAT STARTED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ENTERPRISE HAS BECOME PUBLIC. A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY THAT STILL DRIVES LOCAL OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD PUNISH. IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I'LL BE VOTING. YES, COUNCILMAN REED, YOUR NEXT MCEWEN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AND YOU KNOW, I STARTED GOING TO DERBY WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, WHICH IS A LONG TIME AGO. AND ONE OF MY FIRST MEMORIES IN THE INFIELD WAS SOME NAKED GUY STREAKING UP THE FLAGPOLE. [02:50:07] THAT'S THE TRUTH, YOU KNOW. COULD THEY BE A BETTER CORPORATE PARTNER? YES. COULD THEY BE DOING MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY? YES. IF THEY DON'T DO THIS, IF WE DON'T COME UP WITH THIS DEAL FOR THEM, WILL THEY PROCEED WITH THEIR EXPANSION? PROBABLY NOT. AND THEN WHAT HAVE WE GAINED? SO I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN BUSINESS THAT HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE. WELL, WE LIKE TO TURN THE CLOCK BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN YOU COULD GET INTO THE INFIELD FOR FIVE BUCKS. YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD BUY A DERBY BOX FOR, WHAT, 250 BUCKS A TICKET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? SURE. BUT THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS THAT IF IF WE DON'T DO THIS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE DEAL AND THEN WE DON'T GET ANYTHING. SO WHAT HAVE YOU REALLY GAINED? I, I HEAR A LOT ABOUT WHAT HOW THEY'RE NOT A GOOD CORPORATE PARTNER. I THINK THAT IF THEY'RE IT'S AS SMART AS I THINK WE ALL KNOW THEY ARE. THEY'RE LISTENING TO US TONIGHT. AT THE VERY LEAST. I THINK WE MADE A POINT IN THAT MANNER. BUT I THINK AT THIS STAGE, TO NOT DO THIS WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE. SO I WILL BE A YES VOTE. AND I RESPECT EVERYTHING THAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT. SOME PEOPLE HAVE MADE SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SHANKLIN, YOUR NEXT TO YOU AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I'M GOING TO BE VERY BRIEF. YES I AM. MY CONCERN IS AND I WILL BE VOTING FOR THIS BECAUSE OF THE TAXES FOR SCHOOLS AND THE PART, THE MONEY THAT WILL BE GOING TO THE SCHOOLS IS FOR CHILDREN TO GET JOBS AFTER SCHOOL JOBS. MY GRANDDAUGHTER WENT THROUGH THAT WHEN THAT PROGRAM, SHE GOT A JOB AFTER SCHOOL, AND SHE KEPT THAT JOB FOR A LONG TIME. THE YOUTH, OUR YOUTH IS OUR FUTURE. WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE JOBS. WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWN. EVERY TIME I GO IN THAT AREA, I NOTICE HOW RAGGEDY IT IS. IT REALLY LOOKS BAD AND THEY NEED TO BE WORKING ON IT. BUT YOUTH IS OUR FUTURE. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PUT THESE KIDS IN THESE JOBS. AND IF WE GOT MONEY COMING IN FOR JAKE, THAT'S A PLUS FOR US BECAUSE WE'RE IN A WHOLE. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. COUNCILMAN HAWKINS, YOUR NEXT IN MY QUEUE, AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM, CAN WE CALL THE QUESTION, PLEASE? THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? THE MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION IS BEFORE US. IT TAKES A SUPERMAJORITY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? OH. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE AYES HAVE IT. THE QUESTION IS CALLED. MADAM CLERK, OPEN THE ROLL CALL. COUNCIL MEMBER. PERISH. RIGHT. PRESENT. YES, SIR. THIS IS THE ACTUAL COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER. MR. PRESIDENT, WE'RE VOTING ON THE ACTUAL. YES. CORRECT. YES. THANK YOU. MR. ALL RIGHT, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE 18 YES VOTES, SEVEN NO VOTES AND ONE PRESENT VOTE. THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED. ALRIGHT. CAN I HAVE IT? WE'VE TABLED ITEM 39. NATALIE HAS OUR HAS OUR ANSWER. MOTION TO TABLE SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TABLING A IN OPPOSITION. OKAY. IN OPPOSITION. THIS MATTER IS ITEM 39 IS BACK BEFORE US. MADAM CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT. I AM TENDERING THE CHAIR TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM. COUNCILMAN HOPKINS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. PRO TEM. I GUESS JUST TO GET US GOING, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IF THEY WERE ABLE TO RESEARCH AND IF THEY HAVE AN ANSWER, AND IF SO, IF THEY COULD GIVE THAT ANSWER, IF THAT'S ALRIGHT WITH YOU. THERE SHE IS. OKAY. NATALIE JOHNSON WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND YES, I WAS ABLE TO FIND AN ANSWER. ACCORDING TO THE IRS WEBSITE, IF THERE IS TUITION GIVEN OVER $5,250 PER YEAR, ANYTHING ABOVE THAT IS NORMALLY A TAXABLE IS TAXABLE AS A WAGE. THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS AND SOME OF THOSE MAY APPLY HERE. AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH METRO TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ALL THOSE EXCEPTIONS ARE AND WHAT MAY APPLY IN IN THE SCENARIOS THAT WE ENCOUNTERED THAT METRO ENCOUNTERS. SO, NATALIE, I'M SORRY, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE QUESTION THAT WE WERE RESEARCHING. HOPEFULLY THE QUESTION WAS WHETHER WE CAN PREPAY. WE CAN EXTEND THE [02:55:02] REIMBURSEMENT TO THE EMPLOYEE BEFORE THEY LIKE, NOT A REIMBURSEMENT, BUT A PREPAYMENT. I KNOW, I KNOW, WE CAN PAY THE UNIVERSITY DIRECTLY. THE QUESTION IS, CAN WE WRITE A CHECK TO THE EMPLOYEE DIRECTLY PRIOR TO THEM INCURRING FINISHING ALL OF THE REQUIREMENT? RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN GRADE. IT HAS TO BE YES, YES, YOU CAN WRITE A CHECK TO THE EMPLOYEE OR TO THE INSTITUTION. THANK YOU. AND EITHER WAY, ANYTHING OVER THE $5,250 WOULD BE CONSIDERED A TAXABLE WAGE. NORMALLY WOULD BE CONSIDERED A TAXABLE WAGE. OKAY, OKAY. SO SAID ANOTHER WAY. THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN DOES NOT SUBJECT EMPLOYEES TO ANY SORT OF TAXABLE LIABILITY UNLESS THEY GO OVER THAT AMOUNT. THAT IS CORRECT. ASSUMING ASSUMING THEY COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE THE COURSE, ETCETERA. I THINK AS WELL IT DEPENDS BECAUSE OF THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS INTRODUCED, THEY THEY WOULD EQUALLY GET TO SPLIT THAT WHATEVER'S LEFT IN THE POOL. SO POTENTIALLY IF THERE WAS ENOUGH LEFT IN THE POOL SPLIT BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER HOWEVER MANY AMOUNT EMPLOYEES GOT THE INTO THE TUITION, IF IT WENT OVER THAT $5,250 LIMIT, THEN POTENTIALLY IT COULD BE TAXABLE AS A WAGE. MADAM, I'M SORRY, BUT IT STILL HAS THE LIMIT UP TO. THAT'S CORRECT. 5000. SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S CORRECT, NATALIE. I MEAN, I THINK THE CAP IS STILL THERE. COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY, I'M LOOKING AT YOU. THE CAP OF 52. WHAT IS 52? 50? AND THEY WOULD NOT. MAN. YES, YOU CAN GO AHEAD. I BELIEVE THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN IS THEY WOULD NOT EXTEND AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT ABOVE THE IRS. THAT'S EXACTLY. IT'S F2 SAYS THAT EXACT THING. CORRECT. OKAY. SORRY. THEN YES. THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET MORE THAN 5000. 250. OKAY. I'M GOING TO IN THE QUEUE WE HAVE COUNCILMAN AND THEN I'M GOING TO RELINQUISH THE CHAIR BACK TO THE PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. PRO TEM. I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF WE GOT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH OUR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. IT'S COMPLETELY UNDERUTILIZED. AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS ON ON EVERYBODY HERE, BOTH WHAT THE AMENDMENT IS ATTEMPTING TO DO, AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL SPONSORS OF THE OF THE ORDINANCE, COUNCILMAN SHANKLIN AND PARIS. RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS COMING FROM US AND NOT THE ADMINISTRATION. IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US. DO YOU KNOW, IF THIS PASSES TONIGHT? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ADMINISTRATION PROPOSE A TRUE OVERHAUL OF THIS PROGRAM AND DO A FAR BETTER JOB OF NOT ONLY CREATING IT, COMMUNICATING IT, ETC. RIGHT. BECAUSE THIS IS WE'RE MAKING A FEW AMENDMENTS HERE AND THERE. I THINK THEY'RE GOOD. BUT HERE'S THE OTHER THING I CAN TELL YOU BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, I HAVE HAD ORGANIZATIONS ASSIST ME THROUGH TUITION REIMBURSEMENT, THROUGH EMPLOYERS, AS WELL AS THE GI BILL AND OTHERS TO REIMBURSE EDUCATION I GOT. THE IDEA THAT THE IRS WILL NOT COME AFTER YOU, FOR SOME OF THIS IS NOT WHOLLY ACCURATE. IF IF THIS IS REIMBURSED INCORRECTLY. AND THE REASON LET ME EXPLAIN MY SCENARIO. IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, A COMPANY LEGALLY REIMBURSED ME. I HAD A CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT. THE COMPANIES MADE EACH OTHER WHOLE. I WAS ACTUALLY NEVER GIVEN THE MONEY, BUT THE IRS CONSIDERED IT ALL TO A BIG CHUNK OF IT TAXABLE INCOME, EVEN THOUGH IN THE ORIGINAL YEAR IT WAS USED AS AS REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY EDUCATION, IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED TAXABLE INCOME. SO THIS IDEA THAT YOU CANNOT TRIGGER CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE IRS WILL CONSIDER IT, IT'S NOT TRUE. THIS IS A VERY THE IRS CONSIDERS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW YOU ADMINISTER THESE PROGRAMS. I HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL OF HOW HR HAS IMPLEMENTED THIS IN THE PAST, AND I THINK WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THEM. I'M GOING TO VOTE ON IT. I MEAN, I'M FINE WITH THAT, BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT HEARING FROM HUMAN RESOURCES ON HOW THEY'RE GOING TO RE-IMPLEMENT THIS AND DO A BETTER JOB OF GETTING MORE EMPLOYEES TO USE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS THAT WILL BOTH BENEFIT EMPLOYEES BUT BENEFIT THE CITY, BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES EXPANDING THEIR EDUCATION AND THEIR SKILL SET. SO I THINK SOME OF THESE AMENDMENTS ARE GOOD, SO I'LL VOTE FOR IT. BUT COME THIS UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE, [03:00:01] I WANT TO HEAR I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE ADMINISTRATION, I WANT TO HEAR IN DETAIL HOW THEY'RE EITHER USING THIS OR WHAT OTHER CHANGES THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN IT IS TODAY. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. NEXT IN MY QUEUE WHO'S HERE IS COUNCILWOMAN PAUL MCCRANE. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WANT TO BE VERY, VERY CLEAR. THIS TUITION REIMBURSEMENT ORDINANCE CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THEY WORKED ON EVERY PIECE OF THE WORDING. THE ONLY PART THAT IS AMENDED IS THE PART ABOUT EXPENDING THE ENTIRE BUDGET AFTER THEY'VE EXHAUSTED THE MONIES, AFTER PEOPLE HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WANT THE MONEY. AND EVEN WITH THAT AMENDMENT, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WORKED ON THE WORDING. SO THIS ENTIRE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT ORDINANCE CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. AND THE PERSON WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT SPOKE AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING THIS WEEK. AND SHE WAS VERY CLEAR ON HOW CAREFUL THEY ARE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION PART OF IT. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS WEIGHED IN. THEY THEY WROTE THE ORDINANCE. COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE NEXT TO MY CUE. THANK YOU. MAYBE LET ME CLARIFY. WE ALL AGREE THIS PROGRAM IS SORELY UNDERUTILIZED UNDER THE SAME PERSON THAT'S BEEN RUNNING THE PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS. SO I'M JUST SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL THAT JUST AMENDING THIS ORDINANCE IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE DYNAMICS ON TUITION REIMBURSEMENT. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT STEP, BUT I STILL DON'T THINK I'M JUST SAYING THAT THIS ISN'T ENOUGH. I WANT TO HEAR DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, FROM FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO REALLY FURTHER EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR WORKFORCE. MAYBE THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I DIDN'T, IF I MEANT OR IF I SAID THAT THEY WEREN'T IN SUPPORT OF IT. I'M SURE THEY ARE. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. COUNCILMAN MCCRANEY, YOUR NEXT IN MY QUEUE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AGAIN, MADAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, I THINK YOU STATED IT DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME. I THINK YOUR CONCERN IS MORE OF THE MARKETING AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS. I THINK IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM THAT THEY DO NOT PUSH THIS ENOUGH, THAT THEY DON'T TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT I THINK IF THEY DO THAT, THEY COULD EVEN ENCOURAGE NOT ONLY MORE PEOPLE GETTING EDUCATION, BUT PERHAPS SOME INTEREST IN WORKING FOR THE METRO GOVERNMENT. SO IF THAT IS YOUR REAL CONCERN, DO KNOW THAT WE POSE THAT QUESTION AT THE MEETING AS WELL, AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN HOW THEY ARE GOING TO MARKET THIS TO THE EMPLOYEES. SO THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL, YOU'RE NEXT TO MY QUEUE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. SURE. I, I JUST WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS REALLY GREAT ABOUT IT IS IT'S RAISING THAT MINIMUM SALARY, MINIMUM WAGE THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE. IT'S GOING FROM LIKE $11 AND SOME CHANGE TO $16 AND SOME CHANGE, WHICH PERSONALLY I THINK PAYING SOMEBODY $16 AND SOME CHANGE IS CRIMINAL. AND LOUISVILLE METRO SHOULD NOT DO THAT. BUT HERE WE ARE BECAUSE OF THAT RAISE. AND JUST BECAUSE I SUPPORT TUITION REIMBURSEMENT, I WILL BE VOTING YES FOR THAT. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT SALARIES AND LOUISVILLE METRO. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PURVIS. YOUR NEXT IN MY QUEUE AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. YES, SIR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE COMMENT THAT IT WAS RESPONDING TO COUNCILMAN PIACENTINI THAT THE PROGRAM'S BEEN UNDER UTILIZED. AND IT'S PARTLY BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT. $2,000 IS ONLY ONE CLASS. SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES PROBABLY WERE. WHY? WHY EVEN BOTHER? BUT ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION, IS THERE A SECOND THE MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY IN OPPOSITION? IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE AYES HAVE IT. THE QUESTION HAS BEEN CALLED. ITEM NUMBER 39 IS AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES A ROLL CALL VOTE. MADAM CLERK, OPEN THE ROLL. EVERYONE. DID WE. ARE WE VOTING ON THIS AMENDMENT? QUESTION IS THIS THE. HAS THE AMENDMENT BEEN ADOPTED? NO. OKAY. SO SO THIS IS THIS IS TO ON THE AMENDMENT WHICH WE COULD IT'S [03:05:03] NOT GOING TO BE A ROLL CALL. THIS COULD BE A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION HEARING NO OPPOSITION. THE ORDINANCE IS NOW AMENDED. AND I SEE NO ONE ELSE IN MY QUEUE AT THE MOMENT. SO WE HAVE THE AMENDED ORDINANCE BEFORE US. LET'S OPEN THE ROLL FOR ROLL CALL VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER WRIGHT. YES, THAT'S RIGHT. WE ALREADY HAVE THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER. WEBBER. YES. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE 26 YES VOTES. THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED. MADAM CLERK, A READING OF ITEM NUMBER 42. AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE ZONING OF PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 9115 TO 9119 PRESTON HIGHWAY, CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 1.0 ACRES AND BEING A LOUISVILLE METRO CASE NUMBER 25, ZONE 0070. READ IN FULL. ALL RIGHT HERE. LET'S SEE HERE, COUNCILMAN OWEN, THIS CAME OUT OF YOUR COMMITTEE. YOU GOT THE FLOOR, SIR? YEAH. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT. SO THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT IS CHANGING THE ZONING FROM R5 TO C1 ON PRESTON HIGHWAY, LOCATED IN DISTRICT 24, WHICH IS COUNCILWOMAN JENNY WOOLDRIDGE DISTRICT. AND I'LL LET HER SPEAK TO IT IN JUST A MINUTE. NORTHEAST CORNER OF ROAD AND PRESTON HIGHWAY. THERE ARE TWO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES CURRENTLY ON THE PROPERTY THAT WOULD BE REPLACED WITH A ONE STORY, 9000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING HOSTING THREE RETAIL TENANTS THAT MOSTLY COVERS IT, LOCATED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FORUM DISTRICT. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILWOMAN WOOLDRIDGE TO SPEAK MORE ABOUT IT. MADAM. THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. SO THIS IS THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT PRESTON AND EAST MANSLICK IN. THE PROPOSED CHANGE IS FOR THREE RETAIL OFFICES, RESTAURANTS, BUSINESS TYPE. IT IS A ONE STORY TAKEN FROM R5 TO C1. THEY HAVE ADDED ALL THE BINDING ELEMENTS. THERE WAS ONE NO VOTE IN PLANNING AND ZONING WHEN IT WENT THROUGH, AND SO AGAIN CAME WITH ONE PROS. PART OF THAT WAS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT MSD. MSD DID REVIEW IT AND GAVE THE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL ON IT, SO THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE. THE OTHER CONCERNS THAT CAME FORWARD WERE THAT THIS IS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THE TWO HOMES WOULD BE REMOVED. THOSE ARE UNOCCUPIED HOMES AT THIS TIME. I UNDERSTAND THAT CONCERN. AND AS BEING A A HOUSING FOCUSED COUNCIL PERSON, AS WELL AS US BEING A CITY, UNDERSTANDING HOUSING, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS I WOULD ENCOURAGE AND WELCOME FOR MORE AFFORDABLE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN THE AREA. BUT AGAIN, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRITTEN WITHIN THIS ORDINANCE OR THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD MAKE ME SAY NO. COUNCILMAN PURVIS, YOUR NEXT IN MY QUEUE AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT. SORRY. NO WORRIES. THERE'S NO ONE LEFT IN MY QUEUE. THIS IS A ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES A ROLL CALL. VOTE. MADAM CLERK, OPEN THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARISH. RIGHT. YES, COUNCIL MEMBER. WEBBER. YES. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. KRAMER. HERE. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE 25 YES VOTES. THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED. MADAM [43. O-260-25     AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 130.01 OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING WEARING MASKS. 12/1/25 Special Public Safety Committee  Recommended for Approval 11/5/25 Public Safety Committee  Held Action Required By: April 30, 2026 Sponsors: JP Lyninger (D-6) ] CLERK, ITEM NUMBER 43, PLEASE. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 130.01 OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING WEARING MASKS READ IN FULL. ALL RIGHT. THE ORDINANCE IS PROPERLY BEFORE US. I'M GOING TO RELIEVE THE CHAIR TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM. AND IN DOING SUCH, I'M GOING TO ALSO TENDER THE FLOOR TO THE PRIMARY SPONSOR. COUNCILMAN LEININGER. YES, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MISTER PRESIDENT. FIRST, BEFORE I START, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO REACHED OUT AND SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM FROM BOTTOM OF MY HEART. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. INDIVIDUALS. OF COURSE, LOTS OF ORGANIZATIONS GOT INVOLVED HERE IN THIS FIGHT. THE ACLU REACHED OUT. WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM FAIRNESS HERE IN THE ROOM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE KULKARNI. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. CONGRESSMAN MORGAN MCGARVEY IS NOT HERE, BUT HE HAS TOLD ME THAT HE IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. AND OF COURSE, THANK YOU TO LOUISVILLE DSA FOR SHOWING UP. THIS WAS A [03:10:03] PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I INTRODUCED BECAUSE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT ASKED FOR IT. MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT ASKED, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE? THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT AT MY LAST DISTRICT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING, THE DISTRICT WIDE MEETING WAS SUPPORTED UNANIMOUSLY BY MY CONSTITUENTS IN THAT MEETING. WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW. MASKED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS IN PLAIN CLOTHES ARE DRAGGING PEOPLE TO UNMARKED CARS. THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON CIVIL DEMOCRACY. THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON PUBLIC SAFETY, BOTH FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT PARTICIPATING. AND THE ONES WHO ARE. THIS IS CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE TONIGHT WHO HAVE MADE SOME UNFORTUNATE ERRORS IN THE DISCUSSION OF THIS ITEM. I WANT TO APOLOGIZE. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEARER. THIS WON'T AFFECT ANYONE BEING DOXXED IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY LEGALLY, BECAUSE THAT'S ILLEGAL IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY AT THE STATE LEVEL. THAT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL IN KENTUCKY. A STATE LAW WAS PASSED MONTHS AFTER THE METRO COUNCIL FAILED TO PASS ONE. AT THIS LEVEL, WE COULDN'T OUTLAW DOXING IF WE WANTED TO. WE'RE PREEMPTED BY THE STATE. WHAT WE CAN DO IS SAY THAT WE STAND WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE TERRIFIED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY, PEOPLE WHO ARE TERRIFIED ABOUT THE EROSION OF BASIC CIVIL DEMOCRACY. AND THAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE TONIGHT AND WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES EVERYWHERE. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO TELL PEOPLE THAT WE STAND UP FOR CIVIL DEMOCRACY, FOR OUR BASIC CIVIL LIBERTIES IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THOSE CIVIL LIBERTIES AT THE BEDROCK CAN ONLY BE PROTECTED IF ACCOUNTABILITY IS POSSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT POSSIBLE. IF SOMEONE IS COMPLETELY CONCEALED THEIR IDENTITY. I'M HONESTLY AT A LOSS FOR WORDS. DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ME OFTEN. THAT THIS WILL NOT BE A 26 TO NOTHING VOTE IN FAVOR. BECAUSE THAT'S HOW FOUNDATIONAL THIS IS. MASKED POLICE IN PLAIN CLOTHES, TAKING PEOPLE TO UNMARKED VEHICLES. IF WE ALLOW THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY, IF WE DON'T STAND UP AND SAY WE DISAGREE WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO STOP THAT. WE STAND COMPLETELY IN OPPOSITION AND WE ALLOW THAT WE DON'T LIVE IN A FREE SOCIETY. WE DO NOT LIVE IN A FREE SOCIETY IF WE ALLOW THAT. I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE CONCERNS. I'M GOING TO LET MY COLLEAGUES VOICE THOSE CONCERNS. I WILL ANSWER THOSE CONCERNS. I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO CONVINCE ALL OF YOU. MAYBE I'LL CONVINCE SOME OF YOU, BUT I DO URGE YOUR SUPPORT NOT ONLY FOR THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. BUT FOR THE IDEA THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE AS A FREE SOCIETY AND IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING TERRORIZED BY MASKED AGENTS OF ICE, INCLUDING CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED, CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN RIPPED AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES. CHILDREN WHO CAME HERE. THEY DIDN'T MAKE THAT DECISION. ADULTS WHO CAME HERE AS CHILDREN, THEY DIDN'T MAKE THAT DECISION. AND THEY'RE BEING KEPT IN UNBELIEVABLY TERRIBLE CONDITIONS. PEOPLE ARE BEING SENT TO COUNTRIES. THEY HAVE ZERO WAKING KNOWLEDGE OF. THAT'S ALL TERRIBLE. I CAN'T STOP ICE FROM EXISTING. BUT THERE WAS A WORLD BEFORE ICE, AND THERE WILL BE A WORLD AFTER ICE. BUT I CAN STAND UP AND SAY. I KNOW MASKED POLICE ARE A THREAT TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM. EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, REGARDLESS IF YOU ARE AN IMMIGRANT, IF YOU WERE A, IF YOU ARE A CITIZEN, IF YOU ARE NATURALIZED, IF YOU WERE BORN HERE, IT IS A THREAT TO YOU [03:15:02] WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT. BECAUSE ONE DAY YOU MIGHT UPSET THE SECRET POLICE IN MASKS. AND THEN WHAT? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVEOUNCILMAN PRESIDENT BURNETT. THANK YOU, MADAM COLLEAGUES, IT'S RARE THAT I LEAVE THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR TO COME DOWN TO THE FLOOR FOR THE DEBATE. AND I'LL SAY THIS TO THE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE. I'M GOING TO BE SPEAKING TO MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION AND SOME OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO SAY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO AGREE WITH. BUT I WOULD ASK THIS OF YOU, AT LEAST LET ME HAVE MY SAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M NOT A FAN OF ICE. YOU KNOW, I'M WORRIED ALSO ABOUT PEOPLE, HARD WORKING FAMILIES WHO MIGHT HAVE COME TO THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, BUT THEY'RE HARD WORKING FAMILIES AND THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIETY. I CARE FOR THOSE PEOPLE. NOW, WHAT I DO APPRECIATE FROM ISIS, WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO THIS COUNTRY AND THEY COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES OR OTHER CRIMES, I DO SAY GRAB THEM AND SEND THEM HOME. HOWEVER, MY PROBLEM HERE TODAY IS THIS I REPRESENT A LARGE IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN DISTRICT 26, AND THAT IS MY DRIVING FORCE HERE. I THINK THIS ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF GOOD INTENTIONS BRINGING ABOUT NEGATIVE AND POTENTIALLY HORRIBLE RESULTS. I THINK THAT THE TIMING OF THIS ORDINANCE IS MISTIMED AND IT'S MISPLACED. I VIEW THIS ORDINANCE AS A BIT OF POLITICAL THEATER. ALSO, IT'S A HEADLINE GRABBER. THAT COMES WITH POTENTIALLY GREAT NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES VERSUS THE POTENTIAL GOOD. THIS IS REALLY ABOUT ICE. IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE MASKS, I BELIEVE I BELIEVE THIS IS REALLY ABOUT ICE. THE MASK OR COLLATERAL ISSUE. THIS COMMUNITY HERE IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY HAS HAD SOME ICE ARRESTS, BUT IT'S NOTHING LIKE WHAT I'VE SEEN. AND I'M A DAVID MUIR FAN. 630 EVERY NIGHT. MISSED IT TONIGHT AND I WATCH IT AND I SEE OTHER CITIES WHERE YOU SEE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF ICE FORCES GOING THROUGH STREETS, AND I'M TROUBLED BY THAT. BUT THE REALITY IS THIS THAT'S NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. NOT LIKE IT IS ELSEWHERE. AND THOSE OTHER CITIES THAT IT IS HAPPENING IN HAVE DEALT WITH LEGISLATION SIMILAR TO THIS TO TRY TO DEAL WITH IT. THAT LEGISLATION IS IN THE COURT SYSTEMS RIGHT NOW. WE WERE TALKING DURING A CAUCUS, AND COUNCILWOMAN RUBY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SHE'S SEEN MEMOS THAT RECOGNIZE THERE'S NOT A CLEAR ARGUMENT WHETHER OR NOT WE'VE GOT THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS OR NOT DO THIS. NOT CLEAR. THAT'S WHY I SAY THIS IS MISTIMED, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS WE NEED TO BE WATCHING TO SEE HOW THE COURTS DEAL WITH THIS, TO SEE IF WE EVEN HAVE THIS AUTHORITY TO USURP A CITY, NOT A STATE, A CITY USURPING FEDERAL LAW. AND WHAT FEDERAL LAW SAYS IT WILL PERMIT FOR THE ACTIONS OF ITS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES? WE SHOULD WAIT AND SEE BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS LEGISLATION TO SEE HOW THE COURTS HANDLE THIS. AND IF WE REALLY HAVE A LE TO STAND ON. I'VE HEARD FROM FRIENDS AND LABOR. I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER ACTIST GROUPS WHO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEIR FELLOW WORKERS AND CITIZENS WHO ARE AFRAID FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AFRAID T GTO FEAR. THIS DEALS WITH MASKS, NOT ICE. IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THAT FEAR. THAT FEAR IS NOT GOING AWAY. THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT GOING TO STOP ICE FROM COMING TO TOWN. AND ICE NOT NECESSARILY THE MASK. ICE IS THE ROOT OF THE FEAR THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM. NOT THE MASKS THAT THEY WEAR, BUT JUST THE FEAR OF ICE COMIN TO TOWN AND TAKING GOOD FAMILIES AWAY. MY FEAR IS THIS THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE COULD INCITE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THE ICE OFFICIALS. THEY COULD LOOK AT THIS AS SAYING [03:20:03] LOUISVILLE'S OVERSTEPPED ITS BOUNDS. I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE SEEN THAT FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ALREADY, THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT THAT THAT OTHERS OF US WOULD SAY IS NOT LAWFUL, BUT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO DO IT. AND I DON'T MAKE IT TO PICK A FIGHT WITH THE REPUBLICANS HERE TONIGHT. I'M JUST SPEAKING MY MIND. SO MY GREATEST FEAR IS THIS IS WE WE PICK A FIGHT OVER THIS ISSUE THAT I'M NOT EVEN SURE WE HAVE LEGAL STANDING TO DO. AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, ICE ROLLS INTO TOWN TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF LOUISVILLE WITH THEIR MASKS, JUST TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OR OR AN ISSUE OF THIS ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DEAL WITH TONIGHT, IN WHICH CASE, THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION OF MY DISTRICT, THE HARD WORKING FAMILIES THAT MAYBE THEY CAME IN HERE ILLEGALLY, BUT THEY'RE WORKING HARD, THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TAX DOLLARS, THEY'RE PAYING SOCIAL SECURITY. FRANKLY, THEY PROBABLY WILL NEVER SEE, I FEAR, FOR THOSE FAMILIES, NOT THE BAD GUYS, BUT I FEAR FOR THE HARD WORKING FOLKS OUT THERE THAT RIGHT NOW ARE NOT SUFFERING LIKE NASHVILLE AND OTHER CITIES ARE SUFFERING. BUT IT COULD GET THAT WAY. IT COULD. I DON'T I'M AFRAID TO POKE THE BEAR BECAUSE I KNOW THE BEAR, BEING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IS MUCH STRONGER THAN US RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S SHOWN A RESILIENCE TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST CITIES. YOU'LL RECALL THAT THIS BODY AND THIS ADMINISTRATION, WE WE GRAPPLED WITH THE WHOLE IDEA OF WE WEREN'T DETAINING WHEN WHEN IMMIGRANTS WERE ARRESTED. WE WERE NOT FOLLOWING ISIS POLICIES RELATED TO HOLDING THEM FOR AN EXTRA 48 HOURS, WHICH GAVE ICE EXTRA TIME TO COME AND PICK THEM UP. WE WERE SENT A LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE PUT ON THE LIST OF CITIES THAT THEY CONSIDERED TROUBLE. THAT'S NOT THE LIST THAT WE WANTED TO BE ON, AND WE CONCEDED GROUND BECAUSE OF THAT AND PUT THE 48 HOUR DETAINERS IN. I BELIEVE, THAT SERVED MY IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND MY IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN DISTRICT 26. AND I THINK THAT SERVED ALL OF LOUISVILLE'S IMMIGRANT POPULATION, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE LAST THING WE WANTED TO DO IS PICK A FIGHT TO POKE THE BEAR. THAT'S THE FEAR FOR ME HERE TODAY. IT'S NOT TRYING TO SAY THAT ICE IS GOOD. IT'S HOW CAN I PROTECT THE FOLKS. AND I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS ARE FOR THIS. WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE REALLY NOT SEEN THAT. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE HARD WORKING FAMILIES IN DISTRICT 26 WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS ARE MORE FEARFUL OF WHAT IF SOMEONE SHOWS UP AND TAKES MY KIDS OR TAKES MY WIFE RIGHT NOW, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING. THE FEAR IS THERE. BUT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. BUT VERY QUICKLY COULD HAPPEN. I'M A LAWYER AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE LEGAL STANDING TO USURP FEDERAL AUTHORITY. I DON'T BELIEVE WE DO OUT, LEGAL MINDS HAVE DIFFERENT ARE DIFFERING ON THIS. BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW. AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE, THE PASSAGE OF THIS SCARES ME FOR MY IMMIGRANT POPULATION. BUT WHAT SCARES ME EVEN MORE IS IF WE CAN'T ENFORCE IT NOW, I'VE PUT FAMILIES AT RISK WITHOUT A GUARANTEED RESULT THAT I CAN DELIVER FOR THEM, AND THAT GIVES ME EVEN GREATER CAUSE FOR PAUSE. WHICH AGAIN, WE'RE BACK TO WHY THIS IS MISTIMED AT THIS TIME. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY FOLKS, INCLUDING A COLLEAGUE IN HERE, WHO WILL REMAIN NAMELESS, THAT THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC ISSUE. AND IF I DON'T GET ON BOARD, I'M GOING TO PAY A PRICE WITH MY DEMOCRATIC VOTER BASE, AND THAT PRICE WILL BE AT THE POLLS. COULD I LOSE AT THE POLLS BECAUSE I HAVE NOT SUPPORTED THIS IMMIGRATION MASK ORDINANCE? WITH ALL POLITICAL THEATER COMES A PRICE TAG. OKAY. AND I HAVE TWO OPTIONS. ONE PRICE TAG IS TO VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE IT LOOKS GOOD FOR MY DEMOCRATIC BASE AND WILL MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY AND POTENTIALLY KEEP ME AWAY FROM BEING IN TROUBLE AT THE POLLS. OKAY, THAT'S ONE OPTION. THAT'S A SIMPLE OPTION THAT ESSENTIALLY I MARCH FORWARD WITH MY BANNER SAYING I'M AGAINST WHAT'S HAPPENING. BUT THE PRICE TAG PAID FOR, FOR, FOR, FOR THAT MARCH IS THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION. DISTRICT [03:25:01] 26 WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR MY DECISION TO TRY TO TO KEEP FACE WITH WITH MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES. IT'S NOT RIGHT. IT'S NOT RIGHT THAT THEY PAY THAT PRICE. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M A WHITE MAN BORN IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. I'M NOT GOING TO PAY THE PRICE OF MY IF I VOTED FOR THIS TONIGHT OR IF THIS PASSES TONIGHT. BUT THE LATINOS IN MY COMMUNITY WILL. THE OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS IN MY COMMUNITY WILL PAY THE PRICE OF MY DECISION HERE TONIGHT. SO THE OTHER OPTION IS THIS. KNOWING THAT THERE'S A PRICE, I'M NOT WILLING TO PASS THAT ON TO THE PEOPLE THAT I'M TRYING TO PROTECT. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM AND THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 26 DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR ME EVER AGAIN BECAUSE OF THIS, THAT'S A PRICE TAG THAT I'LL BEAR BECAUSE I THINK I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING TO PROTECT THE FOLKS IN DISTRICT 26. I'LL I'LL PAY THAT PRICE BECAUSE I THINK IT DOES THE GREATER GOOD. AND THAT'S THE JOB THAT I WAS ELECTED TO DO, WAS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE GREATER GOOD, NOT TO CHARGE HILLS WITH BANNERS, NOT TO TO TO LOOK, TO GRAB HEADLINES, NOT TO PLAY POLITICAL DRAMA. I'M GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF FOLKS MAD TONIGHT BY NOT SUPPORTING THIS. AND ALL I CAN SAY IS I APOLOGIZE, BUT I'M FOLLOWING MY HEART AND MY HEAD UNDER THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT I HAVE BEFORE ME, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT WHAT I'VE SAID HERE TODAY, AND SEE IF YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT YOUR FOLKS AT RISK FOR A BANNER THAT MAY BE MORAL AND CAUSE, BUT LIKELY WILL NOT DELIVER ANY RESULT OTHER THAN HEARTACHE AND PAIN AND SUFFERING FOR HARD WORKING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. THANK YOU. MR. MR. PRESIDENT PRO TEM. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMAN I MEAN COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER CHAPPELL AND THEN I'M GOING TO RELINQUISH THE CHAIR BACK TO THE PRESIDENT. SURE. JUST BECAUSE I WAS TALKING ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS EARLIER, CHURCHILL DOWNS HAS A LARGE IMMIGRANT POPULATION. AND I THINK THAT THEY ARE AT RISK. AND SO IF WE HAVE AN INTEREST IN BUSINESS, WE SHOULD HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS. THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY ABOUT THE MASK ORDINANCE. I'M A YES FOR IT. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING REALLY PROFOUND TO SAY. BUT TO THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING AT HOME RIGHT NOW. YOU CANNOT SEE THE AUDIENCE. BUT THERE ARE PROBABLY 75 FOLKS HERE RIGHT NOW, SOME THAT SUPPORT AND SOME THAT DO NOT. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WE ARE 3.5 HOURS INTO THIS MEETING. THIS IS THE LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SHOWING UP AND GIVING US YOUR ENTIRE EVENING. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING ADVOCATES. NO MATTER WHAT YOUR STANCE. AND I WISH MORE PEOPLE WERE IN THIS ROOM HOLDING SIGNS ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS, ABOUT THAT MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT. BUT I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO SAY THANK YOU ALL AND THAT'S IT. COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY, YOU'RE NEXT TO MY CUE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, BEFORE CASTING MY VOTE TONIGHT, I WANT TO SPEAK CANDIDLY ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE. AND TO THE RESIDENTS OF LOUISVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I AM STRONGLY OPPOSED TO ANYONE WHO WEARS A MASK TO COMMIT A CRIME, TO INTIMIDATE OR HARASS OTHERS, OR TO CONCEAL THEIR IDENTITY, TO EVADE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR UNLAWFUL BEHAVIOR, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY COMMITTED BEHIND A MASK IS UNACCEPTABLE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED FIRMLY AND RESPONSIBLY. EARLIER THIS YEAR, I INTRODUCED A COMPREHENSIVE ORDINANCE THAT WAS NOT SIDETRACKED BY THE SURFACE LEVEL DEBATE OF WHETHER MASKS SHOULD BE WORN OR NOT. INSTEAD, IT ADDRESSED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WHAT PEOPLE DO WHILE WEARING MASKS. TONIGHT'S ORDINANCE, AS IT'S WRITTEN, DOES NOT ADDRESS THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM THAT WE'RE FACED WITH IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT FOCUSES ON THE MASK OR ICE AND NOT THE MISCONDUCT. MY ORDINANCE CLEARLY STATED THAT IT IS ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE WEARING A MASK TO BREAK THE LAW, THREATEN OTHERS, DAMAGE PROPERTY, OR ENGAGE IN ANY FORM OF HARASSMENT. THAT'S THE REAL ISSUE FACING US. LET'S ADMIT IT. NOT THE MASK ITSELF, BUT THE BEHAVIOR BEHIND THE MASK. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU, MY COLLEAGUES, VOTED AGAINST THAT [03:30:05] ORDINANCE. HAD IT PASSED, WE WOULD NOT BE SITTING HERE TONIGHT DISCUSSING WHO CAN AND CANNOT WEAR A MASK. I ENTERED CITY HALL TODAY TO CAST A DECISIVE NO ON THIS MASK ORDINANCE. MY REASONS WERE PRETTY CLEAR. BUT I BELIEVE THAT LOUISVILLE NEEDS A STRONGER, MORE SENSIBLE AND MORE ENFORCEABLE MASK ORDINANCE. THE REASON FOR EVEN CONSIDERING THE NO VOTE WAS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS ORDINANCE MAY BE UNENFORCEABLE, BUT BE VERY CLEAR IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. WEARING A MASK IS NOT INHERENTLY HARMFUL. THE HARM OCCURS WHEN INDIVIDUALS WEAPONIZE ANONYMITY TO INTIMIDATE, HARASS, OR COMMIT CRIMES. WHEN THIS ORDINANCE FIRST CAME BEFORE US, I STATED THAT IT MAY BE AGAIN UNENFORCEABLE AND THAT THE REAL ISSUE MUST BE ADDRESSED. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CONDUCT BEHIND THE MASK. THAT REMAINS TRUE. WHEN I PROPOSED AN ORDINANCE EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND IT REMAINS TRUE NOW. I WISH THIS ORDINANCE BEFORE US TONIGHT HAD BEEN CRAFTED MORE COMPREHENSIVELY TO ADDRESS THE CORE PROBLEM OF CRIME, PARTICULARLY THE TYPE OF CONDUCT WE HAVE HEARD THAT IS OCCURRING IN OUR IN OTHER CITIES INVOLVING ICE AGENTS WHO ALLEGEDLY HARASSED RESIDENTS WHILE WEARING MASKS TO CONCEAL THEIR IDENTITY. WE HAVE ALSO SEEN HISTORICALLY AND PAINFULLY, HOW GROUPS SUCH AS THE KU KLUX KLAN HAVE USED MASKS, ANONYMITY AS A TOOL TO TERRORIZE AND TO INTIMIDATE THE KKK. MERE PRESENCE IS A FORM OF HARASSMENT AND A TRIGGERING REMINDER OF RACIAL TERROR FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY. WHEN I DRAFTED MY OWN MASK ORDINANCE EARLIER THIS YEAR, AGAIN, THE ONE THAT YOU VOTED AGAINST, I WAS INFORMED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT I COULD NOT EXPLICITLY STATE THAT IT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL FOR MEMBERS OF THE KKK TO WEAR A MASK, EVEN THOUGH THE EXISTING MASK ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US PROHIBITS THE WEARING OF MASKS IN PUBLIC. AND IF MOST OF YOU LISTEN TO THE NEWS EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU SAW THAT THE KKK HAD A RALLY HERE IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. OUR MASK ORDINANCE THAT EXISTS TODAY THAT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE BEHAVIOR BEHIND THE MASK, ALLOW THE KKK TO MARCH DOWN TOWN. AND NOT ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT, NOT ONE MAYOR, NOT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER. STOP THEM. BUT THE MASK ORDINANCE TODAY, AS IT'S WRITTEN FROM 1983, STATES IT'S UNLAWFUL TO WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC. WE HAD A YOUNG LADY HERE AS OUR PAGE. SHE HAD ON A MASK. IF WE WANTED TO ENFORCE THE MASK ORDINANCE THAT'S IN PLAY TODAY, SHE COULD HAVE AND HER PARENTS PERHAPS BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE SHE HAD ON A MASK. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS MASK ORDINANCE, AS IT IS WRITTEN, STATES IT'S UNLAWFUL TO WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC. THE PROHIBITION TO NOT SINGLE OUT THE KKK HIGHLIGHTED FOR ME WHY LOUISVILLE DESPERATELY NEEDS A STRONGER ORDINANCE, ONE THAT CLEARLY DEFINES PENALTIES FOR ALL BAD ACTORS. WHOEVER USES A MASK TO INTIMIDATE, HARASS, VICTIMIZE, OR DO ANY OTHER UNLAWFUL BEHAVIOR SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, AND THIS ORDINANCE SHOULD ADDRESS THAT. AGAIN, LET ME BE VERY CLEAR. I AM FUNDAMENTALLY OPPOSED TO THE EXISTING MASK ORDINANCE STILL IN ITS EXISTENCE. ITS ORIGINAL STATE FROM 1983, EXCEPT FOR THE PROPOSAL BEFORE US, THAT IS AMENDING IT BY MY COLLEAGUE TO MY RIGHT. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND UNREASONABLE AND ILLOGICAL IN 2025 THAT WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT'S WRITTEN THAT SAYS IT'S UNLAWFUL TO WEAR A MASK IN [03:35:06] PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY AFTER COVID 19. AND HERE'S WHERE I GET VERY SERIOUS, BECAUSE I ALMOST DIED OF COVID 20. 20 WAS A HORRIBLE YEAR FOR ME. AND I REMEMBER MY COLLEAGUES IN HERE WANTED US TO NOT WEAR MASKS IN 2020, PEOPLE WHO WEAR MASKS. FOR HEALTH REASONS ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND PROTECT OTHERS. SO HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHO CAN WEAR A MASK AND WHO CAN'T WEAR A MASK. AND OUR MASK ORDINANCE STATES IT'S ILLEGAL TO WEAR ONE IN PUBLIC. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. SO TONIGHT I JUST WANT TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUES, THOSE WHO ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN DIGNITY. OF ALL LOUISVILLE RESIDENTS, TO JOIN ME IN CRAFTING A MORE COMPREHENSIVE MASK ORDINANCE THAT DIRECTLY TARGETS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR WHILE WEARING MASKS, LET US CREATE LEGISLATION THAT DETERS MISCONDUCT, PROTECTS VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, AND APPLIES EQUALLY TO ALL INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER THEY ARE PRIVATE CITIZENS, ICE AGENTS, OR MEMBERS OF A HATE GROUP. AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD BE FAIR AND EQUITABLE ACROSS THE BOARD. NOW, FOR THIS ORDINANCE BEFORE US. AGAIN, I'M INHERENTLY OPPOSED TO THE OVERALL STRUCTURE BECAUSE IT'S OLD, IT'S OUTDATED. WRITTEN IN 1983. I AM DEEPLY INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW LMPD AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL ENFORCE THIS AMENDMENT. SHOULD IT PASS. I'M VERY CURIOUS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO SO WHEN IT COMES TO ICE, BUT LET ME JUST SAY IN CLOSING, BECAUSE I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS COUNCIL HAS YET DONE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE MASK ORDINANCE ENTIRELY LOGICAL, ENFORCEABLE, OR AN ACTUAL DETERRENT TO BAD LAWLESS BEHAVIOR. AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME IN DRAFTING A MORE COMPREHENSIVE MASK ORDINANCE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. I WILL BE A RELUCTANT YES TONIGHT WITH THE FOLLOWING CRITICAL AMENDMENT THAT EXPLICITLY ACCOUNTS FOR PEOPLE WHO WEAR MASKS IN PUBLIC TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. THEREFORE, MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO AMEND SECTION ONE, SUBSECTION C, EXEMPTIONS TO ADD NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH READS ANY PERSON WEARING A MASK TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS FROM COVID 19 AND OTHER RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES. THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, THERE'S A MOTION TO AMEND. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL AMENDMENT BEFORE US. NOW. I'VE GOT FOLKS IN THE QUEUE AND THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE THE QUEUE AS IS. AND IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THE AMENDMENT VERSUS THE THE GENERAL QUEUE, I'M GOING TO LOOK AROUND THE ROOM, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL AMENDMENT. COUNCILOR WINKLER, YOUR FIRST IN MY QUEUE ON THAT. I REALLY JUST WANTED TO ASK COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY. JUST CAN YOU SAY AGAIN WHERE THAT'S GOING AND WHAT THE VERBIAGE IS? JUST. YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. IT'S IN SECTION ONE, SUBSECTION C UNDER THE EXEMPTIONS BECAUSE THIS THIS ORDINANCE HAS A FEW EXEMPTIONS. BUT WHAT'S NOT EXEMPTED IS PERSONS WHO ARE TRYING TO WEAR A MASK FOR HEALTH REASONS. SO MY AMENDMENT READS ANY PERSON WEARING A MASK TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS FROM COVID 19 AND ANY OTHER RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES. COUNCILMAN WINKLER, YOU GOT YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED. OKAY, I'M GOING TO LOOK AROUND. COUNCILMAN LEININGER, YOU'RE NEXT IN MY QUEUE. YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. I VOTED FOR YOUR ORDINANCE PREVIOUSLY THIS YEAR. I'VE BEEN ON THE RECORD. I DON'T LIKE THE MASK ORDINANCE, BUT THAT THE LAW IS THE LAW AND IT SHOULD APPLY TO EVERYONE. YOU KNOW, I, I ABSOLUTELY [03:40:01] BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM ILLNESS. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS AMENDMENT. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN SYME, YOUR NEXT TO MY QUEUE. YOU GOT THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. DOES THIS AMENDMENT INCLUDE ICE AGENTS? NO. COUNCILMAN. EVEN IF THIS AMENDMENT DID NOT MAKE ANY EXPLICIT STATEMENT ABOUT ICE AGENTS. OUR CURRENTLY EXISTING MASK LAW IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT PEOPLE FACING OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS ARE ALLOWED TO MASK. THAT. THIS AMENDMENT IS, YOU KNOW, MY AMENDMENT, NOT DOCTOR MCCRANEY'S IS ABOUT THE INTENT TO SHIELD IDENTITY, TO HIDE YOUR IDENTITY FROM THE PUBLIC. IT ALSO MAKES CLEAR THAT HIDING YOUR IDENTITY FROM THE PUBLIC IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO. THE ENTIRE POINT OF THIS LAW IS THAT THE LAW APPLIES TO EVERYONE, THAT'S THE ENTIRE POINT OF WHAT I'M OFFERING HERE. AND SO WE POINT OF ORDER. THERE'S AN AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR, MISTER PRESIDENT. YES, MADAM. WE'RE AND WE'RE DEBATING THAT AMENDMENT RIGHT NOW. I'M NOT GOING BY THE QUEUE BEFORE YOUR AMENDMENT. I'M GOING BY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DEBATE YOUR AMENDMENT. AND, WELL, WE NEED TO SPEAK TO THE AMENDMENT, NOT THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE AND THE AMENDMENT. THAT CHAIR'S OPINION, MADAM, THEY ARE SPEAKING TO THE AMENDMENT. THE AMENDMENT OVERLAPS. AND SO I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE QUEUE. COUNCILMAN, YOUR NEXT RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN, PRECISELY WHY I'M GOING TO BE A NO ON THE AMENDMENT, BECAUSE IT'S I MEAN IT IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS. YOU'RE AMENDING THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, WHICH MEANS ANY ICE AGENT OR ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, WHAT THE AMENDMENT IS TRYING TO BLOCK CAN ALL SAY THEY'RE TRYING TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE AND THEREFORE MAKING THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS MOOT. SO LIKE I'M ADDING THIS AMENDMENT JUST ALLOWS ANYBODY AT ANY TIME TO SAY THAT IT DOES. I'M I'M FINE WITH MY COLLEAGUE'S POINT ABOUT, LOOK, WE SHOULD ALL JOIN TOGETHER AND WORK ON SOME COMPREHENSIVE REFORM. I'M FINE WITH THAT DOWN THE ROAD. BUT THIS AMENDMENT, ALL IT DOES IS SUBVERT THE WHOLE POINT OF WHAT IS TRYING TO BE DONE IN THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT. AND EVERY SINGLE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSON TO SAY, LOOK, I'M TRYING TO PREVENT SPREADING THE DISEASE. SO AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE SPECIFIC. YOU CAN'T CHECK THEM, YOU CAN'T ASK WHAT IT IS, AND YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THEIR WORD FOR IT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR INTENT. SO I'LL BE A NO ON THE AMENDMENT. MISTER PRESIDENT. COUNCILMAN CHAPPELL, YOUR NEXT IN MY QUEUE AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. SURE, I SHOULD PICK MY JAW UP OFF THE FLOOR BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN. ARGENTINA, ACTUALLY. BUT. I THINK THAT IT DOES OMIT A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND EVEN IF SOMEONE WAS INFECTED AND CURRENTLY HAD COVID, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENFORCEMENT BEING A HINDRANCE TO THIS, I DON'T SEE HOW THAT WOULD BE ENFORCEABLE. BUT ALSO, IF IT'S JUST TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF CONTAGION, THEN ANYBODY COULD SAY THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF HEALTH. SO I THINK IT'S KIND OF WELL INTENDED, BUT MAYBE. MISSES THE MARK. AND AGAIN, I VOTED YES FOR YOUR MASK ORDINANCE, COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY. SO DON'T POINT FINGERS OVER HERE. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON COUNCILWOMAN CRANEY'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT? I'M IN THE QUEUE TO SPEAK. WELL, I'M NOT GOING BY THE QUEUE. I'M GOING BY HAND BECAUSE THE QUEUE IS GOING TO BE FOR THE OVERALL LEGISLATION. IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU, MADAM. YES. YOU'RE ON. YOU'RE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. SO AGAIN, THIS ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN IN 1983. SO IF I DON'T KNOW THE PROCEDURE TO MAKE MY AMENDMENT SEPARATE FROM THE AMENDMENT THAT MY COLLEAGUE TO MY RIGHT IS PROPOSING. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS IF WHETHER OR NOT IT FAILS OR PASSES THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ME OR ANYONE ELSE TO WEAR A MASK TO PROTECT MYSELF OR TO PROTECT OTHERS BECAUSE IT'S NOT WRITTEN IN THIS EXISTING ORDINANCE. I [03:45:08] STAND BY WHAT I AM SUGGESTING. WE LOOK AT RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES AS A SERIOUS MATTER. I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY HOSPITAL BILL THAT IT'S A SERIOUS MATTER. WE KNOW MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DIED DURING COVID. WELL, MAYBE I DON'T KNOW IF MILLIONS, BUT THOUSANDS, MAYBE MILLIONS. WE NEED TO ADD IN THIS SECTION OF EXEMPTIONS, THE RESPIRATORY ILLNESS LANGUAGE. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ALL WANT TO LOOK AT IT, SEPARATE IT FROM THE ICE ISSUE. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY ADAMANT ABOUT. WHETHER THIS PASSES OR NOT, WE STILL HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS IT'S ILLEGAL TO WEAR A MASK IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? AS FAR AS DEBATING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY, I'M LOOKING AROUND. I'VE SEEN NO ONE. THEREFORE, WE HAVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BY COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY BEFORE US. THAT WOULD USUALLY BE A VOICE VOTE. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS ISSUE, WE'RE GOING TO ROLL WITH THE ROLL CALL VOTE. THIS IS A VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT THE AMENDED VERSION BY COUNCILMAN LINEGAR WILL NOW INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE OF COUNCILWOMAN MCCRANEY. COUNCILMEMBER PARIS RIGHT. PRESENT. COUNCILWOMAN SHANKLIN, I GOT YOU. SHE'S GOT HERS. ONE SECOND. I GOT WE GOT YOU. ALL RIGHT, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE 11 YES VOTES, 13 NO VOTES AND TWO PRESENT VOTES. ALL RIGHT. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT THAT'S BEFORE US FAILS. SO NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL Q WHICH WILL DEBATE, COUNCILMAN PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE MASK ORDINANCE. AND THE FIRST IN MY QUEUE IS COUNCILMAN SANTINI. THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUE AND SAY THAT IT WAS IN THIS CASE, THE ADMINISTRATION'S FAILURE TO ENFORCE THE CURRENT ORDINANCE. WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE A THING TO STOP THOSE BIGOTS FROM MARCHING DOWN THE STREET, COVERING THEIR FACES, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE THE LAW. HE JUST HAS TO ENFORCE THE LAW. AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY DID. I HAVE SPOKEN, I JUST TWO QUICK POINTS. I MADE SOME POINTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY. I WROTE IT DOWN THIS TIME, BY THE WAY, SO I WOULDN'T FORGET, WHICH I DID IN PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT TWO QUICK POINTS. ONE IS I SPOKE TO THE MEDIA, I SPOKE TO LMPD, THERE IS NOT YET ONE SHRED OF EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY CURRENTLY. OKAY, FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LMPD OFFICERS. SO I'LL SPEAK. I'M I'M A STAY IN YOUR LANE GUY. I I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT LOCAL RIGHT I DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION OVER FED STATE. YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH THAT CALL CONGRESSMAN MCGARVEY. CONGRESSMAN GUTHRIE, CALL OUR STATE SENATORS. CALL YOUR PRESIDENT. OKAY. BUT I'M GOING TO DEAL WITH WHAT I'VE JURISDICTION OVER. AND THAT'S LMPD. THEY WERE THEIR NAMES AND THEIR BADGES ON THEIR UNIFORM. SPOKE TO THE SPOKE TO LMPD LEADERSHIP. EVEN IN THE OFF CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THEY'RE WORKING AS COLD AS IT WAS, AND THEY'RE COVERING UP JUST FOR THE PURPOSES OF TRYING TO STAY WARM WHEN THEY'RE OUTSIDE, WHEN THEY'RE HELPING ALL THESE ACCIDENTS THAT WERE HAPPENING ALL OVER THE CITY. THE SECOND ANYBODY SAYS, WHO ARE YOU? THEY ARE REQUIRED TO SAY THEIR NAME AND BADGE NUMBER BY POLICY AND WILL BE PUNISHED IF THEY DON'T DO SO. AND AGAIN, IT'S ON THEIR UNIFORM. SO. FINALLY, I CAN'T IGNORE THE FACT THAT THIS ONLY CALLS OUT LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS. WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF DEPARTMENTS THAT INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC WITHIN LOUISVILLE METRO. JUST A FEW INCLUDE US METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS, POLITICIANS. IT INCLUDES PUBLIC WORKS, LIBRARY STAFF, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CODES AND REGULATIONS, AND MANY, MANY MORE. THE MASK ORDINANCE DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT PROFESSIONS. IT DOESN'T CALL OUT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. AND THEN WE HAD TO CALL OUT THIS ONE. SO MY COLLEAGUE CALLED OUT ONE PARTICULAR GROUP OF PROFESSIONS, ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHY DO WE THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ONLY CALL OUT THAT PROFESSION WHEN THERE'S MANY OTHER JOBS WITHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC, THAT PENALIZE THE PUBLIC VIA FINES, VIA OTHER THINGS? WHY ARE THEY SINGLED OUT? THE ONLY AGAIN, I, I, I'M [03:50:04] VERY CAREFUL NOT TO ATTRIBUTE INTENT, BUT THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS IS TO TREAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DIFFERENTLY THAN EVERYBODY ELSE AND TO AND TO VOTE ON THIS WOULD BE TO SAY THAT WE DON'T WE DON'T LIKE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, AND WE DON'T TRUST THAT THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT AND WE DON'T TRUST THEM VERSUS THESE OTHER PROFESSIONS. THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE CALLING OUT US THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR FACES UNCOVERED. WHY NOT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT. COUNCILWOMAN PARISH. RIGHT. YOU ARE NEXT TO MY CUE. AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. WHEN THIS CAME UP IN PUBLIC SAFETY, I CHOSE NOT TO SAY NOTHING MUCH, JUST TO VOTE FOR IT. I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS NOW. AND I'M SITTING HERE IN FRANKFORT ON A DARK STREET, FINISHING THIS MEETING, BECAUSE I'M NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE AND HAVE THIS MEETING. AND IF SOMEBODY TRIED TO JUST ARREST ME RIGHT NOW AND HAD THEIR FACE FULLY COVERED, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. I MEAN, I DON'T I'M CLEARLY I DON'T LIVE OFF FEAR, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT AND ALL OVER OUR CITY WHO ARE SCARED OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHAT'S COMING. I FEEL LIKE EVERY TIME I'M IN THESE KIND OF MEETINGS AND WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, IT'S LIKE THE GAME OF THRONES. WE SAY, WINTER IS COMING. WE SAY, LET'S PREPARE. WE STILL HAVE A SHELTER ORDINANCE THAT WE DIDN'T COMPLETE, BUT AS SOON AS THE MASSAGE PARLOR STUFF CAME UP, WE ALREADY GOT A MONEY ALLOTTED TO ABC TO FUND IT. LIKE IT'S. OUR PRIORITIES ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT HATING LAW ENFORCEMENT OR TAKING ANY OPPORTUNITIES FROM THEM. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD WHERE PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHO'S APPROACHING THEM, TO TRY TO TAKE THEM AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES. WE JUST HAD A GENTLEMAN WHO WANTS TO SHARE HIS STORY. WHO WHO IS THE LEGAL GREEN CARD HOLDER, WHO WAS TAKEN AND HAS WENT TO THREE DIFFERENT COUNTIES, HAD ALL THESE COURT CASES, AND HE'S BACK HOME IN LOUISVILLE. THANK YOU. BUT HE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THAT AND HE'S LEGAL. WE SEE PEOPLE DIE AND THEY COMPLY. PUT THEIR HANDS UP. THEY STILL GET SHOT. SO THE REALITY IS THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THESE EXPERIENCES YOU DON'T KNOW. AND THEN WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT DOXING LAST TIME AND THINGS HAPPENED, I DID NOT KNOW WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DOCKED MY TEAM WHEN I DID THIS WORK ON THE GROUND IN 2020 AND BEYOND WAS DOCKED. I HAD TO HIRE SECURITY. I WAS THREATENED TO BE SHOT IN MY HEAD. I RECEIVED ALL OF THAT DOXING, SO I KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE ON THAT END AS WELL. BUT WHAT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS THAT THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN EACH ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS WHO ARE THREATENED BY WHAT'S HAPPENING. ICE IS HERE. ICE IS ARRESTING PEOPLE, ICE IS TERRORIZING COMMUNITIES, AND WE'VE PAID MORE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS SINCE 2020 ALONE FOR POLICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, POLICE ABUSE, ALL OF THESE THINGS. AND WE STILL SAY, OH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ATTACKING THE LAW OFFICE. IF YOU'RE RIGHTEOUS AND YOU'RE LIVING A RIGHTEOUS LIFE LIKE I AM, I'M NOT FEARFUL FOR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I'M NOT OUT HERE TERRORIZING PEOPLE AND DOING THINGS THAT I SHOULDN'T DO, AND I DON'T NEED TO HIDE THAT. AND THEN THE POINT ABOUT LMPD, WHEN WE WERE OUT THERE IN THE STREETS, BECAUSE I WAS BOOTS ON THE GROUND, SOME OF THEM HAD THEIR NAME BADGES TAPED UP, AND THEY THE WAY UP WHERE YOU JUST SEE THEIR EYES. THAT WAS HAPPENING WHEN. WHEN THINGS GO DOWN. NOBODY'S TAKING A PROTOCOL LIST AND SAY, HEY, CHECK. DO YOU HAVE THIS? DO YOU HAVE THIS? NO. THEY'RE MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT. THEY'RE TAKING THEM FROM WHERE THEY ARE, AND IT'S CAUSING PROBLEMS. SO I AM SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE IT TELLS THEM THAT WHILE IT'S OUR TURN AND THIS MOMENT IN TIME, WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT BY OUR COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE LAWYERS, WE HAVE COURT CASES, WE GET LAWSUITS EVERY DAY FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AND WE'VE ALREADY SHOWN. BONDI BRAGGED THAT LOUISVILLE COMPLIED WITH WHATEVER SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT. SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO. THE THING IS, IF THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING US TO DO THIS, IT IS OUR DUTY AS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO DO WHAT THEY'RE ASKING. OUR LIVES ARE NOT TOUCHING THESE ISSUES DAY TO DAY, LIKE THE MANY COMMUNITY PEOPLE WHO ARE DEALING WITH THIS. AND NOT EVERY IMMIGRANT IS ILLEGAL. BUT JUST LIKE THAT GENTLEMAN WHO WORKS AT A POPULAR RESTAURANT HERE WAS TAKEN AND HE WAS LEGAL, A CITIZEN, AND HAD TO GO THROUGH LOST IN THE SYSTEM. THANK GOD HE HAD ADVOCATES TO FOLLOW HIM THROUGH IT AND HE MADE IT BACK HOME. THINK ABOUT THE MANY PEOPLE THAT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHO PICKED THEM UP, MASKED AND IN A WHITE VAN AND JUST DROVE OFF OR WHATEVER CAR. SO I THINK THAT IT IS OUR DUTY TO DO RIGHT BY THE COMMUNITY AND BY THE CITY THAT WE'RE SWORN TO SERVE, [03:55:05] BY DOING WHAT THEY'RE ASKING US TO DO. AND WE FIGHT TOGETHER. WE DEAL WITH ALL THE THINGS TOGETHER, JUST LIKE WE DO EVERYTHING ELSE. SO, LIKE, WHAT IS I DON'T GET WHERE THIS IS. IF WE'RE MAKING IT EQUAL AND WE'RE MAKING IT EQUITABLE FOR EVERY PERSON, THEN WHY NOT DO THIS? WHAT IS THE HOLDUP? THERE SHOULD BE NO HOLD UP. THERE SHOULD BE 26 VOTES TO PUSH THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HERNDON, YOU'RE NEXT TO MY CUE, AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I'M GOING TO VOTE. YES. MY, MY YES IS COMING FROM A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ANGLE FROM SOME OTHER COMMENTS, BUT WE'VE HAD ELOQUENT COMMENTS MADE FOR BOTH YES'S AND NO'S BY BOTH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT AND COUNCILMAN LANGER AND OTHERS. IT IS IT IS CORRECT AS WELL THAT WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS LEGAL OR NOT, OR IF WE CAN DO THIS IF WE CAN OVERCOME FEDERAL LAW. SO MY STATE BY MY AND SO MY YOU'RE CORRECT TOO THAT THIS REALLY IS OR AT LEAST MY YES VOTE IS REALLY IS A STATEMENT ABOUT ICE. I BELIEVE THAT ICE AGENTS ARE ILL TRAINED MERCENARIES WHOSE ACTIONS ARE AN AFFRONT TO HIGHLY TRAINED, PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, LIKE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LMPD AND OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHO DO THEIR JOBS EVERY DAY WITH THEIR FACES UNCOVERED AND THEIR NAMES ON THEIR CHESTS, AND WHO MANY TIMES DO THOSE JOBS IN SITUATIONS FAR MORE DANGEROUS THAN STORMING THE MEAN STREETS OF HOME DEPOT? AND DOXING IS NOT AN EXCUSE. DOXING IS WRONG. IT IS ILLEGAL. AND EVEN FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO TO TO TO GO AROUND THE DOXING LAWS AND DO IT ANYWAY, EVEN WITH THAT THREAT OUT THERE AGAIN, THE THE MEMBERS OF LMPD AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DO THEIR JOBS THE RIGHT WAY WITH PRIDE AND NOT COWERING IN ANONYMITY BEHIND A MASK. AND ICE AGENTS SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO DO THE SAME. THANK YOU, SIR, COUNCILOR MARINO WEBER, YOU'RE NEXT IN MY QUEUE. AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. I'LL. I'LL BE BRIEF. YOU CAN START THE TIMER NOW. I THINK THERE ARE THREE PARTS TO THIS THAT JUST SPEAK TO MY HEART. ONE IS MY FATHER WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL LAW PROFESSOR. HE ACTUALLY TAUGHT A NUMBER OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM. AND HE WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOU WHO ARE OUT THERE. AND I ASKED MYSELF WHAT HE WOULD THINK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE HIS FOCUS WAS IN HISTORY, BUT IT WAS ALSO ON THE INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP OF OUR FOUNDERS. AND AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT, I THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN HE DESCRIBED TO ME AS A SMALL CHILD THE BOSTON MASSACRE AND WHAT HE SAID ABOUT IT WAS THIS HORRIBLE THING HAPPENED. AND THEN WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN FIRING ON THOSE CIVILIANS WERE FOUND GUILTY, AND MOST OF THEM WERE FOUND INNOCENT. BUT AT NO POINT IN THAT PROCESS WAS ANYONE INVOLVED IN THIS. ANONYMOUS. WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF OUR COUNTRY, WHEN THE ABSOLUTE TEMPTATION TO SAY, WELL, WHATEVER HAPPENS TO THEM IS, OKAY, WE DIDN'T DO THAT THEN. AND I THINK THEN OF MY AUNT PAT, SISTER PAT ADRIAN, DOMINICAN NUN WHO RAN THE CENTRAL LATINO IN SHELBYVILLE AS HER RETIREMENT GIG. AND I REMEMBER WHEN ICE CAME TO THEIR DOOR AND SHE AT THAT POINT 80 YEARS OLD, LOOKS INTO THE FACE OF THIS SET OF ARMED MEN WHO WERE COMING FOR HER FOLKS AND SAID TWICE IN HIS LIFE, JESUS WAS AN IMMIGRANT. AND AT THE END OF YOUR LIFE, IF YOU BELIEVE AS A CHRISTIAN THAT YOU ARE GOING TO LOOK GOD IN THE EYE, ASK YOURSELF WHAT IT IS EXACTLY THAT GOD IS GOING TO SAY TO YOU ABOUT HOW YOU TREATED THE LEAST OF THEM. AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DID? THEY WALKED AWAY BECAUSE NO ONE MESSED WITH SISTER PAT. AND THEN I THINK ABOUT MY WIFE, TEN YEARS IN THE COAST GUARD DEFENDING OUR BORDERS AS PART OF WHAT SHE DID IN MIAMI. AND IF YOU THINK THAT WAS SAFE, YOU'RE WRONG. AND AT NO MOMENT IN A CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY FROM IMMIGRANTS, WOULD SHE OR ANY OF HER COLLEAGUES OR CLASSMATES SAY, I SHOULD BE ANONYMOUS IN THAT ENFORCEMENT? THAT IS NOT THE PRINCIPLE ON WHICH OUR COUNTRY OPERATES. I SPENT AN ALARMING AMOUNT OF MY 20S IN POST-DICTATORSHIP COUNTRIES, AND I HAD THE [04:00:04] PRIVILEGE OF, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, GETTING TO SEE PEOPLE IN ALBANIA AND SERBIA VOTE, AND PART OF MY ROLE BECAUSE I WAS AN IDIOT AS MANY PEOPLE WERE IN THEIR 20S, WAS GOING UP TO THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO UP TO THAT MOMENT HAD BEEN ABLE TO INFLUENCE THOSE ELECTIONS BEHIND MASKS, BEHIND GUNS, AND SAY, YOU HAVE TO BE 50M FROM THIS POLLING STATION. AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IF THEY HAD BEEN ANONYMOUS, THAT WOULD NOT HAVE GONE WELL FOR ME OR MY COLLEAGUES. BUT THEY WEREN'T. WE WERE THERE WITH RADIOS. WE COULD SEE WHO THEY WERE AND THAT THOSE ELECTIONS, THAT FREEDOM, THAT ABILITY TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS IN AN OPEN FASHION IS SO CORE TO WHO WE ARE AS A COUNTRY, THAT IT IS BIZARRE TO ME THAT WE ARE HAVING THE THE PIECE OF THIS CONVERSATION, THAT WE ARE THE PIECE OF IT THAT I DO UNDERSTAND IS THE IDEA OF POKING THE BEAR EYE. THAT IS THE PIECE THAT I DO UNDERSTAND. AND ALSO I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN WE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS CORE TO WHO WE ARE. SO FOR MY FATHER, FOR SISTER PAT, FOR MY WIFE, I WILL ABSOLUTELY BE SUPPORTING THIS. COUNCILMAN WINKLER, NEXT TO MY. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU. AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR THE SPONSOR AND NOT TO GET SORT OF IN THE TECHNICAL LANGUAGE HERE, BUT I SORT OF WENT BACK AND WATCHED THE COMMITTEE HEARING AND THOUGHT ABOUT SOME OF THE DISCUSSION TODAY. AND THIS DOES WORK, JUST FULL DISCLOSURE, BUT A CONCERN THAT I SEE IN SECTION ONE, SECTION C, SUBSECTION FOUR. IN COMMITTEE, YOU WERE ASKED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOLLY WOOLRICH WHETHER AN OFFICER COULD WEAR A BUCKLE OR COULD WEAR A FACE COVERING IN THE COLD. AND YOU SAID, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THEY COULD WEAR A. GAITER OR BAKLAVA. WHAT? BUT WHEN I READ SECTION FOUR, IT EXPLICITLY SAYS THIS EXEMPTION DOES NOT INCLUDE FACE. SO IT TALKS ABOUT WEARING FACE COVERINGS FOR PHYSICAL SAFETY BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION. AND THEN IT SAYS, BUT THIS EXEMPTION DOES NOT INCLUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT WORKING UNDERCOVER. SO UNLESS THE OFFICERS WORKING UNDERCOVER, THEY CAN'T WEAR ANY FACE COVERING, WHICH IN MY READ WOULD ALSO INCLUDE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY WERE WORKING LIKE A, YOU KNOW, A PROTEST AND THEY'RE WEARING GOGGLES, THAT THOSE WOULD ALSO BE EXEMPTED BY MY. CAN YOU TELL ME WHETHER THAT'S INCORRECT OR CORRECT READ AND MAN YES, PLEASE. THAT'S AN INCORRECT READ. THE SENTENCE MEANS THAT THE EXEMPTION DOES NOT INCLUDE FACE COVERINGS WORN TO CONCEAL THE IDENTITY OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO WAS NOT ACTIVELY WORKING UNDERCOVER. THE POINT IS THAT IF YOU ARE AWARE, IF YOU ARE CONCEALING YOUR IDENTITY FOR AN UNDERCOVER REASON, THAT'S ACCEPTABLE. BUT WE'RE NOT TAKING AWAY ANY OF THE EXEMPTIONS THAT COVER OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, AS WE POINTED OUT IN COMMITTEE, IF A POLICE OFFICER IS DIRECTING TRAFFIC AND IT'S NEGATIVE TEN DEGREES OUTSIDE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET FROSTBITE. THEY CAN COVER THEIR FACE. THAT'S AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD THAT'S PERMITTED. THIS SENTENCE MERELY STATES THAT YOU CAN'T THE WHAT IS NOT AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD. WHAT YOU CAN'T DO IS CONCEAL WEAR A MASK IN ORDER TO CONCEAL YOUR IDENTITY, WITH THE EXCEPTION IF IT'S IN AID OF UNDERCOVER WORK. YEAH. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT WHAT IT SAYS. I MEAN, WHAT IT SAYS IS ANY PERSON LAWFULLY ENGAGED IN TRADE AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT ACTIVITY CAN WEAR A MASK OR FACE COVERING FOR THEIR PHYSICAL SAFETY. RIGHT. I'M SHORTCHANGING A LITTLE BIT. RIGHT. AND THEN THE NEXT SENTENCE SPECIFICALLY SAYS THIS EXEMPTION DOES NOT APPLY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. SO I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOUR INTENT. BUT I THINK AS WRITTEN, IT ACTUALLY SAYS IF YOU'RE WORKING IN NEGATIVE TEN, IF YOU'RE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, YOU CANNOT WEAR ANYTHING TO COVER YOUR FACE. I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU INTEND, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS. MAY I KICK THIS OVER TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ABOUT HOW THE READING OF THIS SENTENCE, AS DRAFTED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, IS ALICE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. ALICE LYNNE, JEFFERSON COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I AM NOT A JUDGE. I'M NOT INTERPRETING AN ORDINANCE IN THE WAY THAT THEY WOULD. BUT AS DRAFTED, THERE IS THE THE PIECE THAT SAYS DOES NOT INCLUDE FACE COVERINGS WORN TO CONCEAL THE IDENTITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. SO IF THE PURPOSE OF WEARING IT IS, IT'S CALLED OUT AND YOU'VE GOT TO STAND THERE AND DIRECT TRAFFIC. YOU'RE NOT WEARING IT TO CONCEAL YOUR IDENTITY. YOU'RE [04:05:02] WEARING IT FOR THE SAFETY PIECE THAT COMES IN THE SENTENCE ABOVE THAT. OKAY. THAT'S HOW I INTERPRET IT. THANK YOU. SO FOR THE EXPLICIT PURPOSE OF CONCEALING IT. OTHERWISE IT IS ACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FOR ADDRESSING THAT. THE SHIFT GEARS ENTIRELY SO THAT I DID HAVE THAT CONCERN. I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION. YOU KNOW, I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I MYSELF AM AN IMMIGRANT AND NOT LIKE AN IMMIGRANT, LIKE WE'RE ALL IMMIGRANTS. LIKE, I ACTUALLY HAVE ONLY BEEN A CITIZEN FOR A LITTLE OVER A DECADE. MY PARENTS ARE TWO GREEN CARD HOLDERS. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS ISSUE IS VERY REAL. I MEAN, MY PARENTS EARLIER THIS YEAR CANCELED A TRIP ABROAD BECAUSE OF FEAR THAT WHEN THEY CAME BACK THEY MIGHT NOT BE ALLOWED IN, NOT BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE ANYTHING WRONG OR THEY DON'T HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT TO COME BACK IN. BUT AT THE WAY THAT THE LAW IS CURRENTLY BEING ENFORCED, IT'S NOT TOTALLY CLEAR. AND SO THEY OPTED NOT TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY. I THINK THE CONCERNS THAT THAT COUNCILMAN LINENGER, THAT THAT COUNCILMEMBER WEBBER AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAVE VOICED ARE VERY REAL. AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT, BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH PRESIDENT ACKERSON THAT THERE IS GRAVE RISK OF OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. I ALSO DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICAL THEATER, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT NOT PASSING THIS ORDINANCE, THAT THIS IS OUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP AGAINST WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND I THINK THE ORDINANCE NOT PASSING IS NOT IN SOME WAY ACQUIESCENCE TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND SAYING THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS OKAY. IN FACT, I VERY STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING IS SPECIFICALLY INTENDED TO PROVOKE A REACTION IN ORDER TO BE THE JUSTIFICATION FOR FURTHER ESCALATION, WHICH WILL ONLY THEN PERMEATE FURTHER ESCALATION. I'M A STUDENT OF HISTORY, AND WHEN I LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH OPPRESSION. AND TO COUNTER THIS EXACT TYPE OF ESCALATING, ESCALATING BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO PROVOKE A REACTION. I THINK THE BEST LESSON COMES FROM MAHATMA GANDHI AND OVERCOMING THE OPPRESSION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, WHICH WAS THROUGH NONVIOLENT RESPONSES, NONVIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, NOT OBEYING UNJUST OR IMMORAL LAWS. AND I THINK THAT IS THE COURSE OF ACTION THAT WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE. IT'S NOT TO DOX ICE OFFICERS. IT'S NOT TO COMMIT ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN RESPONSE. LIKE THAT IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE. THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE IS NONVIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. IT MAY NOT BE QUICK, BUT IT IS THE JUST AND MORAL WAY TO ADDRESS THE UNJUST AND IMMORAL ACTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION. AND THAT'S THE POSITION THAT I HOLD. AND THAT'S WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WEIGH ON MY MIND. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MCCRANEY. YOU'RE NEXT IN MY QUEUE. YOU'RE PASSING. OKAY, COUNCILMAN WATTS, THAT COUNCILMAN SYME, YOU'RE NEXT TO MY QUEUE, AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. A COUPLE THINGS I WANTED TO SAY. WE HAVE HAD THOUSANDS OF THREATS AGAINST ICE OFFICERS, AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I'M ASKING IS DOXING AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD. I BELIEVE IT IS. AND I. I WOULD THINK THEY'D HAVE A RIGHT TO CONCEAL IF, IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE KIDS OR GOING IF THEIR KIDS ARE GOING TO BE SUBJECTED TO HARASSMENT OR WHATEVER AT THEIR HOME. SO I, I LOOK AT THAT AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ICE IS DOING IS THEY'RE, THEY'RE ENFORCING CURRENT LAWS. YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE LAWS, CHANGE THEM. BUT THEY'RE ENFORCING CURRENT LAWS. WE WANTED TO INVOKE JESUS AS BEING AN IMMIGRANT. WELL, IN THE SCRIPTURES IT SAYS TO RENDER UNTO CAESAR WHAT IS CAESAR'S. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO OBEY LAWS. AND THEN WE WE HERE WE SAY, OKAY, WELL, YOU CAME OVER, YOU BROKE THE LAW. BUT YOU'RE NOT A REAL, REAL BAD GUY. BUT WE'RE GOING TO OVERLOOK THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO DOX ALL THESE ICE MEMBERS FOR ENFORCING THIS LAW THAT YOU BROKE. I'M SORRY, BUT WE ARE A NATION OF LAWS, AND THESE ICE AGENTS ARE HUMAN BEINGS DOING WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ORDERED TO DO. AND WE WITH THE THING THAT REALLY GETS ME IS WE'VE GOT WE'VE GOT THE OPPOSITION WEARING BLACK MASKS, ANTIFA AND ALL THAT, WANTING TO TAKE THE, THE, THE MASK OFF ICE. AND THEY'RE SITTING THERE WITH MASKS ON. I'M JUST I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S TIME TO STOP BEATING UP ON THE COPS AND AND AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT THE, THE THE ICE [04:10:03] AGENT WHOSE CHILDREN ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO DOXING. WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THEM. SO I, I'M JUST I'D LIKE TO I'D JUST LIKE, LOVE TO GET THIS VOTE GOING, BUT I JUST HAD TO SAY THESE FEW THINGS AND, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE, THE, THE, THE, THE ONE THAT WROTE THIS THAT THE SPONSOR OF THIS IS DOXING AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD BECAUSE HE JUST MENTIONED THEY COULD HAVE A MASK FOR OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD IS DOXING AND OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD. THANK YOU SIR. DOXING IS ILLEGTHE STATE OF KENTUCKY. AND AS FAR AS WEARING A MASK TO CONCEAL YOUR IDENTITY, TO PREVENT THAT THIS THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO OUR MASK ORDINANCE EXPLICITLY STATES THAT CONCEALING YOUR IDENTITY AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENT IS NOT A AN ACCEPTABLE SAFETY PRECAUTION. AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE POLICE HAVE A MONOPOLY ON VIOLENCE. THE POLICE HAVE A MONOPOLY ON LEGAL VIOLENCE AND WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT DOXING, BUT WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. THERE IS NO WAY TO HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE FOR VIOLATIONS OF CIVIL LIBERTIES UP TO AND INCLUDING MURDER, WHICH DOES HAPPEN. AND THERE IS NO AVENUE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO IDENTIFY WHO HAS COMMITTED THE CRIME. MY QUESTION, IT WAS ANSWERED, WELL, THAT'S THE ANSWER WE GOT. LET'S LET'S AGAIN, LET'S SAY CIVIL WITH EACH OTHER HERE. OKAY. NEXT TO MY CUE IS COUNCILMAN LEININGER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I SAID THAT I WOULD COME BACK INTO THE QUEUE TO ANSWER SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF MY COLLEAGUES. I'VE BEEN KEEPING NOTES, SO I'M GOING TO DO THAT. I'M GOING TO START AT THE TOP. IMMIGRANTS HAVE ASKED FOR THIS. THERE ARE IMMIGRANTS IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW WHO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. WE DON'T HAVE TO IMAGINE WHAT THEY WANT. WE CAN WE CAN SEE WHAT THEY WANT. THEY'RE HERE RIGHT NOW HOLDING UP THOSE SIGNS. ICE IS COMING. WE CAN'T OUTRUN THE BEAR. THERE IS AN AD ON SOCIAL MEDIA RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE RECRUITING FOR ICE IN LOUISVILLE. SPECIFICALLY, IT HAS A LIST OF CITIES. THERE IS A LIST OF CITIES, AND WE'RE ON IT. ICE IS COMING TO LOUISVILLE. THEY'RE RECRUITING RIGHT NOW IN LOUISVILLE. THEY'RE GEARING UP. IT'S HAPPENING. THEY'RE COMING. WE BENT THE KNEE TO TRUMP ON THE 48 HOUR DETAINEE DETAINERS. IN CONTRADICTION OF THE SEPARATION ORDINANCE, WHICH I DO NOT AGREE WITH. AND IT WAS FOR NOTHING BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING. YOU CAN'T MAKE A DEAL WITH DONALD TRUMP. HE HAS BROKEN EVERY DEAL HE HAS EVER MADE IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE. IN HIS PRIVATE LIFE, THERE IS A STRING OF PEOPLE WHO SAY HE'S A CON MAN. HE CHEATED ME, I DID WORK, HE NEVER PAID ME MOUNTAINS OF LEGAL BILLS. I NEVER GOT ANYTHING. WE'RE ON THE LIST RIGHT NOW. IT DIDN'T TAKE US OFF. HOLD ON A SECOND. SHOW THE MAN SOME RESPECT, PLEASE. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH IT, YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH IT. BUT YOU KNOW BOO IS NOT GOING TO. NOT GOING TO HOLD WATER HERE TODAY. OKAY? SO PLEASE, SIR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE TAKING ACTION. CHICAGO HAS A LAW ON THE BOOKS THAT MASK POLICE ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO. CALIFORNIA PASSED A STATEWIDE BAN. LA COUNTY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS JUST THE OTHER DAY. PASSED A LAW. I KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SOME MEMBERS IN THIS BODY WHO CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY. THE LA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS NOT THE MOST RADICAL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN THE IN THE UNITED STATES. I PROMISE YOU THAT. MY WIFE'S FROM LOS ANGELES. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID, LET THE COURTS MOVE FIRST ON SOME OF THESE OTHER PLACES. AND THERE ARE AND THERE ARE BANDS. WE SHOULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE OURS IS STRONGER. IT'S DIFFERENT, AND IN MY OPINION, STRONGER. FOR EXAMPLE, IN CALIFORNIA THERE'S AN EXEMPTION FOR STATE POLICE. WE DON'T HAVE AN EXEMPTION HERE. OURS IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE HAVE A MASK BAN. AND WE'RE SAYING IT APPLIES TO YOU TOO, THAT YOU'RE NOT ABOVE THE LAW. IT'S DIFFERENT. AND WE CAN'T JUST SIT BACK AND SEE HOW THE COURTS RULE ON OTHER CASES. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH IS NOT DOXXING, AND HOW IDENTIFICATION OF WRONGDOING IS THE ABSOLUTE BEDROCK OF THAT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MURDERED DURING ICE RAIDS. IT HAS [04:15:07] HAPPENED, AND THERE'S NO WAY FOR ANYONE TO SEEK JUSTICE BECAUSE THEY'RE MASKED. WE CAN'T KNOW WHO DID IT. LMPD POLICY REQUIRES IDENTIFICATION, BUT IF AN OFFICER VIOLATES THAT POLICY AND THEY ARE CONCEALING THEIR IDENTITY AND THEY WON'T GIVE THEIR BADGE NUMBER AND THEY'RE CONCEALING THEIR THEIR BADGE NUMBER, THERE IS NO MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. WE CAN'T KNOW. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO BREAK THE LAW IN ORDER TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. AND AGAIN, LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS A MONOPOLY ON LEGAL VIOLENCE. THE REASON LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SINGLED OUT IN THIS ORDINANCE IS BECAUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS THAT MONOPOLY ON VIOLENCE, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS CURRENTLY IN THE UNITED STATES USING THAT MONOPOLY ON VIOLENCE, WHILE MASKED LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SINGLED OUT BECAUSE THERE'S A PROBLEM. I STARTED OUT THE NIGHT SAYING, THERE'S A PROBLEM AND WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT. IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT NOT SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT, I HAVE HAD LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS TELL ME THAT THEY SUPPORT THIS. I KNOW COLLEAGUES ALSO HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS HAVE SAID THEY SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE ICE OPERATING MASKED MAKES THEM LESS SAFE. LIKE I SAID, IT ERODES OUR BELIEF IN PUBLIC SAFETY. CAN ANYONE WHO OPPOSES THIS TELL ME HONESTLY THAT IF SOMEONE IN A MASK NOT IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES IN PLAIN CLOTHES HELD A GUN TO YOU AND SAID, GET IN THIS CAR RIGHT NOW, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE AT LEAST ONE SPLIT SECOND WHERE YOU THOUGHT, NO, I AIN'T DOING THAT. YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT. AND THE ONLY REASON YOU THINK THAT IT'S OKAY TO HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE IS BECAUSE YOU DON'T THINK IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU. YOU THINK IT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE. ONE DAY IT'LL HAPPEN TO YOU. THAT'S MY BELIEF ABOUT THIS. BUT IT IS MAKING PEOPLE LESS SAFE. THE FBI HAS ASKED THAT THIS END BECAUSE IT'S MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES LESS SAFE, AND THAT INCLUDES LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE KNOW FROM WHAT THE FBI HAS SAID THAT THERE ARE NOW CRIMINALS IMPERSONATING ICE, GOING AROUND MASKED, WEARING THE VESTS IN PLAIN CLOTHES AND COMMITTING CRIMES, DETAINING PEOPLE, ROBBING THEM. AND THERE'S NO WAY TO STOP THAT AND SEPARATE IT FROM LEGITIMATE ACTIVITY BECAUSE THEY'RE MASKED. RESPECTFULLY TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT 17, GANDHI WAS NOT A MEMBER OF GOVERNMENT. WE ARE ELECTED MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT. AND WHILE I DO AGREE WITH THE AVENUE OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, WE ALSO HAVE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AS ELECTED MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT, AND WE HAVE TO PURSUE THOSE AVENUES AGAIN. DOXING IS ILLEGAL IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY. WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT IF WE WANTED TO. I COULDN'T MAKE IT LEGAL. I COULDN'T SAY THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS TO DOXING. I WOULDN'T, BUT I COULDN'T BECAUSE WE'RE PREEMPTED BY STATE LAW. AND AGAIN, DOXING ISN'T ACCOUNTABILITY. I'M TALKING ABOUT LEGAL ACCOUNTABILITY. IF A MASKED MAN WITH A GUN CAN TELL YOU WHAT TO DO, YOU ARE NOT FREE. YOU ARE NOT FREE. AND THE DAY IS COMING. WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ASK WHO SOUGHT ACCOUNTABILITY, WHO STOOD UP? AND I KNOW WHERE I'M STANDING ON THAT ONE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN RAYMOND, YOU'RE NEXT TO MY CUE AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU. I'VE HEARD REPEATEDLY THAT THIS STOPS ON FEDERAL LAW. BUT WHAT FEDERAL LAW SAYS YOU CAN WEAR AMERICAN FLAG NECK GAITERS WHILE SNATCHING PARENTS OFF THE STREET. I HEAR THAT THIS IS POKING THE BEAR, INVITING THEM TO TOWN. THIS BEAR IS RABID. THIS BEAR CANNOT BE APPEASED OR NEGOTIATED WITH OR CONTROLLED. IT MUST BE BEAT. WHAT MESSAGE WILL IT SEND TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT AND THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE CARED FOR? IF WE PUBLICLY VOTE DOWN A REBUKE OF ICE? WE ARE NOT POKING THE BEAR. WE ARE UNLOCKING THE CAGE. IF [04:20:05] WE DEFEAT THIS BILL. BECAUSE RATHER THAN COMING IN TO SHOW US, THEY'LL COME IN LICKING THEIR CHOPS, KNOWING THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL NOT PUT UP A FIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PICCINI, YOUR NEXT TO THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. WELL, I THINK WE HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN AROUND TO HOW ANTI-LAW ENFORCEMENT ANTI-POLICE. THIS IS BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, CRIMINALS HAVE THE MONOPOLY ON MURDER. IF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MURDERS SOMEBODY, THEY ARE TRIED AND CONVICTED. THEY ARE ALLOWED TO LEGALLY KILL PEOPLE IN THE PURPOSES OF SELF-DEFENSE OR THE PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY THAT HAS LEGAL CONFINES AROUND IT. AND WHEN THEY BREAK IT, THEY GO TO JAIL. SO THIS WHOLE SO THAT WHOLE LANGUAGE IS, IS, IS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY CLEARLY SHOWING THE INTENT THAT THIS IS ANTI-LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT WITH THAT SAID, I THINK THIS HAS ALL GOTTEN TO THE FIRST POINT THAT I DIDN'T BRING UP. I IGNORED IT BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO SAVE TIME. WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED WE HAVE NO IDEA IF WE HAVE ANY JURISDICTION HERE WHATSOEVER. I SAID BEFORE, I'M A STAY IN YOUR LANE POLITICIAN, I TEND TO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ISSUES HERE IN THE CITY. WE'VE GOT HOMELESSNESS ISSUES, WE'VE GOT OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE'VE GOT TO MANAGE, WE'VE GOT HOUSING PROBLEMS. LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE'RE SPENDING ON SOMETHING THAT IF IT PASSES, WE'LL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. IF IT DOESN'T PASS. SAME EFFECT. SO WE ARE NOW THIS WHAT WE ARE NOT DOING IS WHAT WE WERE ALL ELECTED AND PUT HERE TO DO. IF YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH ICE, TAKE IT UP WITH YOUR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS. TAKE IT UP WITH THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLE. THAT'S HOW YOU DEAL WITH YOUR DISAGREEMENTS WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. YOU DEAL WITH THE FEDERAL PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. IF YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH A CITY AGENCY, YOU COME TO US, GOT A PROBLEM WITH THE STATE, YOU GO TO FRANKFORT. SO I DON'T I'M FINE WITH PEOPLE HAVING DISAGREEMENTS WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF OF GOVERNMENT, BUT WE ARE JUST WASTING A COLOSSAL AMOUNT OF ISSUE ON A TOPIC THAT I HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT IS WELL KNOWN, AT LEAST IN THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE, TO BE A SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT'S NOT HAPPENING HERE. SO AGAIN, COLLEAGUES, LET'S STOP WASTING. IF WE ARE, LET ME PUT IT TO YOU THIS WAY. IF WE ARE GOING TO VOTE EVERY TIME YOU DON'T THINK OF THE FOUR YEARS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, I HAD A STACK THIS TALL OF CRAP I WANTED TO GO AFTER. YOU COULD SHAKE YOUR HEAD ALL YOU WANT BECAUSE YOU LIVE. YOU LIVE IN THE IN THE IN THE NINTH DISTRICT AND YOU AGREE WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN. GOOD FOR YOU. I DON'T. AND YOU GUESS WHO ALSO DISAGREES WITH HIM? A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 19. BUT I DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME GOING AFTER STUFF. I DISAGREE WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN ON, OR ANY OTHER DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT FOR THAT MATTER. I'M FINE WITH YOU GUYS DISAGREEING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP. TAKE IT UP WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP. TAKE IT UP WITH SENATOR MCCONNELL. SENATOR PAUL, CONGRESSMAN MCCARTHY, I'M GLAD HE SUPPORTS YOU. HE NEEDS TO FIGHT THAT BATTLE. GIVE HIM THE AMMUNITION. YOU NEED TO FIGHT IT. BUT THIS IS A COLOSSAL WASTE OF TIME HERE. THIS IS DOING NOTHING. EXCEPT MAYBE YOU'RE TRYING TO FUNDRAISE OFF IT, OR MAYBE YOU'RE TRYING TO GET REELECTED OR WHATEVER'S GOING ON. FEEL FREE. OKAY, BUT. BUT DON'T WASTE TIME IN THIS CHAMBER DOING THIS, BECAUSE EVERY MEETING WILL BE UNTIL 3 A.M. IF WE'RE GOING TO OPINE ON EVERY FEDERAL ISSUE THAT WE ALL HAVE ISSUES WITH, BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE ISSUES WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, WE JUST DON'T WASTE OUR TIME HERE ON IT. WE GO THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS TO COMPLAIN AND PETITION. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. COUNCILWOMAN MULVEY WOOLRIDGE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AS MANY ARE PROBABLY AWARE, I AM ALSO A NO ON THIS. SO I HAVE TO AGREE WITH WHAT PRESIDENT AKERSON SAID EARLIER. I THINK THE FEAR IS ABOUT THE FEAR OF THE FEDERAL AGENTS AND CREATING A RESTRICTION IN AN AREA WHERE COURTS HAVE NEITHER CLEARLY PROHIBITED NOR CLEARLY PERMITTED THESE BANS, PUTS BOTH OUR OFFICERS AND OUR CITY IN UNNECESSARY LEGAL OPERATIONS. I ALSO HAVE HAVE MANY IMMIGRANTS IN MY DISTRICT, AND I KNOW THAT FEAR IS THERE. BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S THE FEAR OVER WHAT COULD HAPPEN, NOT THE MASK ITSELF. YOU KNOW, THE ORDINANCE IS ALREADY WRITTEN AS WRITTEN IN PLACE NOW THAT IT'S ILLEGAL TO WEAR A MASK. SO WHY ARE WE TRYING TO TO POINT OUT ONE, WHAT ONE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS? SECONDLY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS SAID BY COUNCILMAN HERNDON THAT RIGHT NOW OUR LOCAL OFFICERS ARE DOING THINGS RIGHT. SO AGAIN, BUT WE'RE STILL WRITING THAT INTO THIS AMENDMENT, THAT [04:25:01] SAYING THAT, OKAY, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT, MAYBE THEY WON'T. YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN LINENGER, YOU SAID IF SOMEONE HELD A GUN TO YOUR HEAD WITHOUT ADVISING WHO THEY ARE, NO ONE CAN SEPARATE THAT FROM LEGITIMATE ACTIVITY. WE HAVE ROBBERS. WE HAVE CAR BREAK INS. IT IT'S AGAIN RIGHT NOW, AS WRITTEN, IT IS ILLEGAL TO WEAR A MASK. WE DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN BE MANDATED OR NOT. SO FOR SOME OF THOSE REASONS, I'M DEFINITELY NO ON THIS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO OKAY. MADAM, ARE YOU TENDERING THE FLOOR? YOU'RE TENDERING THE FLOOR, CORRECT? YES. OKAY. PERFECT. NEXT TO MY CUE IS COUNCILMAN OWEN. COUNCILMAN OWEN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT, I I'VE BEEN SITTING MOSTLY QUIET, OBVIOUSLY, ON THIS, BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO POINT OUT. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT OF COMPELLING CONVERSATION HERE. AND WE HAD A LOT OF COMPELLING CONVERSATION IN OUR IN OUR CAUCUS MEETING AS WELL. I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER WE'VE GOT LEGAL BASIS TO DO THIS. I AGREE WITH THAT. I TOTALLY AGREE THAT WHETHER THIS GETS PASSED OR NOT, IT MAY HAVE VERY LITTLE EFFECT. I TOTALLY AGREE THAT WE NEED TO UPDATE OUR CURRENT MASK ORDINANCE. IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. SO THERE'S ALL BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS I DO WANT TO SAY. THERE IS A REASON THAT IT IS TARGETING LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING ANTI-LAW ENFORCEMENT. I PROMISE YOU I AM NOT ANTI-LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT IS THE FACT THAT THAT PARTICULAR TYPE OF WORK REQUIRES AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TRUST BETWEEN THE LAW, BETWEEN THE OFFICER AND THE COMMUNITY, AND IT ALSO IS ONE OF THE FEW JOBS WHERE YOU'RE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO CARRY A GUN. SO THAT'S WHAT DIFFERENTIATES LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM EVERY OTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITHIN GOVERNMENT, THAT RIGHT THERE AND THAT FOR ME. SO, SO WHETHER WE LEGALLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THIS OR NOT, I'M WILLING TO TAKE THAT CHANCE AND GO AHEAD AND DO THIS. MY BIG THING IS IT'S SO FOUNDATIONAL TO WHO WE ARE. SO ALL OF THAT OTHER STUFF I AGREE WITH. BUT FOR ME, I'VE SEEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES, WHEN YOU HAVE THESE PARAMILITARY, MASKED PARAMILITARY, YOU HAVE THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT'S MASKED. THAT IS THE LAST THING WE WANT IN THIS COUNTRY. AND FOR ME, THAT'S WHY THIS IS SO INCREDIBLY FUNDAMENTAL. AND LET ME JUST SAY IT AGAIN, THIS IS NOT ANTI-LAW ENFORCEMENT AT ALL, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. NOT AT ALL. AND IN FACT, I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT'S PRO-LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MADE, THAT IT MAKES OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WHO ARE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY LESS SAFE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MCCRANEY. WHAT'S THAT? COUNCILMAN HAWKINS? RESPECTFULLY, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE QUESTION. SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION. THERE'S BEEN A SECOND THAT WOULD USUALLY REQUIRE A VOICE VOTE. I'M NOT GOING TO AIR ON A VOICE VOTE. WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE. IT TAKES TWO THIRDS OF THIS BODY, WHICH WILL BE 18 VOTES TO CALL. THE QUESTION ON THIS ISSUE. MADAM CLERK, OPEN THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARISH RIGHT. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE 12 YES VOTES. 13 NO VOTES. THE QUESTION IS NOT CALLED. YOU WERE NEXT TO MY CUE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TO BE ADDRESSED? YES. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I SAY THIS BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS. IT IS NEVER A WASTE OF TIME FOR ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL TO DISCUSS A MATTER THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT US TO DISCUSS. IF WE'RE HERE TILL 3 A.M. TALKING ABOUT IT, THEN WE NEED TO BE HERE TILL 3 A.M. BECAUSE WE WERE ELECTED TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT INTEREST THE PEOPLE, THE PUBLIC AND THE PEOPLE THAT PUT US IN OFFICE IN FRONT. I WANT TO ALSO SAY AGAIN THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO REALIZE WHETHER THIS PASSES OR NOT. OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE DOES NOT ALLOW ANY ONE OF YOU IN THIS AUDIENCE. ANYONE OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC TO WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC, THINK ABOUT THAT. THINK ABOUT YOUR GRANDMOTHER WHO COULD BE EXPOSED TO COVID BECAUSE SOMEONE COUGHS NEAR HER. THINK ABOUT YOURSELF. THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN. SO I AM AGAIN [04:30:07] INVITING MY COLLEAGUES TO COLLABORATE WITH ME. LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS MASK ORDINANCE ONE MORE TIME BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS IT'S NOT GOING TO PASS TONIGHT. I HATE TO PREDICT. I'M NOT PREDICTING IT, IT'S JUST WHAT HAS BEEN STATED HERE. BUT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS COLLEAGUES, BE SENSIBLE ABOUT THIS, AND COME UP WITH A LOGICAL, FAIR ORDINANCE ABOUT MASK WEARING. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE IN 2025 TO HAVE A MASK ORDINANCE THAT WAS WRITTEN IN 1983 TO STAY IN EXISTENCE. THANK YOU. LET ME SAY THIS, COLLEAGUES. TO CONTINUE WITH THIS DEBATE, THERE WILL BE NEW INFORMATION DISCUSSED. WE'RE NOT GOING TO COVER GROUND THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED. OKAY. THAT'S WELL, THE END RESULT IS THAT'S THE RULES OF THIS CHAMBER. AND THAT'S THE WAY THIS IS GOING TO WORK. WE CAN KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE SAME STUFF OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND WE WILL BE HERE TO THE SUNRISE AT THE END OF THE DAY. THE DEBATE SAYS THIS. YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING NEW OR WE MOVE ON. COUNCILMAN, YOU ARE NEXT IN MY QUEUE AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR, WITH SOMETHING NEW. YES, SIR. PERFECT. I WANT TO RESPOND TO COUNCILWOMAN WOOLRIDGE. LMPD IS NOT CURRENTLY DOING THIS, BUT THEY HAVE A HIGHER DUTY OF CARE. THAT'S THE NATURE OF PUBLIC SAFETY. AND WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH CODIFYING WHAT LMPD ALREADY DOES IN THAT CASE, AND MAKING IT THE NORM ACROSS THE FIELD? I WISH IT WAS THE NORM ACROSS THE FIELD. CALIFORNIA'S LAW IS WEAKER FOR THE EXEMPTIONS. I DID NOT EXEMPT LMPD BECAUSE I WANTED A LAW THAT CAN STAND UP IN COURT. I WANT MY DAY IN COURT. I ALSO WANT TO SAY PERSONALLY, THAT SEVERAL MEMBERS TONIGHT HAVE INDIRECTLY IMPUGNED ME, SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN AT PAINS TO NEVER DO IN THIS CHAMBER. I'M NOT CHASING HEADLINES. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'M NOT DOING THIS TO FUNDRAISE MONEY. I'M NOT UP FOR REELECTION. I, I JUST GOT SEATED THIS YEAR. I'M NOT WORRIED. I'M NOT PRESSED. I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S RIGHT. AND I'M DISAPPOINTED TO BE, HOWEVER INDIRECTLY REFERENCED, TO BE REFERENCED THAT WAY. THAT'S ALL. COUNCILMAN. OKAY. YOU'RE WITHDRAWING. I'VE GOT NO ONE ELSE IN MY QUEUE. COUNCILMAN. PARISH. RIGHT. YOU'RE NOT MAKING ANYTHING ELSE. I AM FLABBERGASTED YOU CALLED ON ME. NO. NOTHING ELSE. I'LL LET IT BE. OKAY. THANK YOU. NOTHING FROM ONLINE. NO ONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE. THIS ORDINANCE IS NOW READY FOR ROLL CALL. VOTE. MADAM CLERK, OPEN THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARISH RIGHT. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. RENA WEBER. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE 12 YES VOTES, 13 NO VOTES AND ONE PRESENT VOTE. THE ORDINANCE FAILS. SIR. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I'LL BE BRIEF. NO POINT OF ORDER. WE. WE TOOK THAT OUT OF THE RULES. BUT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY. I DON'T KNOW, MADAM CLERK. WE TOOK OUT EXPLAINING VOTES AFTER THE VOTE, SPECIFICALLY IN A IN A MEETING A FEW MONTHS AGO, I. I THOUGHT WE TOOK IT OUT. WHAT? YOU COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY UNTIL THE VOTE WAS OVER? THE ATTITUDE THAT MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION. HOLD ON. OKAY. PLEASE. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION WAS WE WERE UPSET WITH THE FACT THAT SOMEONE WAS VOTING, AND WHILE THEY WERE VOTING, THEY EXPLAINED THEIR VOTE AND THUS IT BECAME A DEBATE DURING THE VOTE. NOW THE VOTE IS OVER. AND FOR US, UNLESS SOMEONE CAN SHOW ME THE RULE. OTHERWISE, I BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE HAS THE RIGHT TO ASK FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO EXPLAIN THEIR VOTE VOTES OVER IT. SO HE'S NOT INFLUENCED THE VOTE IN ANY WAY. NOW, IN RESULT IS THIS IS IF YOU WANT TO PULL SOMETHING AND SHOW ME THAT I'M WRONG. BUT RIGHT NOW I'M GOING TO ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION, I'M GOING TO SAY, SIR, THE FLOOR IS YOURS, BUT BEFORE IT IS YOURS, DON'T FORGET, NOBODY LEAVE HERE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT ONE MORE THING. I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE THE. THE CHAIR'S RULING. SURE. [04:35:01] I KNOW, SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN THIS TO MY COLLEAGUES. AND YOU'RE GOING TO CHALLENGE THE CHAIR. AND I ACCEPT THAT. SHE'S GOING TO EXPLAIN HER UNDERSTANDING. AND THEN BASED UPON HER UNDERSTANDING, IF YOU WANT TO CHALLENGE THE CHAIR, I WELCOME IT. AND THAT'S OKAY. I'M NOT OFFENDED BY IT. THIS IS SONIA HARWOOD, THE CLERK. MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS WHEN WE PASSED IT, MR. PRESIDENT, IS THAT THE POINT IS, IS THAT IF WE ALLOW ANYONE TO SPEAK ONCE THE VOTING HAS STARTED OR ONCE IT'S IN, THE ITEM IS NO LONGER ON THE TABLE. SO IF HE SPEAKS, EVERYONE ELSE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AS WELL. AND THERE IS NO LONGER A MOTION IN PLAY. CORRECT. THAT'S THAT WOULD BE MY. THAT IS EXACTLY MY CHALLENGE. MY CHALLENGE IS THAT ONCE THE VOTE IS CONCLUDED, THERE'S NOTHING THE WE HAVE AN AGENDA THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA. YOU HAVE TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO COME BACK TO IT. AND IF AND IF WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW THE CHAIR THEN TO CALL ON ANYBODY TO TALK ESSENTIALLY ABOUT ANYTHING THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, THEN THEN IT'S REALLY THE AGENDA IS IRRELEVANT. IT'S FREE FOR ALL. IT'S CHALLENGING THE CHAIR. DEBATABLE. AND IN FACT, WE DON'T HAVE A CHALLENGE YET. WE'VE GOT THE CHALLENGE. IS THERE A SECOND ON THE CHALLENGE? THERE'S A SECOND ON THE CHALLENGE. THERE'S A CHALLENGE TO THE CHAIR. IS IT DEBATABLE? I UNDERSTAND AND THAT'S IT. AND THEN WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE. IF THERE'S 14 VOTES THAT RULE TO OVERTURN THE CHAIR, THEN WE WILL OVERTURN THE CHAIR AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE YOUR OPPORTUNITY. I WILL SAY THIS, THOUGH, EVEN IF THERE AREN'T 14 VOTES, I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE ANYONE OTHER THAN COUNCILMAN LEONARD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AFTER THE FACT, BECAUSE THAT'S MY CALL. LISTEN AGAIN. WANTS TO CHALLENGE THE CHAIR. WELL, JUST FOR JUST AGAIN, A POINT OF ORDER. SORRY. APPEALS FROM THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR ARE REQUIRE SECOND WE DID THAT ARE DEBATABLE. ACCORDING TO ROBERT'S RULES. I'M APPEALING. TECHNICALLY I'M APPEALING A DECISION TO CHAIR, AND TECHNICALLY THAT IS DEBATABLE. ACCORDING TO ROBERT'S RULES. UNLESS OUR RULES. BUT I THINK. IT'S MR. PRESIDENT. JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE CARD, IT'S UNDER PARLIAMENTARY MOTIONS. QUICK REFERENCE TO INCIDENTAL AND BRING BACK MOTIONS UNDER POINT OF ORDER. IT SAYS APPEAL FROM A DECISION OF THE CHAIR. YES, IT MAY INTERRUPT. YES, IT REQUIRES A SECOND WHICH WE GOT. YES. IT IS DEBATABLE. NO, IT IS NOT AMENDABLE AND IT REQUIRES A NEGATIVE MAJORITY. IN OTHER WORDS, WE'D HAVE TO HAVE A MAJORITY VOTE NEGATIVE THAT ON YOUR DECISION, PEOPLE ARE EITHER VOTING TO SUPPORT YOU OR AGAINST YOU. WELL, MY INTELLIGENT COLLEGE COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT 19 ON THE RULES, I'LL CONCEDE THAT'S DEBATABLE. LET'S LIMIT THE DEBATE. PLEASE, FOLKS. YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR, SIR. YEAH, I WOULD JUST MAKE THE POINT THAT COUNCILMAN LEONARD, LIKE ANY OF US, IS MAKING A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. AND I DON'T THINK HE'S SUGGESTING A DEBATE. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN MODERATE THE SPEECH OF WHAT SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. AND SO ARE WE VOTING IN FAVOR OF YOUR RULING, COUNCILMAN SANTINI? THANK YOU. IF YOU IF YOU CAN LOOK UP ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER ON POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, THEY'RE USUALLY RELATED TO THINGS NOT ON THE AGENDA. LIKE, CAN WE CHANGE THE AIR CONDITIONING? CAN YOU OPEN A WINDOW? IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE IN HERE. AND THESE OTHER NON-GERMANE THINGS TO THE TOPICS AT HAND, BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE POINT OF PERSONAL OR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING COMPLETELY OFF TOPIC RELATED TO, YOU KNOW, YOUR MARRIAGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IF IF POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE CAN BE USED TO TALK ABOUT GERMANE TOPICS, THEN THEN WHAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING ORDER AND DEBATING? MR. PRESIDENT, MAY I RESPOND TO THAT PER YOUR OWN ARGUMENT JUST NOW, THIS IS NO LONGER AN ITEM UP FOR DEBATE. THERE IS NOTHING TO BE GERMANE TO. THIS IS NO LONGER AN AGENDA ITEM. THAT'S WHY IT'S A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. IT WAS AGENDIZED. IT IS NO LONGER. I COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY NOW. FOR THE RECORD, JP, THERE'S A COPY OF OF OF WHAT WAS PAST COMING YOUR WAY. ON. THAT. MY ARGUMENT WOULD BE THAT A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE IS NOT A MOTION. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A SECOND. THIS SPEAKS ONLY TO MOTIONS. SO THIS IS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE YOU'VE ASKED THE CHAIR FOR, [04:40:09] CORRECT? YES. AT THIS POINT, JP, I'M GOING TO DENY THE POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST GETTING A LITTLE CHAOTIC, OKAY I APOLOGIZE. DO A PRESS RELEASE, WILL YOU WILL YOU WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION TO CHALLENGE THE CHAIR THEN? THERE'S NOTHING TO CHALLENGE NOW. ALRIGHT, FOLKS, WE'VE GOT ONE MORE ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. [New Business] IT'S A QUICK ONE. THIS IS ITEM 65. ESSENTIALLY, PURSUANT TO RULE COUNCIL RULE 5.12, THE COUNCIL MAY DISPENSE WITH THE COUNCIL RULE 6.06 TO ALLOW FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS LATE LEGISLATION WITH A TWO THIRDS VOTE. OKAY, THIS IS THE TWO THIRDS. WHO'S WHO'S YELLING AT YOU, SIR? OKAY, SIR, BUT WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEETING. JEEZ. THE WHEEZY. OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON HERE? I EXPLAINED IT DURING THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. ESSENTIALLY, IS IS TO TO ALLOW COUNCILMAN RUDY TO GET THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION REGARDING THE THE TEMPORARY SHELTERS IN PLACE. ALRIGHT. WE'VE GOT A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THE CHAIR DECLARES WE'VE GOT MORE THAN 18 VOTES AND THAT NOW IS ON NEW BUSINESS. AT THIS POINT WE'LL BE MOVING TO NEW BUSINESS. AS YOU LEAVE THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE DO SO QUIETLY SO WE CAN READ THE NEW BUSINESS INTO THE RECORD. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION WAS ASSIGNED TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON EFFICIENCY OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AN ORDINANCE CREATING A NEW SECTION OF CHAPTER 32 OF LOUISVILLE-JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ADDRESS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST RELATED TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION WAS ASSIGNED TO APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. ITEM 45 QUIET, PLEASE. APPROPRIATING $20,900 FROM NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER $14,400 FROM DISTRICT 13. $5,000 FROM DISTRICT 25, $1,000 FROM DISTRICT 14, AND $500 FROM DISTRICT 24 THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET TO THE FAIRDALE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FOR THE PURCHASE OF A TRACTOR, BUCKET LOADER AND PALLET FORKS. ITEM 46 AND AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $6,440 FROM DISTRICT TEN NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TODAY, SPRING FOUNDATION, INC. FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH BATHROOM RENOVATIONS IN ITS COLLEGE OF LIVING PROGRAM. ITEM 47, AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $15,000 FROM NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER $15,000 FROM DISTRICT SIX THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO LA CASITA CENTER, INC. FOR THEIR FOOD AND BASIC NEEDS DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM ITEM 48, AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,000 FROM NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS THE FOLLOWING MANNER $4,000 FROM DISTRICT 21 THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO CHILDREN HAVE OPTIONS CHOOSING IN CHOOSING EXPERIENCES, INC. FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DARE TO DREAM SPORTS LEADERSHIP AND MENTORING PROGRAM. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION IS ASSIGNED TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. ITEM 49 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 091, SERIES 2025 RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 OPERATING BUDGET BY ANSFERRING $25,000 FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUND DISTRICT 19 TO THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL GENERAL OPERATIONS DISTRICT 19, ITEM 50. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 091, SERIES 2025, RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 OPERATING BUDGET BY TRANSFERRING $20,000 FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUND DISTRICT 23 TO THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL. GENERAL OPERATIONS DISTRICT 23, ITEM 51, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMR 091, SERIES 2025 RELATING TO THEISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 ERATG BUET BYRANSRRIN $50,000ROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT DIST OO THEISE MEO CI. NE ORDINANCE NUMBER 0181, SERIES 2022 RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 2021 YEAR OPERATING BUDGET AND ORDINANCE NUMBER 092, SERIES 2025 RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET BY TRANSFERRING $150,000 FROM A PROJECT TITLED NORTON CAMP TAYLOR AND ESTABLISHING A NEW PROJECT TITLED D10 KLONDIKE PARK IMPROVEMENTS, ITEM 53, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK'S 2026 BUDGET. ITEM 54 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S 2026 BUDGET. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION IS ASSIGNED TO THE EQUITY, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, HOUSING, HEALTH, AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE. ITEM 55 A RESOLUTION HONORING MR. ROGER ABEL BY NAMING THE CORNER OF BRISCOE LANE AND WOODROW WAY AS ROGER ABEL WAY IN HIS HONOR. I'M 56. A RESOLUTION HONORING COLONEL JOHN E AUBREY AS NAMING THE CORNER OF SIXTH STREET AND JEFFERSON STREET AS COLONEL JOHNNY AUBREY WAY IN HIS HONOR. ITEM 57 A RESOLUTION HONORING BARBARA, A BOBBIE HOLSCLAW, BY [04:45:01] NAMING THE CORNER OF EAST LIBERTY STREET AND SOUTH WINDSOR STREET AS BOBBIE HOLSCLAW WAY. IN HER HONOR. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION IS ASSIGNED TO LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. ITEM 58, A RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO THE CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE APPROVING THE APPROPRIATION TO FUND THE FOLLOWING NONCOMPETITIVELY NEGOTIATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT FOR THE CABINET FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. FOR CONSULTING SERVICES REGARDING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. FUZE CORP. $180,000. ITEM 59 A RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO THE CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCES APPROVING THE APPROPRIATION TO FUND THE FOLLOWING NONCOMPETITIVELY NEGOTIATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT FOR METRO TECHNOLOGY SERVICES TO HIRE A VENDOR FOR PENETRATION TESTING AND TRAINING SERVICES. BLACK HILLS INFORMATION SECURITY, INC. $64,320. ITEM 60, A RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE APPROVING THE APPROPRIATION TO FUND THE FOLLOWING NONCOMPETITIVELY NEGOTIATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR THE LOCAL MEASURE OF GOVERNMENT LOUISVILLE METRO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO PAY FOR THE HEALTH ECONOMIST SERVICES. UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE $59,571.60. ITEM 61 A RESOLUTION DETERMINING REAL PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 1495 AT SOUTH 11TH STREET AND 1800 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET AS SURPLUS AND NOT NEEDED FOR THE GOVERNMENTAL PURPOSE, PURPOSES, METRO GOVERNMENT AND AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER. ITEM 62, A RESOLUTION RATIFYING AND APPROVING A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT FROM THE DATE OF ITS APPROVAL THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2030, RELATING TO WAGES, BENEFITS, AND OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT BETWEEN LOUISVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT AND THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS, AFL-CIO, CLC, IBEW LOCAL 396, CONCERNING CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF LOUISVILLE METRO EMERGENCY SERVICES. METROSAFE. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION WAS ASSIGNED TO PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE. ITEM 63, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, ON BEHALF OF METRO GOVERNMENT, TO ACCEPT THE DONATION OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON PROPERTY OWNED BY LCF PRESERVATION, LLC, LOCATED AT 330 11 WEST BUCKEYE LANE IN GOSHEN, OLDHAM COUNTY, KENTUCKY. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION IS ASSIGNED TO PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE. ITEM 64, A RESOLUTION REQUIRING THE PLANNING COMMISSION CONSIDER REZONING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 19 01R PAYNE STREET, TO A LOWER, MORE APPROPRIATE ZONING CLASSIFICATION. ITEM 65. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 115 OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING HOMELESS SHELTER REGULATIONS, ITEM 66, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT UP TO $750,000 FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY TRANSPORTATION CABINET FOR THE PLANT SIDE DRIVE EXTENSION PROJECT, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ASSETS. READ IN FULL. COUNCIL AND [Announcements] PARISH. RIGHT. I PRESUME YOU'RE STICKING AROUND BECAUSE YOU GOT SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS. YES. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, NOT TO KEEP YOU. I HOPE THEY'RE SHORT. THEY ARE SHORT. OH, THEN GOD BLESS YOU. THE FLOOR IS YOURS, MADAM. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK THE LOUISVILLE METRO CLERKS FOR WORKING WITH ME ALL YEAR LONG. TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE BEING RELEASED FROM JAILS AND PRISONS OR PEOPLE IN NEED HAVE THE CLOTHING THAT THEY NEED. WE'VE HAD THAT BEEN ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF METRO HALL, THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STILL GET THOSE ITEMS IN THERE AS TH. WINE MAKE SURE YOU CAN DONATE THOSE ITEMS. GO RIGHT TO OUR LOUISVILLE METRO JAIL AND THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED. IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING PROJECT TO BE TO BE WORKING WITH THE CLERKS ON THIS, AND THEY ARE THE ENGINE OF METRO GOVERNMENT. SO I'M HONORED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CARRY THIS PROJECT ALL YEAR LONG. JUST WANTED TO PUT A REMINDER OUT THERE TO ASK PEOPLE TO DONATE GENTLY USED CLOTHES, ANY ITEMS. WE HAVE A LIST OUT THERE. IT WILL REALLY HELP THE PEOPLE WHO WITH SOCKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. JUST THE OTHER DAY I PULLED OVER AND GAVE SIX PEOPLE HATS AND GLOVES. SO DON'T DON'T THINK THAT THESE NEEDS AREN'T STILL OUT THERE. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE GIVING. THIS IS A GIVING SEASON. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE. THAT IS IT. HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT AND THANK YOU. LOUISVILLE METRO CLERKS. SAFE TRAVELS. YOU. THAT CONCLUDES [Adjournment] OUR MEETING. OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH, 2025 AT 6 P.M. NO FURTHER BUSINESS. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.