Louisville Courant

Rick Pitino, who is that?

2012-02-28T22:19:00.000-05:00

Occupy Louisville story was just published by CJ's Dan Klepal. Huge improvement over the piece from this morning, that well, I'm just not going to post here. But this is good.

Courier-Journal: Police to set aside space outside KFC Yum! arena for Occupy Louisville protest

"Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino said Tuesday that he wasn’t aware that there was an Occupy Louisville movement, but didn’t think they would disrupt the game, which is after the scheduled end of the protest."- Rick Pitino

I've never heard of this Rick Pitino guy, but someone told me he must be a friend John Schnatter's, because he has unlimited access to his two lear jets kept at Clark County Airport.

I don't care what he does for a living, either, as long as he's kept away from young people, especially African Americans, because he obviously has no earthly clue about the world they're about to enter.

Please RT:

@Rick_Pitino I wasn't aware Louisville had a college ball team, but don't think you would disrupt @OccupyLou #F29 ow.ly/9lSzU
— curtis morrison (@SenatorAwesome) February 29, 2012

This is what we're doing Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM at YUM! Center. if you don't want to protest, you might want to just come and watch. And, please bring video cameras. RSVP, Share and invite all your frens on on Facebook: Occupy Louisville - #F29 Rally to Shut Down ALEC

Stuff I left out at Labor Council interview

2012-02-28T19:19:00.000-05:00

"Pro-labor. Louisville is a union town. I know first-hand the value of organized labor because my father was a union ironworker with Local 70, and my stepfather, a UAW union steward at International Harvester.

At 11 years old, I remember when times got tough. UAW had undertaken a courageous and historic 172-day strike to protect the rights of workers from Harvester's union-hostile CEO, Archie R. McCardell. Within only a few years of being appointed, McCardell's greedy anti-labor philosophy left the UAW with no option, but to strike. Harvester was profitable, and the 4^th largest company in our country at the time. Workers like my step-dad, were proud to be there. Yet McCardell's stubbornness and desire to exploit workers, took down that great company. A lesson today's CEO's would be wise to review.

That's why I will protect the prevailing wage, support a stronger labor standards ordinance, and back a plan to put Louisville back to work without busting unions. The rights of workers to collectively-bargain are essential to ensure greater standards of living for our citizens.

Union workers are the men and women responsible for our country's prosperity in the first place. They teach our children. They protect our streets. Union members volunteer throughout our community and are known for their charitable giving. Most importantly, they are the first to stand up for their neighbors who need a hand, and I stand with them."

All this was is my website, under 'Priorities,'-http://senatorawesome.com

So for those union folks checking out my blog to find out more about me and my views and activism, I encourage you to use the search bar over to the right.

I've been doing this a few years, chances are I've touched on an issue you care about. If not, let me know!

Yorkie dog missing in Highlands

2012-02-28T15:27:00.000-05:00

And he's so cute! Share this on FB, etc. Thx.

Mayor thinks I think for my dog. Ha.

2012-02-27T19:28:00.003-05:00

No seriously, this tweet question was from Boomer.
A car almost clipped him and me on Baxter a few days ago and the look he gave me totally said it's time to ask the mayor about this. And so here's the mayor's answer. Apparently, he thinks he has 25 years.

Earlier in the day, and on behalf of Boomer, I had tweeted all 3 of our 8th District Louisville Metro Council candidates what they could to make our streets safer. I received responses only from candidate Bryan Mathews, and here's what he had to say:

Still no answer from candidates Mason J. Roberts or the incumbent Councilman Tom Owen.

In other OL news, Sandy Knauer's back.

2012-02-27T00:15:00.001-05:00

Tweet from Sunday night:

@smarkreilly @WFPLNews So, I am checking to make sure they do not accuse LMPD of something they planned all along to make happen.
— Sandy Knauer Inc (@sandyknauer) February 27, 2012

It will be 5 months next Sunday since Occupy Louisville's first day. What many people may not know is that the October 4, 2011 date set for Occupy Louisville's birth, was set by Sandy Knauer in a Facebook event. For taking the initiative to say go, Knauer deserves much credit. But I also have a a "point of information"on her history with the movement.

As the day Knauer set approached, many who planned to participate, including myself, approached Knauer with the need for a planning meeting. Having a bit of civil disobedience experience, I am well aware of the dangers that lurk when 1,000's of people descend upon a single public location. Planning is not optional.

Knauer, however, resisted our pleas because she had learned that some of the people calling for planning were Anarchists/radicals. Some were even black, and gay. Hell, I think one was barefoot.

Cool heads assembled for two planning meetings without Knauer, which were held in Shelby Park on the two days leading up to the protest. I was present at both, and grateful for the plans that were developed at each. Some present did identify as Anarchists and/or radicals. Some were even African American. Many gay. A couple with the Tea Party. One was barefoot with a beard, even.

For me, these were the people who recognized the need for solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, and the people who were not only willing to make a local stand against corporate oppression against the 99%, but they were committed to doing it with preparation and not whim.

It was at those meetings in which plans were made that resulted in our expert legal counsel through a referral from the National Lawyer's Guild. (That counsel has done a remarkable job, by the way.) It was at those meetings that initial and abundant donations of food, water, and supplies were coordinated. It was at those meeting that volunteers stepped up to serve as medics.

Knauer panicked. Perhaps she realized the liability she was taking on when Anarchists/radicals were more concerned the safety of participants in her own civil disobedience action than she was.

Knauer contacted the Louisville Metro Police Department who set her up with Lt. Levita Chavez. The night before Occupy Louisville was to begin, Chavez persuaded Knauer to change the event location on Facebook to the Belvedere and a permit was issued to Knauer for the Belvedere, for what I believe from memory was only for a couple of hours. It was probably the first time in the history of IPL an event permit was issued after-hours on a Monday.

Those of us who plan things in advance decided the Belvedere was not a good idea, and we went about ensuring the event would still occur at the location Knauer had previously set. (Thank you social media, and traditional media.)

When Occupy Louisville kicked off at 4th and Jefferson, Knauer was left at the Belvedere with what I understand was the companionship of a majority of the Louisville Metro Police Department. It is was an unfortunate consequence that the catalyst who called for the occupation was embarrassed.

Relative to the embarrassment she suffered, Chase Bank took $25 billion of taxpayer bailout money, and proceeded to leading the nation in foreclosing on Americans who were suffering. Let's choose our battles wisely.

Videos from Occupy Louisville arrests at Chase Bank

2012-02-25T16:59:00.003-05:00

BREAKING UPDATE(02/27/2012, 1:43 AM) NEW MEDIA COVERAGE FROM WHAS11:
This includes an interview at the end by candidate John Miller, too, who was with Occupy Louisville on Day 1:New amateur video of Occupy protest shows scuffle between protesters and police

BREAKING UPDATE (02/26/2012, 10:27 PM) NEW VIDEO FOOTAGE RELEASED:

There are many videos to be uploaded from Saturday's Occupy Louisville demonstration by Chase Bank, aimed at stopping foreclosures. Five people were arrested at the demonstration. Judge Holton released all on their own recognizance. More videos below:
There have been allegations by those arrested of excessive police force, including an officer hitting a woman, kicking a cameraman. And at least one of the arrested has tweeted about a back injury before she was booked.

Clearly, we hear the question asked "Is she being detained?"
But do we hear an answer from the officers? Sadly, no.

Police-created chaos:
(This is the high-res version)

This came next:
"Shut your mouth. No one needs you to say anything. If we want something, we'll ask for it. (inaudible) You be quiet."

And from earlier:

What was so unacceptable about this protest anyway? My union friends had a protest on this same corner, handing out literature, and they didn't suffer the LMPD's wrath.

This Foreclosure Action was marketed on Facebook, (http://www.facebook.com/events/191862334249231/), so it's not like it was a secret ambush on the bank. After six months, you would think that LMPD was aware that Occupy Louisville is about peaceful demonstration, yet they still showed up staffed for some kind of showdown. (See picture of 10 officers below.)

Still unanswered questions:
So why did the LMPD arrest demonstrators?
Why did the arrests need to be made inside the bank, when the demonstrators were originally outside?
Did Mayor Greg Fischer know the arrest action was planned?
Did Interim Police Commissioner Ishmon Burks know the arrest action was planned?
Was either the Mayor or the Commissioner solicited by Chase Bank prior to, or during, the arrest action?

Some pictures before operation LMPD launched operation #chaosfornoreason:

From http://twitter.com/dreadmalik

From http://twitter.com/dreadmali

National Press: Huffington Post: Occupy Louisville Protestors Arrested After Clash With Police At Chase Bank in Kentucky

And something I think we should re-consider here, especially in preparation for our next demonstration on Wednesday against ALEC: ‘Shame! Shame!’: What would King say to Occupy?

Louisville Courant: In other OL news, Sandy Knauer's back.
And don't forget about Wednesday's Occupy Louisville Direct Action #F29:

(Post updated 2/27/2012, 1:18 PM)

Remains from LMPD action against peaceful Occupy Louisville demonstrators

2012-02-25T16:11:00.000-05:00

Did LMPD use dramatic yellow caution tape, too?
Besides the Caution tape, a sign in trash that says "Chase Got a Bailout," (I retrieved), and an LMPD cruiser still parked at Starbucks, all quiet on the scene. So anyone have news on the detained?

Fwd: Occupy Louisville demonstrator(s) arrested at direct action opposing foreclosures

2012-02-25T15:54:00.001-05:00

I wasn't at protest, but per twitter reports, 5 Occupy Louisville protesters were detained, possibly arrested, and according to tweet below one is on her way to police station now following demonstration at Chase Bank Baxter Avenue on foreclosure issue.

RT @gatonegro502: RT @alyjaye03: In route to police station. Abuse and lies ... Now who's comin to bail my ass out ?

You can find more info on http://Occupylouisville.org.
But see Twitter hashtag #occupylouisville for latest info.
The facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/191862334249231/

Occupy Louisville demonstration at Chase Bank

2012-02-25T14:07:00.000-05:00

Occupy Louisville's demonstration against JP Morgan Chase's foreclosure actions in full swing. It started at 1AM at Chase's Highlands branch location.

A trite gay mystery, not quite yet solved

2012-02-25T00:58:00.002-05:00

Metro Expre... Screenshot 2/24/

Gary M. Dunn, or Gary Max Dunn is a Former FBI agent who is now a private investigator (Indiana License # PD 10400062) based in Bloomington, Indiana. Dunn was an expert defense witness in one or two of the murder trials against David Camm. Camm's wife and two children were found murdered at their Georgetown, Indiana home a very, very long time ago. There's another trial coming up, so maybe Dunn will be a witness in that one, too.

Dunn uses the email address pdi@insightbb.com for his private detective business, and he used it to register the url, justicefordavidcamm.com, possibly on behalf of David Camm's wealthy uncle, Sam Lockhart. Dunn also used that email address to create this very private Facebook profile.

Screenshot 2/24/2012

Incidentally, a 'Trisha Dunn,' not sure if she's relation, or even exists, has written on the Camm case for the Clark County examiner drawing attention to the suggestion Camm be extradited the United Kingdom, of all things. I don't know if this is relevant or not. (Opinions linger about 10-year-old Camm murder-case)

Now, stick with me here....

Remember that blog entry a few weeks back, Louisville gay bar owner screws up, BIG TIME?

An anonymous blog popped up on the net following that entry. At first I freely linked to that blog in order to illustrate the lengths someone was going to retaliate against me for exposing racism.
Then I stopped. And now, I'm going to link again.

Facebook Screenshot 2/24/2012

On Wednesday, this peculiar entry was published on that blog:
"David Camm Supporters: 'We intend to make sure every potential juror knows the truth.'"

The archives on that entry caught my attention as being rather comprehensive.

Also interesting the 'green postage stamp'-rendering of Camm on the entry is the default profile pic for Sam Lochart and many in the Lochart family.

Given that the blog entry's point of view suggests Camm's innocence with unbridled enthusiasm, and the author even discloses an intention to influence an upcoming potential jury pool, I think it's fair to speculate if Sam Lockhart's contract employee (?) Gary M. Dunn is behind the Metro Expression?

Trisha Dunn

Having lived and owned a business in Floyd County, Indiana, I have had multiple intersections with the Lockhart/ Camm family over the years.

However, I have not had much of an interest in the case, and I do not recall an intersection with consequence to justify any resources from any of the actors in the said case to be devoted to my demise through the creation of this anonymous blog.

However, I do not see any harm in pointing out that it is possible that a former FBI agent, turned private detective, may have been responsible for the blog entries questioning my character, as well as countless disparaging and intimidating anonymous comments made on Louisville Courant. Remember the one that gave me specific instructions on how to kill myself? Yeah, this is class act.

Sam Lockhart on FB Screenshot 2/24/2012

I'm not interested in getting involved in the Camm case at all.

What I am interested in is the identity of the anonymous coward who made up lies about me to distract from the racist action of a local gay bar owner. Yeah, I'm interested in that.

Gary, if it's not you, you certainly must know who published your entry, eh?
Anonymous tips appreciated, too; curtster3@gmail.com

No contract between Drumanard owners and KYTC

2012-02-24T12:12:00.001-05:00

Per KYTC, there's no purchase contract between the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Drumanard estate owner, the Soterion Corporation.

If it is true KYTC is negotiating to waste a few million on purchasing the estate, then I'd like to know how much more that will make the tolls? 5 cents/crossing? $0.50/crossing?

KYTC owes it to us to give us the math.

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Stansel, Ann (KYTC)" <Ann.Stansel@ky.gov>
Date: February 24, 2012 11:59:40 AM EST
To: "Curtis Morrison" <curtster3@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: OR12-0189/Open Records Request

Correct.

-----Original Message-----
From: Curtis Morrison [mailto:curtster3@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2012 11:53 AM
To: Stansel, Ann (KYTC)
Subject: Re: OR12-0189/Open Records Request

Ms. Stansel,

Thanks for the response.

To clarify, as of now, KYTC has not entered into a binding purchase
contract to purchase the Drumanard then?

peace,
Curtis Morrison
502.403.9498

On Feb 24, 2012, at 8:37 AM, "Stansel, Ann (KYTC)" <Ann.Stansel@ky.gov>
wrote:

Mr. Morrison,
To date, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has not purchased the Drumanard
Estate.
If I can provide any further assistance, please let me know.
Ann Stansel
Records Custodian
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Office of Legal Services
200 Mero Street
Frankfort, KY 40622
(502) 564-7650 x3112
Fax: (502) 564-5238
Ann.Stansel@ky.gov
-----Original Message-----
From: Curtis Morrison [mailto:curtster3@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 8:46 PM
To: Stansel, Ann (KYTC)
Subject: Open records request
Pursuant to Kentucky's Open Records Act, I am requesting copy of the
executed purchase contract between KYTC as the buyer, and the Soterion
Corporation, as the seller of the property known as the Drumanard
Estate, and located at 6401 Wolf Pen Branch Rd.
I'd prefer this digitally of possible. Thank you.
peace,
Curtis Morrison
P.O. Box 4373
Louisville, KY. 40204-0373
502.403.9498

Legislative candidates still twiddling thumbs

2012-02-24T11:46:00.000-05:00

@BGPolitics: KY Supreme Court ends oral arguments on legislative redistricting lawsuit; not known when it will make decision.
Original Message:
http://twitter.com/BGPolitics/status/173074809809403906

The Kentucky Supreme Court heard a couple hours of arguments today on the Legislative maps, then adjourned. From twitter, I caught that counsels for both side referenced a North Carolina case.
The Courier-Journal's Joe Gerth said not only were some candidates present, but one candidate had his dad come, too. I think that's precious.
If I got to choose, I'd take the 2002 maps because they're in the best interest of Lexington retaining the leadership of Sen. Kathy Stein.
I've pitched to a few legislators the need to move our primary to June or July to give challengers a fair chance to campaign in whatever ends up being the final districts. I've got a few "wait and sees," but I don't intend to let this go.
While incumbents have the luxury of shooting out regular emails to their 'prospective'-constituents at no costs to their campaigns, challengers are not so lucky. If I spent time and resources to campaign now, there's no guarantee, up to now, that me and those constituents will even be in the same District come May 22, 2012.

2/25/2012 Update: The Court ruled, we're using the 2002 maps this year!

Outdoor use electrical cord protectors for Occupy, please?

2012-02-23T15:04:00.001-05:00

To maintain compliance with our permit with IPL, Occupy Louisville requires 2 or 3 electrical cord protectors approved for outdoor use. If you have any, please consider lending or donating them to the occupation at Founder's Square, or making a financial contribution here: http://occupylouisville.org/needs/ to fund their purchase!

Contact David Barfield (jdavidbarfield@gmail.com ) onsite at Founder's Square if you have any questions.

Also, tonight Occupy Louisville Direct Action Workgroup meeting to plan upcoming ALEC demonstration for February 29th: LC: Occupy Louisville Direct Action #F29 planning this Thursday.

That demonstration, which is set for next Wednesday, also has a Facebook event now: Occupy Louisville - #F29 Rally to Shut Down ALEC. Please RSVP, share on your wall, and invite all your friends who are not corporations. :-P

Occupy Louisville Direct Action #F29 planning this Thursday

2012-02-22T05:07:00.000-05:00

There is an Occupy Louisville Direct Action planning meeting is set for Thursday night at 7 PM. This planning meeting will be at the BRYCC House's new location in the office bldg. where Louise Cecil Costumes is housed. (Between College St & Breckinridge St.) There's an off-street parking lot. This is our last planning session prior to the national day of action against ALEC action, which will be on February 29, 4-7 pm at 2nd and Main, outside the YUM Center.
#F29 is a national protest of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), an entity which sets up corporations with legislators in private meetings to craft model legislation that is introduced in multiple states to serve corporate interests, nothing like we learned on School House Rock, you know, where citizens initiated legislation. Here's a little insight:

Facebook event for the planning meeting:
http://www.facebook.com/events/298179676911692/
Occupy Louisville Direct Action information:
http://occupylouisville.org/working-groups/direct-action-work-group/

The local faces of ALEC:
Louisville Courant: Five Kentucky Democrats pictured at ALEC convention

Louisville Courant: ALEC's Denise Harper Angel opposing the EPA
LouisvilleCourant: ALEC's Kentucky connection: Senator David Williams

Note: Two LMPD officers were assigned to sit in on Occupy Louisville's last Direct Action planning meeting. So maybe bring donuts. ;-P (Insight to Metro Louisville's overtime problem)

Nostalgic Refresher on how legislation supposed to happen:

Update/ February 23, 2012 3:09 PM:

Occupy Louisville's #F29 demonstration, which is set for next Wednesday, also has a Facebook event now: Occupy Louisville - #F29 Rally to Shut Down ALEC. Please RSVP, share on your wall, and invite all your friends who are not corporations. :-P

Granville T. Woods' role in industrial revolution

2012-02-21T18:18:00.002-05:00

Think about how empowering it must have been for Woods to have beaten Edison in a lawsuit?

Only 8 more days of African American History month. If you have young people in your life, share with them the story of Granville T. Woods.

Or you could tell them about the Black teenager who staged sit-ins that let to the integation of street cars in Louisville, beginning May 12, 1871.

Or, if you're feeling really ambitious, you could try to explain why Malcolm X was assassinated on this very day in 1965.

SHOCKER! Tom Owen's 1st tweet about past

2012-02-21T09:59:00.001-05:00

It's not been verified if 8th District Louisville Metro Councilman Tom Owen is doing his campaign's own tweeting, but I mean, come on, who else would tweet THAT?
Owen is seeking an 8th term in the upcoming Democratic primary, if his service an alderman is considered. He is also employed full-time with the University of Louisville.
Since I withdrew from that race to run for State Senate, Owen has been left with only two challengers, Bryan Mathews and Mason Roberts.
Mathews has sent out 5 tweets this year, while Roberts has sent out 12.
I think I've sent 25 in the last 3 days, but anyway, at least all the remaining 8th District candidates are trying to use social media and for this, I commend them. Let's tweet at them and see what they do!:
http://twitter.com/BMathews2012
http://twitter.com/tomowen2012
http://twitter.com/MasonJRoberts
Mathews works at a law office downtown, is our current County Judge Executive, and he is fighting alongside those who oppose the gutting of our Landmarks ordinance. Roberts is the Director of Louisville Grows.

Five Kentucky Democrats pictured at ALEC convention

2012-02-21T00:13:00.001-05:00

What do these five Kentucky Democratic Party Legislators all have in common? Rep. Jim Gooch (D-12), Rep. Charles Miller (D-28), Rep. Ted Edmonds (D-91) , Rep. Larry Clark (D-46), Rep. Kevin Sinnette (D-100)

It appears that in 2009, not only did they wander into a convention of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), but they let Captain Shutterbug, a paparazzi photographer/lobbyist with the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), provide us proof of their attendance. Don't just love Rep. Gooch's purple shirt?

Miller's badge says "Host State"...interesting.

Note sign above his head: "Taking gaming to the next level."

The bright side? Four of these misguided legislators, I'm pleased to say, have challengers in the 2012 elections, at least they do according to the 'old'-2002 boundaries we're using today. This Friday, there's a court hearing that might switch us back to the 'old'-new boundaries of 2012.

Here are the contested races where their opponents could and should capitalize on the incumbent's membership and affiliation with ALEC. (And you guys need to check the KREF website to see how much $ your opponent received from AGD.)

* Rep. Jim Gooch is being challenged by Jim Nance * In Louisville, Rep. Charles Miller is being challenged by Corey Koellner, andRep. Larry Clark is being challenged by Brian Simpson.
* Ted Edmonds is being challenged by Gary Wayne Herald.
While Koellner and Simpson are both Republicans, it's important to consider they're not hanging out at ALEC conventions, are they? Plus, they're both pretty nice guys. (We're Facebook friends.)

Speaking of Republicans, Rep. Joseph Fischer (R-68), of Fort Thomas, Kentucky was also found in an ALEC pic, and he has no Democratic Party challenger. If the Judge changes the legislative districts again on Friday, and the filing deadline is opened back up, I hope the good people of Campbell County can find a challenger for this guy:

In May of 2010, the model legislation that these legislators were being lobbied for passed the House and Senate, and the Academy of General Dentistry couldn't have been more thrilled. (AGD Impact, May 2010)

For more info about ALEC, check out yesterday's post
ALEC's Denise Harper Angel opposing the EPA
And, from July 2011: ALEC's Kentucky connection: Senator David Williams
And be sure to watch this:

Update/ February 23, 2012 3:24 PM:Occupy Louisville's #F29 demonstration, which is set for next Wednesday, now has a Facebook event: Occupy Louisville - #F29 Rally to Shut Down ALEC. Please RSVP, share on your wall, and invite all your friends who are not corporations. :-P

ALEC's Denise Harper Angel opposing the EPA

2012-02-20T03:54:00.000-05:00

Last July, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) was sharing strategies on their website on how to stop the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The graphic below appeared atop their webpage and information about Republican Kentucky State Representative Brian Smith's Anti-EPA bill, SB-116, was celebrated as one of the 'Strategies for State Legislators' below it.

Screenshot from ALEC.org 7/11/11 (Since removed)

This is the LRC summary of the bill Smith had introduced and the Senate had passed:

"Urge Congress to adopt legislation prohibiting EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions; urge Congress to impose a moratorium on promulgation of any new air quality regulations by EPA, except to directly address an imminent health or environmental emergency; urge Congress to require a study by the EPA and other agencies providing an objective cost-benefit analysis of EPA's current and planned regulation."

Republican Senators David Williams and Tom Buford, who are ALEC members, voted for the bill, although an "*" in the voting record indicated they had enough shame not to be seen doing it. Senator Denise Harper Angel, a Democrat who supposed to be representing the 35th District, voted for the bill in full sight.

LRC link to thisVote History as a pdf

To understand why ALEC would be excited about such a bill, and why all the legislators voted for it, one would have to understand what ALEC really is: a private club in which corporations feed state legislators the changes to law they desire that directly benefit their bottom line, and the money flows accordingly. (The Koch brothers are heavily involved in ALEC.)

Last night, a member of an Occupy Louisville work group focusing on ALEC brought to my attention that Angel, who I am challenging in the primary, is not only a member of ALEC, but she's in their 'closed door'- Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force. (ALEC Exposed)

Recap time:
Senator Denise Harper Angel is an ALEC member.
Senator Denise Harper Angel opposed the EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.
Senator Denise Harper Angel is going to have a difficult time explaining to the progressive, environment-loving Louisvillians of the 35th District, why she voted for this bill.

We're going to need a little bit of treasure to get this information out to the voters.
If you can invest $25 in that awareness campaign, great. If you can do more, that would be great too. Make your contribution online via the campaign website: senatorawesome.com/ (Click on "Donate online").

If times are tight, you can still help! Like, share, and subscribe to, our campaign's Facebook page and we'll stay in touch there. Thanks much. Have a great week!

For more about ALEC, here's a Louisville Courant piece from July, 2011: ALEC's Kentucky connection: Senator David Williams.

Update 2/20/2012 2:57 PM:
In 2011 ALEC also released a 56-page report I've uploaded to Google docs:
EPA's Regulatory Train Wreck: Strategies for State Legislators. It's got as it's cover page the same graphic as was previously on the website. Although the only legislator is mentioned besides Governor Steve Beshear, it's obvious they've got interests and very good friends in Kentucky.

Update 2/21/2012 5:13 PM:
And there are other Democrats who play in ALEC's sandbox, too:
Louisville Courant: Five Kentucky Democrats pictured at ALEC convention

Update/ February 23, 2012 3:24 PM:Occupy Louisville's #F29 demonstration, which is set for next Wednesday, now has a Facebook event: Occupy Louisville - #F29 Rally to Shut Down ALEC. Please RSVP, share on your wall, and invite all your friends who are not corporations. :-P

Update/ February 29, 2012 2:25 AM:
I had missed something. Senator Denise Harper Angel attended the 2011 Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS). The program is sponsored by the Southern Legislative Conference of The Council of State Governments. was in South Carolina in September. (Senator...)

The Southern Legislative Conference of The Council of State Governments has the following policy regarding the EPA (bold is mine):

1. Adopt legislation prohibiting the EPA from further regulating greenhouse gas emissions for the next 24 months, including, if necessary, defunding the EPA greenhouse gas regulatory activity;

2. Impose a moratorium on the promulgation of any new air quality regulation by the EPA, including, if necessary, the defunding of the EPA air quality regulatory activities, except to address an imminent health or environmental emergency, for a period of at least 24 months;

3. Require the Obama administration to undertake a comprehensive study identifying all EPA regulatory activities in furtherance of its goal of “taking action on climate change and improving air quality” and specifying the cumulative effects of all proposed regulations on the economy, manufacturing jobs and, generally, U.S. economic competitiveness. This multi-agency study should draw on the expertise of the EPA and all agencies and departments that are involved in economic development and/or the
interstate electric energy grid system. Furthermore, this study should provide an objective cost-benefit analysis of all current and planned regulatory actions taken by the EPA; and

4. Require the EPA to identify specific actions it intends to take to achieve environmental goals, while assessing the total cost, and potential benefits, of such goals.

From: Proposed policy position.

Kentucky doesn't need casinos

2012-02-18T23:19:00.002-05:00

There are lots of reasons why Kentucky does not need casino gambling. Generally, it's an industry that is built on hustling the poor. Let's put that aside and look at just one factor. Let's look back at Indiana and what happened to the foreclosure rate there following the re-legalization of casinos in 1993. (IPG) (Hint: It doesn't go down.)

My Old Indiana Home: A Study of Rising Foreclosure Rate

The first of 10 casinos re-opened in Indiana 1995. An 11th was added in 2006. That same year, Indiana's ranked as one of the leading 3 states in foreclosures, having rates 50% higher than the national average.

But I knew about this before the 2007 study because I sold real estate in Indiana at the turn of the millenium. Specifically, I sold a lot of vacant foreclosures to investors.

Foreclosures littered with literature about Caesar's VIP club. Mailboxes full of special offers preying on repeat gamblers to come back again. And again. There were homes, where people once lived and raised their families.

And no, correlation does not cause causation. But blind faith that gambling revenue will solve all of Kentucky's problems without a comprehensive studys to understand the social and economic consequences, are you telling me that makes sense?

In context, the incumbent 35th District Senator Denise Harper Angel, who I am challenging, has co-sponsored Governor Steve Beshear's bill to pave the way for casinos and their social and economic problems in Kentucky. (14: KY Gov calls for statewide vote to expand gaming)

There's another solution. A tax revenue reform plan already put together which fixes our broken tax structure. It's calling the Moving Kentucky Forward Plan and was introduced this year by Representative Jim Wayne and 8 co-sponsors: HB-127.http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/12RS/HB127.htm.

Although Wayne's been on to these solutions for some time, I admit I only found them in 2010: (LC:HB 13 Kentucky Forward Plan)

Read what KFTC has to say about this year's version of the plan: Fair and sensible tax reform - House Bill 127

Take a look at who is currently paying Kentucky's taxes...I think you'll be surprised:

I agree Kentucky has a revenue problem, but instead of hustling the poor, why not raise taxes on the rich, just a little bit?

And I apologize for the formatting here. the new blogger post editor is not user-friendly.

Kentucky Saves Week begins Sunday

2012-02-18T18:19:00.000-05:00

Governor Beshear has done something that's not awful. I really approve of it, too. Consuming retail does not necessarily help our economy, but it certainly depletes our resources.

If you're like me, in the 99%, then I strongly recommend you begin saving money. Not because money will make us happy, but because there is an economic war being waged on us by corporations. Saving money is a strategy to survive until macro changes can be made.

I'm getting lazy as a blogger though, I've copy-pasted the announcement below from a Bank On Louisville email:

"Governor Beshear proclaims February 19-25, 2012 as Kentucky Saves Week. The Kentucky Saves Campaign is part of the nationwide America Saves effort focused on making household savings a priority.

In today’s economy, many families have found themselves without enough savings to survive financial crisis. Kentucky Saves is an effort that promotes positive saving habits to help Kentuckians work toward financial stability. Kentucky Saves encourages people to make a personal commitment to save money. Sign up at www.kentuckysaves.org."

Metro TV's Friday video fun

2012-02-17T15:37:00.002-05:00

Finally, a Youtube video from Metro TV that is 29 minutes long to teach us how to make sandwiches! The video's star is Chef Nancy Russman, who is the director of the Culinary Arts Department at Jefferson Community and Technical College.

Russman writes a blog, too: click to read about food and stuff. To be completely fair, I don't know how to make sandwiches. I blame this on my mother for letting me be a picky eater and my ex-husband for not allowing me to enter a kitchen for over a decade.

I guess I can't pick on them for this I guess, I've wasted countless hours in research on these scales myself. I didn't get all worked up like Councilman Tom Owen did, but I've been able to isolate the date range of the crime to May 26, 2009 and August 08, 2010, or former Mayor Jerry Abramson's last year in office.

Update to Justitia's missing scales of justice

Justitia robbed: Owen cashes in on earned media

'Paddy Wagon'- today's racism awareness tip

2012-02-17T10:18:00.000-05:00

A couple hours after the moment this picture of me was snapped at the August 2012 Tar Sands Action to protest the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, I was still in the back of that van. And it was hot.

I turned my head to the gentleman to my left, whose Salvation Army-bought blazer was causing him to sweat profusely and said, "I never really thought about whether paddy wagons were air-conditioned before today."
The gentleman, a D.C. resident who was no stranger to civil disobedience, called me out right there, while we sit in those painful plastic wire handcuffs.
'Paddy wagon,' he explained, is a slang term perpetuating the stereotype that Irish people are predisposed to crime.
I mess up, too. I apologize to those who have heard me use this term in the past. Especially those who are Irish or of Irish descent.

Insight to Metro Louisville's overtime problem

2012-02-17T00:11:00.001-05:00

Screenshot 2/16/2012, 11:55 pm

A couple weeks ago we learned that Metro Louisville spends $14 million a year on unscheduled overtime. (CJ: Louisville spends $14 million a year on unscheduled overtime)

This figure came to light as Mayor Greg Fischer was targeting Metro Louisville employees, who are union, as the cause of our city's budget shortfall. Who Mayor Fischer was not targeting at the time was the many, many Metro Louisville non-union management employees who earn in excess of $80,000/ year.

And now we have insight to how LMPD overtime comes to be.

These two cordial officers, sent by their sergeant, were educated about ALEC tonight by an Occupy Louisville work group. (Incidentally, I've written a bit about ALEC last July: LC: ALEC's Kentucky connection: Senator David Williams)

It's okay. No one panic. J. Edgar Hoover had Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. followed, too.

Cool cardboard outside U o L Humanities Bldg

2012-02-16T17:31:00.001-05:00

Yay for creativity! I don't know the story, but I am curious about it.

Branden Klayko to present at Pecha Kucha

2012-02-16T12:34:00.001-05:00

I'm excited to learn that Branden Klayko is to present at Pecha Kucha next Tuesday. The host is some guy that invented ice or is mayor of something.

Mayor to Host Night of Ideas

Metro Government to Host Pecha Kucha – A Night of Ideas
Free event is Tuesday, Feb. 21 at Metro Hall
LOUISVILLE (Feb. 13, 2011) – Ideas about the city's culture, growth and history will be celebrated and discussed next week at Louisville Metro Hall – and the public is invited to attend the free event.

Mayor Greg Fischer is hosting Pecha Kucha, an evening in which presenters get 20 slides and 20 seconds per slide to pitch their ideas. The event began in Japan and has spread worldwide, including to Louisville, which is hosting its seventh Pecha Kucha night, most of them at 21C MuseumHotel.

The event is Tuesday, Feb. 21 with doors opening at 7 p.m. Presentations about everything from bourbon and local foods to swing dancing and African-Americans history begin at 8 p.m.

A cash bar reception will be held in the 2^nd floor rotunda of Metro Hall (enter from the historic front doors) with the presentations occurring in the Mayor's Gallery on the 4^th floor. Louisville's food trucks will be parked in front of Metro Hall, selling their culinary creations.

"This is a great night for innovative ideas and breakthrough thinking," Fischer said. "My goal is for Louisville to be a city teeming with ideas – and Pecha Kucha, along with the IdeaFestival and other events— is making that happen."

Some of the presenters next Tuesday include Branden Klayko, editor of The Architect's Newspaper in New York and the blog Broken Sidewalk; Conor O'Driscoll, of Woodford Reserve Distillery; Ramsi Kamar of Ramsi's Café on the World and Dr. Blaine Hudson, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Louisville.

A full list of presenters is available at http://pklouisville.org

David Yates, lying

2012-02-15T12:24:00.001-05:00

The email below was sent out by Councilman David Yates to his 25th District constituents. The first lie is that this ordinance was cross-community supported.

And the big thing Yate's leaves out- Whiskey Row would not have been landmarked and subsequently saved, if this ordinance was in effect 2 years ago. But nice spin, David:

"Fellow Residents of District 25,
My office has received numerous calls from preservation-minded citizens across Louisville regarding the bi-partisan, cross-community supported amendment to the Landmarks Designation ordinance that I introduced at the last Council meeting. Many concerns have been raised about the need and motivation of this legislation and I want to take the opportunity to speak directly with you about what this ordinance means for not only you, but the process in which landmarks are designated within Metro Louisville.
First, I am supportive of preservation in Louisville. This city is full of natural and cultural attractions that should be protected, but this should be done with wide community support and with a process that is accountable and open to the citizens. The current ordinance does a poor job of ensuring that the community surrounding a proposed landmark, which will be most affected by a landmark designation, has a significant voice at the table to help make a determination. It is not a fair proposition to say that 200 individuals who do not live in or around your community can unilaterally make a decision about what is culturally important in your neighborhood and do so without the support or input from you or your neighbors. These amendments correct that and make the process more open and inclusive.
Secondly, this is about accountability to the citizens of our community. The current law allows an unelected, appointed board to make the full and final determination of a landmark with no oversight. This ordinance will return the final decision to the Metro Council whose members are elected by the people and held accountable by the residents of their respective districts. Citizens will be giving a voice and their issues and concerns may be bright to light, considered, and addressed.
Some details of the proposed changes are below…
1. Currently, only 200 signatures of any citizen, residing anywhere in Metro Louisville are required on the petition to seek Landmark status. The new ordinance will require that a portion of those minimum of 200 petitioners are either property owners or residents of the neighborhoods within a one mile radius surrounding the proposed landmark, or a majority of the residents in a proposed district. This will ensure that those residents and businesses most impacted by the designation have a voice in the process.
2. Currently, the Metro Landmarks Commission- who is appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Council- is the body solely responsible for the approval of Landmark designations. They hold hearings and make a final determination of designation. The new ordinance will hold in place the Landmarks Commission job to properly vet any proposals, but authority for final approval will return to the Metro Council where it can be held accountable by the voting public.

My goal is to ensure that there is an inclusive, transparent, and accountable process that is fair to the communities affected while preserving the cultural and natural icons that represent our communities. I look forward to the dialogue that will come in the coming weeks to put forward legislation that meets our goals. Many of my colleagues on the Council have signed as sponsors of this ordinance, representing broad spectrums of our city.
I am always willing to have an honest discussion of what is best to move our city forward, while protecting the parts of our past that serve our cultural identity. Please feel free to contact my office with your comments, concerns, and suggestions about how to make this ordinance the best it can be.
Sincerely,

David Yates
Councilman, District 25"

Public Meeting for Olmsted Parkways Plan

2012-02-15T11:30:00.001-05:00

Another public meeting. Yay! The word 'nerd' doesn't really do me justice, does it? Lifted the following from Metro press release (on my iPhone):

Metro Parks Hosting Public Meeting on Olmsted Parkways Plan
Meeting to take place on Tuesday, March 6
LOUISVILLE (February 15, 2012) – Metro Parks will host a public meeting on Tuesday, March 6, to reintroduce and describe the Olmsted Parkways Shared Use Path plan, a bicycle/pedestrian improvement project. The meeting will take place from 6:00 to 8:30pm at the South Louisville Community Center, 2911 Taylor Boulevard.
The Olmsted Parkways master plan was completed in January 2008, developed with citizen input gained from seven public meetings held throughout 2007, and outlines alternatives for bicycle and pedestrian improvements for the parkways.
Metro Parks is now beginning the Phase 1 Design component of the project, which includes all of Southern Parkway, all of Algonquin Parkway, and Southwestern Parkway from Gibson Lane to Broadway.
The meeting will begin with an open house at 6:00pm. The presentation of the plan begins at 7:00pm, followed by a question and answer period.

The Louisville's Olmsted Parkways plan is available online: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroParks/planninganddesign/projects/olmstedparkways.htm

These people love mountains - more photos!!

2012-02-14T12:25:00.000-05:00

And so do I.

And these people love mountains too:

K.A. Owens on the right.

many more photos after the break...

Colette Henderson with Melina Laboucan-Massimo

Drew Tucker on the right.

K.A. Owens on the left.

4 Slots left on MSD Board

2012-02-14T11:12:00.000-05:00

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer still needs 4 vacancies filled on MSD Board, but they must come from Kentucky State Senate Districts 35, 38, 19, and 10.

Also, thank you Mayor Fischer for answering a tweeted question.

Mayor Greg Fischer @louisvillemayor mentioned you:

louisvillemayor Mayor Greg Fischer

@jbruggers @SenatorAwesome Senate dists 35 38 19 and 10. Looking for people with deep skills in investment, finances, engineering & union.

Feb 14, 10:41 AM via web

In reply to…

jbruggers james bruggers

@SenatorAwesome it's based on state senate districts. I don't have numbers. @louisvillemayor would.

Feb 13, 9:14 AM via Twitter for iPhone

Reply to @louisvillemayor

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Mayor Fischer thinks private industry creates conservation?

2012-02-13T16:42:00.000-05:00

Our Sierra Club-endorsed Mayor Greg Fischer was in Washington D.C. today talking about GE, and well, he may have gotten confused.
From this tweet from GE, quoting him, the Mayor credits private industry for being responsible for innovation and conservation. I bet most everyone politely clapped, too.
Private industry 'listens' when people take to the streets and scream at the top of their lungs because they're being neglected, abused, or poisoned.
If private industries, like GE, listened to consumers, they wouldn't have moved thousands of our jobs abroad.
If private industries listened to consumers, would LG&E still be committed to burning coal?
Maybe he thought he was in a Republican Party's Presidential Primary debate, and he wanted to be right of Gingrich?

A little maintenance, please?

2012-02-13T15:58:00.001-05:00

Since Metro Council is suddenly concerned about the Landmark process, now's a good time to ask why we're letting the wood trim on a 100 yr old, city-owned building rot like a dead tree on the ground?

This building is on corner of Rosewood & Bardstown, across from Bristol Bar and Grill and PNC Bank.

The last thing to happen to the exterior was Jerry Abramson's 'No Smoking' sign. By summer, there may not be any paint left on the trim at all.

We can do better, right?

'I've had people thrown out for this' - Senator Harper Angel

2012-02-13T11:47:00.001-05:00

Incumbent Senator Denise Harper Angel's conversation with CJ's Joe Gerth gives a hint of the friendly 35th District campaign season to come:
"You have to make sure it's perfect," she said. "I've had people thrown out (of elections) for this. The return wouldn't be good."
I guess that depends on one's perspective.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120212/COLUMNISTS21/302120071/legislature-house-senate-redistricting?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CLocal%20News

Anti-preservation ordinance up to 8 sponsors :-(

2012-02-12T22:01:00.003-05:00

Tuesday Preservation Alert!

Bardstown Rd sidewalk closed by serial killer

2012-02-12T17:19:00.000-05:00

The upper end of the 1000 block of Bardstown Rd has a new sidewalk closure. I won't tell you whether the other side of the sign lists a ransom note, but I will express this complaint... Again.

Louisville possesses state of the art moveable sidewalk barriers that could be installed in the traffic lane adjoining this closure in minutes, creating safe passage for pedestrians.
Not that pedestrians being able to walk safely in a dense commercial community takes priority over motorist's rights to mow them over.(satire)
Don't look for anything different than what you see here under incumbent Councilman Tom Owen's leadership though.
This writer, and others, lobbied him extensively for 2 years as the new Highland Cleaners location went without a sidewalk. Maybe someone has to get hit, first?

Open up redistrict process to the people

2012-02-12T10:34:00.000-05:00

If you can see it, the highlighted blue line indicates the 35th District boundaries arrived at in 2000, and probably the ones we'll be using in the 2012 state senate election.

Notice it's not a circle, square or well, it's not shaped like anything in nature. Yet attempts for the legislature to revise maps following the 2010 census have failed the tests of our our own constitution.
This morning, I was blown away by the simplicity of what Al Cross proposes to fix Kentucky's redistricting problem.

In a nutshell, we have legislature amend Kentucky's constitution to abolish the 121 year old "county integrity" provision.

While we offer that amendment to the people to consider, we also have a nonpartisan panel draw the lines for 2014 and have them approved not by the legislature but the people as well.
See: "Open up redistrict process to the people"-Al Cross in Courier-Journal http://ow.ly/1G7VUf
I'm putting this in my platform, and will welcome (and appreciate) if my incumbent challenger, Senator Denise Harper Angel, adopts the Al Cross plan too.

Thank goodness for the Amish

2012-02-10T22:46:00.000-05:00

Frankfort legislators have not been worrying about Kentucky because they've been waiting to see whether their constitutionally-deficient maps would fly. Because incumbents want to vote, not according to the Commonwealth's interest, but in a way to preserve their seats.

For all Stumbo's faults, he's pretty straight on what time it is.

But some spin it differently, celebrating the Amish buggy sign law like it really took two months and that much energy.

Don't get me wrong, I supported the bill and am grateful the ACLU worked their but off to lobby for it. (Hi Kate!) But really, It was a no brainer, this celebration is distracting from what was not being taken on. Which is most everything else.

Below is this week's newsletter from the 35th District incumbent (who I am challenging):

"COLUMN
SENATE WEEK IN REVIEW

Prepared by: LRC Public Information Office
Submitted by: Senator Denise Harper Angel

Our representative form of government was designed to give the people of Kentucky a voice, and to ensure elected officials are approachable and attentive to their constituents' needs. It is one benefit of the Commonwealth having a "part-time" legislature. Most of the year, we live and work in our hometowns, right beside the people we serve at the Statehouse.

The Framers' original intent was for a loud citizen voice – but some people question just how much influence they have on our work in Frankfort today. For those doubters, I have an answer. The fact is that a small group of concerned citizens can still impact – and even initiate – legislation meaningful to them and their unique needs. The evidence can be found in the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 75 from the chamber this week.

Members of the Amish community in Kentucky felt that a current requirement for a bright- orange triangle mounted on the back of their horse-drawn buggies was a violation of their religious convictions. So they wrote to their lawmakers and worked together with them toward a safe solution that would not go against their religious beliefs.

The resulting legislation allows for white or gray reflective tape to be used as an alternative. The provision requires at least 100 inches of it outlining the back of the buggy, as well as several feet of tape on both sides and the front. Some supporters feel it is even safer than the orange emblem, a beautiful example of citizen-motivated legislation identifying even better solutions to the issues facing us.

We also passed several education-related bills this week. Senate Bill 95, which cleared the Senate on a 37-0 vote, encourages elementary schools across the State to establish summer learning programs for low-income students. Research shows that the achievement gap for disadvantaged students widens over the summer. This measure encourages schools to utilize a variety of existing resources, including community and business partnerships, to keep those students engaged and learning through summer day camps.

Senate Bill 38 (passed unanimously) focuses on keeping high school students interested in learning. The bill would create a career and technical education curriculum in the public school system. Supporters hope the new curriculum will prevent at-risk students from dropping out before graduation by preparing them for careers in local business and industry that do not require a college degree.

Another proposal aimed at increasing the number of high school graduates in Kentucky cleared the Senate by a 35-2 vote. Senate Bill 109 would give local school districts the authority to adopt a policy requiring students to stay in school until age 18, or actual graduation if that comes first. Districts implementing such a policy would be required to offer an approved alternative education program that would help meet the needs of students most likely to drop out. The curriculum outlined in SB 38 would meet those qualifications. If made law, the provisions would take effect in the 2014-2015 school year. The bill does not go far enough. I support raising the statewide legal dropout age to 18. I hope we vote another bill this session that addresses that issue.

The following is a list of legislation that I have filed as the primary sponsor and the current status of those bills:

SB 36 -- Relating to missing children. Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chair is Senator Tom Jensen.
SB 37 – Relating to fingerprint background checks of long-term care employees. Assigned to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, Chair is Senator Julie Denton.
SB 39 – Relating to school collection of data on body mass index, height, and weight. Assigned to the Senate Education Committee, Chair is Senator Ken Winters.
SB 44 – Relating to dating violence. Relating to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chair is Senator Tom Jensen.
SB 93 – Relating to brain impaired missing persons. Assigned to the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee, Chair is Senator Jack Westwood.
SB 104 – Relating to the protection of adults – an adult abuse registry. Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chair is Senator Tom Jenson.
SB 128 – Relating to the imposition of tolls or fees on existing federal interstate highways. Assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee, Chair is Senator Ernie Harris.

If you support my legislation, you can assist me in getting these bills moving by calling the chairman of the respective committees to ask that a committee hearing be given.
This is just a one-week snapshot of the legislation we are working on this session. There are many other issues being discussed in the Capitol. I encourage you to join in those discussions. Your voice is needed while laws are in play that affect you. As always, I stand ready and willing to listen to your thoughts and concerns. Our committee meetings, and chamber proceedings, are open to the public and aired on KET. If you cannot drive up, then tune in.

To learn more about the Kentucky General Assembly and the work of the 2012 Regular Session, visit our home page, www.lrc.ky.gov. You can also call 1-800-633-9650 for a taped message containing information on legislative committee meetings. To check the status of a bill, you may call the toll-free Bill Status Line at 1-866-840-2835. To leave a message for me, or any legislator, call the General Assembly's toll-free Message Line at 1-800-372-7181. People who prefer to offer their feedback in Spanish can call the General Assembly's Spanish Line at 1-866-840-6574. You can also e-mail me directly at denise.harperangel@lrc.ky.gov.
Senator Harper Angel represents the 35^th Senate District in Jefferson County."

Cunningham /McGarvey file for State Senate, District 19

2012-02-10T15:58:00.001-05:00

Louisville environmentalist Sarah Lynn Cunningham filed this afternoon as a candidate in Democratic Party for Kentucky State Senate, District 19. Today was the extended deadline for filing, and the 19th is a unique seat as the incumbent, Tim Shaughnessy is not seeking re-election. I was in the office to withdraw and re-file for the 35th, as the 2 original signers who were gracious enough to file for me were moved back into the 19th. Democrat Morgan McGarvey also showed up to file for the 19th today. McGarvey was surprised to see Cunningham file for the seat.After an awkward minute of whispering in the Secretary of State's office, McGarvey retreated to the hall with the supporters who escorted him to re-group. After nervously assessing Cunningham as a candidate, McGarvey still filed.Earlier in the day, Shawn Reilly decided not to run.Amy E. Shoemaker and Duran Hall have also filed in the Democratic Primary for the 19th.The sole Republican who filed for the seat, Julie Raquel Adams, withdrew today as she was not in the District after the map change.

More Anti-preservation nonsense

2012-02-09T21:43:00.001-05:00

The public was just given notice of this meeting yesterday. Probably more Anti-preservation nonsense.

Notice
Special Meeting of the Metro Historic Landmarks and Preservation Districts Commission:
Discussion of Pending Legislation Regarding Proposed Revisions to the Landmarks Ordinance and Possible Action Regarding Recommendations -
Friday, February 10, 2012 - 11:00 A.M.

Conference Room 101 - Metro Development Center

444 South Fifth Street

Half dozen Metro Councilpersons introduce Anti-Preservation ordinance

2012-02-08T18:04:00.000-05:00

Remember when I was pushing for a Downtown Preservation District?

Well, I recently floated a plan amongst preservationists to raise the money, as a suiting tribute to Anne Hassett's legacy. (Note: This original idea was not mine, but the Courier-Journal Editorial Board's: Preserving Louisville.)

And what happens now, these Metro Councilpersons introduce a bill to make it harder to create a district. These Councilpersons right here:

Councilman David Yates

Councilman Rick Blackwell

Councilman Bob Henderson

Councilman David James

Councilman Vicki Welch

Councilman James Peden

I've uploaded the entire resolution: HERE. The resolutions would end the ability of this community to landmark structures under imminent threat of demolition. Wait, are some of these little rascals at the Metro Dems meeting that started at 6 PM, gotta go...


Me lobbying Councilman Owen on Downtown Preservation District

Mayor Fischer goes all Scott Walker

2012-02-08T16:50:00.000-05:00

Greg Fischer is continuing the "Scott Walker"-style rhetoric about how $12 million budget gap must be made up on the backs of unionized employees, because their contracts are the problem.

Before you say "No he's not!" tell me when he's ever mentioned cutting the pay of non-unionized employees, like those $100,000/yr + people that wear fancy ties and tell him he's great? I haven't heard a peep about touching their money.

"We have to balance the budget, right?..." Fischer says."We have to look at everything, we don't have an option."

You think Greg's looking at my option? You know, knocking $30,000 off the salaries of the highest paid 400 non-unionized Metro employees.

THAT would give us $12 million. And if there's a God, it would nudge Metro employees who are really there just for the money to move on to Humana, where it's okay to be a greedy capitalist.

No one working in government in Louisville needs to earn $100,000/ year. No one. Sorry. Especially these days.

Also, it is no secret the Mayor created a small part (Like 5%) of this crisis when he pushed the Metro Council to hand over that $500,000 to GLI in December. (While we were at the mall.)

The video goes on to have Fischer campaign supporter J.K. McKnight talk about the wonders of Forecastle and My Morning Jacket, so we all thing this anti-union rhetoric is cool.

And wash your hands people.

Mystery Photo fun

2012-02-08T15:36:00.000-05:00

By chance buying gas across from this parking lot and I remembered the first guy I ever "made out" with was there.
Thursday morning: 5 AM. March 1990.
Before internet, cellphones. His name was John, he drove a Maxima, worked for a portrait studio. Was dreamy. He and his friend took my tipsy butt home when Connection closed, then he called my pager.
I was so cute. I was wearing a long-sleeved pink Claiborne shirt. It was 100% cotton and I miss it.
I was driving a 1988 Hyundai Excel GL, a car that made it 200 miles past it's 60,000 mile warranty before needing a transmission.

Following that first kiss, he confessed me that he had a boyfriend, but he was disgruntled with him because he just spent a lot of money on a fur coat. The reason he had us meet at this location is he didn't want anyone to know.
It was still a great kiss, but it was that night I first realized gay men were not really human, but more of a reptile-humanoid hybrid. Whenever I forget this lesson, I suffer.
Where is it? And where was your first kiss, anonymous peoples?

KDP inviting new voices to party

2012-02-08T12:51:00.001-05:00

No, Dan, I'm not as excited as you are, but I respect that you're inviting new voices to the party.

"Dear Fellow Democrat,

With the New Year upon us, I hope you're as excited as I am to make 2012 as successful as 2011 was for Kentucky Democrats. Coming off our huge victories last year, the Kentucky Democratic Party is gearing up to continue to run competitively in every corner of the Commonwealth.
To help make 2012 a banner year for Kentucky Democrats, we're holding a meeting for the folks who have helped us in the past and also to invite new voices to the party. Most importantly, we'll be discussing the upcoming party reorganization, how to become a precinct captain and how to become a delegate to the State Democratic Convention in June.
Please join me, staff from the Kentucky Democratic Party and leaders from your local community to help plan our strategy for a winning 2012. All the information you need is below.

WHAT: 2012 KDP Louisville Strategy Session
WHEN: Wednesday, February 15th at 6:00 PM
WHERE: American Legion, 2919 Bardstown Rd.
If you have any questions about what we'll be discussing or how to get involved, please email the KDP's Political and Finance Director Jared Smith at jsmith@kydemocrat.com or call 502-695-4828.
Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you there.
All the best,
Dan Logsdon,
Chairman, Kentucky Democratic Party"

Fairness Campaign makes announcement via Facebook

2012-02-08T01:50:00.001-05:00

The message is too long for my phone's screenshot. It continues:

"We have worked closely with the Kentuckiana Black-Gay Association (KGBPA), Mr. Flatt, and Tryangles management to reach the most positive resolution. While our full statement regarding this situation is forthcoming, we are pleased to share with you that with the support of KGBPA, Mr. Flatt, Fairness, and Tryangles, a "Diversity Night" at the bar that celebrates our entire community is in the planning for the near future and the action planned by the KGBPA for Friday night at Tryangles has morphed into a positive demonstration supported by the bar, Mr. Flatt, KGBPA, and Fairness that acknowledges the harm racism does us all and the healing and progress possible when we own the systemic racism prevalent in every American community, including our own. More details will be released soon. Thank you."

update 4/08/2012 8pm:
Courier-Journal: Joke about Obama causes rift in gay community

Williams, Stumbo, Beshear fail at governing

2012-02-07T21:07:00.006-05:00

Judge Shepperd has thrown out the legislative maps approved by our Senate and House and signed by our Governor Steve Beshear, because those maps, they're unconstitutional.

Unfortunately, Judge Shepperd did not take the other necessary step of throwing the incumbents out of office who came up with and approved those unconstitutional maps.

I *think* the plan now is to use these old unconstitutional maps instead of the unconstitutional maps just created, until they're challenged and I guess then the incumbents will get to sit around and do nothing indefinitely.

Can I get a WTF?
I don't care what party you are in, if you're a breathing human with a pulse take $200 to the Secretary of State's office tomorrow and file to challenge your incumbent.

I think I'm still running in the 35th District still, unless Representative Greg Stumbo and Senator David Williams decide to do their jobs and cause the creation of another set of constitutionally acceptable map boundaries.

Shawn Reilly, who previously announced he wasn't running after being thrown in the 35th, could now file and run in the 19th as well. But so can Marty Meyer.

Reilly hasn't decided what he's going to do.

We all need to hold the people accountable who created this constitutional crisis, because they did not do their jobs. I'm talking about all of the incumbent legislators collectively, but these are the ones most to blame:

Senator David Williams

Senator Greg Stumbo

Governor Steve Beshear

Publishers note: This entry was updated at 9:40 pm to reflect the conventional wisdom (Shawn Reilly's got a map) that I'm still in the 35th. The state's website reflects that I'm in the 35th, but not sure if that's the updated, now wrong, information, if that makes sense. No, it doesn't. I know.

Update/10:21 Pm:
Joe Gerth corrected me on the context of Stumbo's quote so I updated this entry, again. Also, Gerth thinks Beshear's not as much to blame relatively but I disagree. I saw him in these commercials flying over floods, we were told he was a LEADER.
Update/11 pm: And okay. I updated again to reflect how I grabbed the wrong story to quote from to begin with. Good night.

What else you got?

2012-02-07T16:56:00.003-05:00

A comment on Louisville Courant last night triggered me back into being the person I'm here to be.

Vetting politicians to make sure they are sincere in their ideas and not compromised by corporate interest is pretty damn important. We all want people, on some level, to hold us accountable, this helps us be the best we can be. (Admit it, Greg, you know you like it)

That being said, the vetting of my past has become a burden on those doing the vetting. It takes a lot of time and energy to track people down, and then there's the resources to get that information public. But not for me. I know I've made mistakes in the past. A lot of them, and think about them all the time.

And, I'll be darn, I'm on stage here. So I figured, let's get this over with, and sitting parked in my card on Cardinal Blvd, I wrote on Facebook the comments below, and about 40 of my friends apparently think I'm NOT insane, which is reassuring.

Oh, you can't read that. The caption:

But we didn't go hunting.
"Let me save the haters some time. I've filed bankruptcy twice, Most of my relationships have ended because I screwed up. I have had 3-ways and I've smoked pot (enjoyed neither). I currently take Adderall for ADD, prescribed 40mg/day but often only take 20mg. I've given more than one homeless gay kid a room in my home, although all were over 18, even Joey. We all know I've consumed some gin in my late 30's. My only arrest was in front of White House, but it was covered on MSNBC (not exactly breaking news). Oh, I was pictured with Dick Cheney. What else you got? Because I'm pretty passionate about leaving this planet and the people on it better off than I found them. I suggest you not stand in my way."

I have remembered a few things I left out since I posted this last night:

1) I called Christopher Barton a "twirp" yesterday. I've tried not to do any name-calling but I slipped up. No excuse. Christopher, I'm sorry.

2) In the mid-90's I got a speeding ticket in the school zone on Lexington Rd. The look the cross guard gave me still haunts me. What the hell was I thinking? I'm grateful for her.

3) While managing the Papa John's Pizza in New Albany in 1991, one of my delivery drivers was killed in an automobile accident delivering a pizza early one Friday night.

I knew she liked to speed, yet my sole intervention was a talk where I told her she shouldn't. The day she was killed, my last words to her were "Hurry back."

If the weight of vicarious liability wasn't enough, John Schnatter's country club friend owned a printing company, PDQ printing. They printed new employee handbooks that weekend that had a whole new section devoted to safe driving. I set in front of an OSHA agent on Sunday morning, handing him that employee handbook that still smelled of fresh ink as if the deceased employee had the opportunity to see the same handbook.

While she probably wouldn't have heeded the handbook anyway, I still regret I didn't do a more forceful intervention with her, and I've been disgusted I went along with the cover-up on the employee handbook.

4) While managing the Highland's Domino's Pizza on Weber Ave in about 1989, I asked a girl on a date. She said no, I was embarrassed and in desperation I asked her if she was a lesbian. I am still very GRATEFUL to her for telling me what an ass I was for doing that. (Especially considering how ridiculous it would have been for us both had she said yes.)

5) My passion for getting the Bridges Project right, by building only an East End bridge, and keeping tolls off our highways, caused me to be very involved in the 2010 mayoral election. Sure there are a myriad of issues facing our community, but this is the big ticket one. As it became apparent the ultimate outcome of that election was my worst fear, I went negative in my campaigning. Real negative. I wrote a lot of mean things about people I greatly respect and admire, when I could have presented information objectively without snark. It wasn't right.

6) When I was selling real estate, I sold a some homes to some people who couldn't afford them and their lives didn't get better as a result. While it was a relative few compared to the 500+ that worked out, that's no excuse. To that extent, I contributed to this housing crisis and recession. If you're one of my past customers who were hurt by my lack of responsibility here, I'm sorry. I don't do that anymore.

7) I have made so many friends through the years who I haven't kept up with. This feels like I kind of disposed them when I was done with them. If you were one of them, I'm sorry for any pain I caused you.

If you feel I shouldn't be in public service, I can respect your right to that opinion and I'll continue the courtesy of giving you a place to record them. (Not a single comment has been deleted since this started a week ago.)

After I'm elected, I hope you'll continue to keep an eye on me, and I'll continue to listen to what you have to say.

What else you got?

02/07/12 6:47 PM Update:

WFPL: Protest Planned Against Gay Bar Owner Who Compared Obama to Chimp

Fairness Campaign, Kentuckiana Gay-Black Pride, WFPL News, (&LEO Weekly): Thank you.

update 4/08/2012 8pm:
Courier-Journal: Joke about Obama causes rift in gay community

World Justice Day: February 20

2012-02-07T15:31:00.000-05:00

Just received this flyer from one of my favorite University of Louisville Poli Sci professors, Dr. Tricia Gray. The last event I saw her at she was debating with Tunesian revolutionaries on how their democracy will be shaped. Yep, she's intense.

"Commemorate
World Social Justice Day
with
Angene & Jack Wilson
Monday, February 20, 2012
2.30pm-4.00pm
Ekstrom Library, Room W103

Angene Wilson is professor emeritus of education at the University of Kentucky, where she was chair of the secondary social studies program from 1975 to 2004.
Jack Wilson spent more than thirty-five years in public service, beginning as a Peace Corps administrator in Sierra Leone, Washington, DC, and Fiji, and continuing as an administrator of environmental protection programs in Ohio and Kentucky.

Sponsored by the UN Association – USA, Louisville Chapter"

What 'soon' means to Greg Fischer

2012-02-07T13:20:00.002-05:00

A year ago today, the Greg Fischer for Mayor campaign announced their Facebook page "will soon be deactivated."

The staffer who posted that status update probably had no earthly idea Fischer would continue to solicit campaign contributions indefinitely even in his first year as mayor.
Recently, the Courier-Journal's Dan Klepal even highlighted contributions from Insight lobbyists, while Fischer was negotiating their contract with Metro Louisville.
A stunned city had no framework narrative to even respond. The Mayor had so many supporters, how could he do wrong?

When confronted by Phillip M. Bailey on WFPL about the community's concerns, Fischer defiantly insisted he's legally entitled to continue accepting contributions, and transfer them to his personal account to repay loans he made to the campaign.
I tweeted WFPL this follow up question: How can trust his decisions aren't being influenced by the contributions?

Phillip asked it, the mayor told us these were "silly questions."

Unrelated, congrats Insight, on your new contract with the city! The purchase of Insight by Time Warner was dependent upon this contract. (See LC: Mayor Fischer: "These are silly questions" for more info about Time Warner's history of corrupting political processes.)

Silly questions, indeed.

The Greg Fischer for Mayor page is still up. If they ever intended to take I down, it takes less than 30 seconds to un-publish the page. And the fans are even saved for when the page could be re-published. (Edit page, click on un-publish to web)

But it probably won't happen. Following through with commitments, hard. Ignoring them, easy.
I heard on NPR the other day how Florida legislators are legally prohibited from soliciting campaign contributions while the legislature is in session. That makes sense.

Ideally, we could elect leaders who wouldn't get confused, and would focus on their commitments, but I guess politicians are human, and distractions everywhere. I forgive you, Mayor Fischer. But its been a year now and even your most ardent supporters are wondering where are all those "jobs, jobs, jobs?"

Moving forward a little less campaigning, a little more mayoring, please.

Tryangles happy hour ain't so happy

2012-02-06T16:56:00.001-05:00

Timeline:
Mike Flatt posts racist image because he found it so hilarious.
When I post it, oddly, not everyone finds it quite as funny: http://louisvillecourant.blogspot.com/2012/02/louisville-gay-bar-owner-screws-up-big.html
Smear campaign against me including blackmail & physical threats.
Doesn't look like too much of a happy hour.
Wonder if Flatt's done laughing yet? Also, there's a 2nd blog my unnamed critics have now created, although they haven't smeared me in it yet.
Flatt was the 4th person to like it on Facebook though. About an hour ago. This is not what one would expect from a remorseful man.

update 4/08/2012 8pm:
Courier-Journal: Joke about Obama causes rift in gay community

Senator Harper Angel files for HER Senate Seat

2012-02-06T11:27:00.001-05:00

Today incumbent Senator Harper Angel used her government email database to blast what could perceived as campaign business.

Yes she filed twice. We knew this on 1/25, the day she filed the 2nd time and sent out a press release.

Ironically, the night before she had written me how she was, like most incumbents not working until they know where the maps are, anticipating a special session: ow.ly/i/rJlZ

It's important to note here legislators are paid per diem, and earn more money when they deliberately cause the need for a special session.

Like Kentucky can afford that. There's no excuse for the legislature not to be working while they're being paid. It's just wrong. Joe Gerth proposed some ways to fix it this morning in the Courier-Journal. (http://t.co/37sUQuz3)

Gerth's are good. I like earlier filing deadlines.

I'd like to propose another solution, too: Replace incumbents with leaders. Yes, I'm biased here, because I'm a leader. I would not dream of putting up with a delay in passing legislation until I saw what the boundaries of my new District would be. The commonwealth's well-being is more important than my own political preservation. Geez.

Let's say Harper Angel says her correspondence was official and not campaign business. Then why didn't she mention my candidacy with quotes I have to say about her performance? I filed for the 35th District seat too. It's public record. She knows it. I mean really knows it: http://thevillevoice.com/2012/02/01/denise-harper-angel-concerned-about-opponent/

Anyway, here's her announcement below. I swear when I saw the subject line I thought it meant she filed a 3rd time. Wonder if media outlets will follow her directions, and show her love without mentioning my candidacy?

Finally, Senator Harper Angel, it is not YOUR senate seat. It belongs to the people. Check yourself.

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Harper Angel, Denise (State Sen.) (LRC)" <denise.harperangel@lrc.ky.gov>
Date: February 6, 2012 10:26:08 AM EST
Subject: Senator Harper Angel files for re-election

Senator Harper Angel files for re-election

FRANKFORT – Senator Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, re-filed her papers for re-election to her 35^th Senate District seat on January 25.
The senator said it was necessary that she re-file her notification and declaration papers with the Secretary of State's office in order to remain in compliance. State law requires that two registered voters of the same party from the district in which the candidate is seeking election must sign the candidate's papers. Due to the new redistricting plan signed by Governor Steve Beshear, one of the voters who signed Senator Harper Angel's original filing papers in December is no longer living in the 35th district.
"Though this might seem to be a minor technical issue, it was necessary that I re-file my papers with signatures of voters from my district as it is drawn now," said Senator Harper Angel.
The senator said she will continue to be an advocate for the citizens of the 35th district and looks forward to communicating with her new constituents very soon.
Senator Harper Angel, who has served in the Senate since 2005, has been a leading proponent of laws to protect the Commonwealth's children, seniors and citizens with disabilities.
She gained statewide attention when she successfully sponsored the ban on texting while driving, and, since its passage, her Golden Alert for impaired missing adults has become a vital tool in reuniting families. She has filed legislation during the 2012 session that strengthens the Golden Alert. Senate Bill 93 expands the Golden Alert to include not just the mentally impaired but physically and developmentally disabled individuals as well and removes age requirements.
During the 2012 session, she will also work for passage of legislation to make it a felony not to report a missing child in a timely manner and make fingerprint checks mandatory for staff at adult institutional and long-term care service providers for the elderly and disabled.
"It has been an honor to serve the 35th district in the Kentucky State Senate and I am proud of the work I have done," said Senator Harper Angel, who served as Jefferson County's Property Valuation Administrator from 1990 to 2004. "However, there are still many issues facing the citizens of Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky that need to be addressed."
Senator Harper Angel's hard work in the General Assembly has earned her a position to have her voice heard. She is a member of the powerful Appropriations and Revenue; Economic Development, Tourism and Labor; Health and Welfare; Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations, and Education committees and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Human Resources.
Senator Harper Angel thanked her supporters. "I am honored by the confidence the citizens of the 35th District have placed in me," she said. "We've had a lot of success, but there's more to do and I look forward to the challenge."
-END-

Note: For a high-res. JPEG photo file of Senator Harper Angel, please log on to www.lrc.state.ky.us/pubinfo/ephoto.htm.

Open Records Request RE: Tryangles

2012-02-06T10:17:00.004-05:00

Ms. Allen,
Pursuant to Kentucky's Open Records Act, I am requesting the following records:
All incident reports from the Louisville Metro Police Department from the period beginning 01/01/2010 and ending on 12/31/2011, where the location of the incident is Tryangles Bar, located at 209 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY. 40202, or Teddy Bears Bar, located at 1148 Garvin Place, Louisville, KY. 40203.
I request these records be delivered digitally, but If that is not possible I will gleefully pay for the copies at the rate allowed by state statute.
Thank you in advance for your hard work. Hope you're well.
Peace,
Curtis Morrison
P.O. Box 4373
Louisville, KY. 40204-0373
502.403.9498

2/6/12 2:30 update
Above request was efficiently acknowledged by Ms Allen this morning.
They have 3 days to get it to us and we can break it down demographically then.

Also, Mike Flatt back in town Monday
Also, if you're an employer, please consider reaching out to Try's and TB employees. They're a great group of guys, and despite pressure to do so, they have not participated in the retaliation against me we from Christopher Barton and Justin Young.

Can't sleep

2012-02-05T03:53:00.002-05:00

Andrew Jackson once shot and killed a man in a duel in Logan County, Kentucky. The man, an attorney named Charles Dickinson, shot first after "Fire!" was yelled, and the bullet hit Jackson above the heart.

Jackson saw the duel as the only answer, after all, Dickinson had written a newspaper editorial calling him "a worthless scoundrel, a poltroon and a coward."

Jackson went on to serve two terms as President. (http://www.sos.ky.gov/land/journal/articles/bryant/dueling.htm)

Kentucky's most famous statesman, Senator Henry Clay, fought more than one duel. Other Kentucky's fought duels, too. One killed a Congressman from Maine. (http://www.sos.ky.gov/land/journal/articles/bryant/article2.htm)

But times have changed. Dueling is unconstitutional in Kentucky. Once elected, I'll need to take an oath swearing I've never even challenged anyone to a duel. This is for the best.

Our nation's history is full of mighty people taking bullets. Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lennon, Harvey Milk, Gabrielle Giffords.

Each of these people knew about the risks that came with their unique values and public life, and still they didn't hide.

Sorry for rambling. Here's the point: I'm not going to be intimidated. Not how I roll.

From: Anonymous <noreply-comment@blogger.com>
Date: February 4, 2012 1:41:00 PM EST
To: curtster3@yahoo.com
Subject: [Louisville Courant] New comment on Audio of Louisville gay bar evicting African Ameri....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Audio of Louisville gay bar evicting African Ameri...":

@ Curtis Morrison, I have yet to see what I feel is the best advice for you. Load a sidearm, chamber a round, point at your right temple, pull trigger.

Posted by Anonymous to Louisville Courant at February 4, 2012 1:41 PM

'Your apology inadequate'-Kentuckiana Black-Gay Pride

2012-02-04T18:41:00.003-05:00

The Kentuckiana Black-Gay Pride is organizing an upcoming Friday, Feb 10, 2012, 6 PM peaceful demonstration outside of Tryangles Bar.
Like me, they find Flatt's apology "inadequate." Some of Flatt's attempts at remorse are screenshot a few posts back. (http://t.co/FrKx1Mzj)
A unique attempt from my perspective, is in the comments of that same post, where Flatt disparages me for bringing the light of day to his gesture.
Because the only thing apparently worse than racism is someone who stands up to it?
In lobby training with Fairness a few years ago, former Louisvillian and activist Phoenix Lindsey Hall said something I will never forget:
"You can feel more confident in your actions when you're on the right side of history."
I don't know about y'all, but I don't think I could feel anymore confident right now.

February 4, 2012 8:15 PM
Another breaking apology attempt.
A little on context, one of Mike Flatt's supporter's had written:
"Some would think we should have some sort of beef with one another."

After Flatt's 'apology,' he concludes "some people are just doing it for political gain!"

Still doesn't get it.

Audio of Louisville gay bar evicting African American patron

2012-02-03T22:54:00.004-05:00

When I posted the original entry, Louisville gay bar owner screws up, BIG TIME, I knew it would spark interest. I didn't know it would spark the broad range of reaction, however. That entry received more than 3,000 hits in just a couple days. I bring up the traffic count not to brag about how wonderful my blogging is, it's not. But this point must be made clear. The days white people set around and do racist stuff, without consequences, are over.

Things I will NOT do:
Apologize for bringing attention to racism.
Be intimidated.

Things I will do:
Fight back.

A lot has been said about how Flatt's post was "just a joke."
I've decided to offer up an audio I recorded of an African American woman being evicted from Tryangles a few minutes after midnight on November 1, 2010.

Why was she evicted? After purchasing her first drink, she had the audacity to ask another patron in the bar to buy her another drink. She was doing the same thing 20-something male patrons have done in that establishment, without the threat of eviction, since the beginning of gay time.

A little context for the audio, it was Halloween night. A bartender was wearing "Caution"-tape as his costume. Therefore, the soon to be evicted patron, whom I do not know, refers to the bartender as "Caution."

Next: Asking me to back out of a Senate race or you'll make scandals public is criminal coercion, a Class A Misdemeanor in Kentucky (KRS 509.080). That's up to 12 months in jail. What's irrelevant is that the scandals you threaten to make public, do not exist.

Instead of filing a police report, I simply screenshot some of the attempts to blackmail, intimidate and libel me and put the below. The two things some of my critics don't seem to get: I REALLY believe in transparency, and I'm REALLY good at screenshotting.

(There are dozens more on the original post's comments, although those are mostly anonymous.)

Oh, and the Sunday apology/withdraw thing, head's up: probably not going to happen.

The Fairness Campaign is ahead of the curve on the solution. Every first Wednesday of the month, the Dismantling Racism Committee meets at the Fairness Campaign office. For those who are disturbed by the original posts, or the reactions to my spreading the word, this Committee might be a good place for us to gather, figure out what we can do to make things better. How about it?

Dismantling Racism Committee

Every first Wednesday of the month
Fairness Campaign office
Join us on the first Wednesday of every month for the ongoing dialogue on the intersections of oppression and how we may seek to dismantle systemic racism.
update 4/08/2012 8pm:
Courier-Journal: Joke about Obama causes rift in gay community

Ideas for Louisvillians facing foreclosure

2012-02-03T17:29:00.003-05:00

Facing foreclosure? Scared what's next?
Louisville's Mayor Greg Fischer has some ideas on what to do with your lot after he tears your home down.

"The development community would LOVE to work in the downtown area..." Fischer says.(Link to video)

I have some other ideas for you though:
First, realize you aren't alone. It's happening to a huge part of our population right now whether they want to admit it or not. And yes, my critics will be quick to note, I've had rental properties foreclosed upon myself.

From my perspective, the most important thing is not to lose hope in the future. Stuff happens, and we move on. Nothing productive will come from shame. It's going to be okay.

But the second and equally most important, be informed and have a plan. Because equipped with a plan, you can protect yourself. Trust me, your mortgage companies and banks had plan B's in case things didn't work out, that's why they require borrowers to pay mortgage insurance. So don't feel bad about having your own.

And here's a suggestion for what to put in your plan: Talk to a FREE LAWYER! The Legal Aid Society is hosting free legal clinics for those facing foreclosure. A reservation for each clinic is required. Contact the Legal Aid Society * directly at (502) 584-1254 to make your reservation.

WHAT: FORECLOSURE CLINIC
WHEN:
Tuesday, February 7, at 11:00 AM
Thursday, February 9, at 4:00 PM
Tuesday, February 14, at 11:00 AM
Thursday, February 16, at 4:00 PM
Tuesday, February 21, at 11:00 AM
Thursday, February 23, at 4:00 PM
Tuesday, February 28, at 11:00 AM
WHERE: Legal Aid Society office (416 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.)
PURPOSE: Attorneys will be on hand to answer questions about foreclosures and provide advice on alternatives to foreclosure.
*The mission of the Legal Aid Society is to pursue justice for people in poverty. Legal Aid provides free legal services to low-income families and individuals facing serious threats to their physical and economic well-being.

Another approach to consider, ideally in addition to the above, look into Occupy Louisville's 'Foreclosure Workgroup.' They may be willing to help bring publicity to your situation, which has proven in cases in other parts of the nation to cause the banks to back down. These techniques are also being called "occupy your home." For more information, check it out:
Occupy Louisville:Stop Foreclosures Work Group.

And for a little real inspiration, have you heard about Glenn Augenstein?
He fought his foreclosure and won, now he's keeping his Kentucky home. (4closurefraud.org)

Who will be the 1st Republican State Senator to oppose tolls?

2012-02-02T18:57:00.003-05:00

On January 31, 2012, Louisville State Senators Perry Clark and Denise Harper Angel, both Democrats, reintroduced a bill from last year in the Kentucky Senate called the Keeping Kentucky's Freeways Free Act of 2012. (SB128) Here's the summary:

Activists protesting tolls in Louisville (2010)
"AN ACT relating to the imposition of tolls or fees on federal interstate highways.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 177 to prohibit the imposition of tolls or user fees on any portion of the interstate highway system currently in existence; name the Act the "Keeping Kentucky's Freeways Free Act of 2012."

Let's face it. Tolls are tax, and they aren't simply a "use tax" as Wall Street likes to call them. They're a disproportionate tax on the working families in our community. With tolls, those who have no choice but to use the infrastructure to get back and forth will bear the full burden of the costs of the infrastructure. While the rich and those benefiting from a regional economy infrastructure creates, get off scott free.

What this bill needs now, desperately, is Republican co-sponsors, and this is why we need 10 minutes of your time. If you are opposed to tolls on the Kennedy Bridge, this is one of the few shots you have left to prevent them.

There are 22 Republicans in the Senate, and I've listed them below with a link to their contact information and the counties they represent.

Contact as many as you can, but ideally the ones you have a regional connection with first, like if you have family or business in their district, for example. You don't have to live in a Senator's district, or even Kentucky, to contact them and give them your opinion. And you don't have to write them some long letter, copy/paste this and email it if you like:

Please support the Keeping Kentucky's Freeways Free Act of 2012 (SB 128). Tolls on existing roads and bridges will cause an unacceptable hardship to my family and my community.

Obviously, Senators within a rock's throw of Louisville best understand how important a toll-free Kennedy bridge is to our region's vitality, so I listed them below first. But don't think tolls won't pop up all over Kentucky if citizen's don't lobby their legislators to stop it, while we still can!
Louisville area:
Senator Julie Denton Jefferson
Senator Dan Seum Jefferson (part)
Senator Paul Hornback Boone (part), Carroll, Gallatin, Henry, Jefferson (part), Shelby, Spencer
Senator Ernie Harris Jefferson (part), Oldham, Trimble
Senator Vernie McGaha Bullitt, Nelson

The rest of Kentucky:
Senator Joe Bowen Daviess, Ohio
Senator Tom Buford Boyle, Fayette (part), Garrard, Jessamine
Senator Jared Carpenter Estill, Madison, Rockcastle
Senator Carroll Gibson Breckinridge Butler Grayson Hancock Hart Meade*
Senator David Givens Adair, Barren, Edmonson, Green, Larue, Metcalfe, Monroe
Senator Jimmy Higdon Casey, Lincoln, Marion, Mercer, Taylor, Washington
Senator Tom Jensen Laurel, McCreary, Whitley
Senator Alice Forgy Kerr Fayette (part)
Senator John Schickel Boone (part)**
Senator Brandon Smith Bell, Breathitt, Johnson, Leslie, Magoffin, Perry
Senator Katie Stine Bracken, Campbell, Pendleton
Senator Robert Stivers Clay, Jackson, Knox, Lee, Menifee, Owsley, Rowan, Wolfe
Senator Damon Thayer*** Grant, Kenton (part), Scott
Senator Jack Westwood Erlanger**
Senator David Williams Clinton, Cumberland, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne
Senator Mike Wilson Warren (part)
Senator Ken Winters Calloway, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Trigg

*Many Meade County residents use two Ohio River Bridges to get to work daily. They'll cross over the Matthew E. Welsh Bridge from Brandenburg to Mauckport en route to I-64, then they'll cross back into Kentucky on the Sherman Minton when they get to Louisville. Obviously if tolls were allowed to be placed on either of those bridges, a double hardship would be felt for some of Senator Gibson's constituents.
**Governor Beshear and the Governor of Ohio, whoever that is, have already got a little commission working on how to create more cross-river connections between Florence/Union/Covington/Newport and Cincinnati. It's only a couple years in the future that tolls on existing bridges will be proposed to burden Senator Schickel's and Senator Westwood's constituents.
***Might be a good one to ask because he has no problem standing up to his party's leadership.

A special thanks to Say No to Bridge Tolls co-founder Shawn Reilly for his lobbying on behalf of SB128, as well as to Senator Clark and Senator Harper Angel for sponsoring the bill.

Louisville gay bar owner screws up, BIG TIME

2012-02-02T13:19:00.003-05:00

Not one day into 2012's African American History month, as First Lady Michelle Obama plans her visit to the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage for a February 23rd, 2012 fundraiser for the Obama Victory Fund, we are reminded by a member of our own community just how insensitive we can be.

One of the owners of a local gay bar known as Tryangles, Mike Flatt, posted the following image on Facebook late Monday night:

Screenshot from Facebook Feb. 2, 2012, 12:05 PM

Now is a good time for us all to take a deep breathe and realize there is a difference between what one does, and what they are...
The easiest thing is to grab pitchforks and torches and charge Flatt as our town racist. Is it okay to profit from the patronization of one oppressed group while laughing at the expense of another?
I don't think so.

I remember our local Fairness Campaign didn't think it was okay in 2009 after Woody's Tavern owner David Norton's made racist remarks during one of his tantrums. To quote their Director, Chris Hartman, at the time:

“We, at the Fairness Campaign, believe a stand must be made against this series of injustices, which will undoubtedly persist if Mr. Norton continues to operate his business. We demand Mr. Norton cease ownership and operation of Woody’s Tavern, or, if he will not, that its doors close.” (Fairness to Announce Boycott of Woody’s Tavern)

From Flatt's perspective, this image made him laugh and he wanted to share it. His ignorance to the insensitivity and hurtfulness of his humor probably started in his upbringing and we all know he wasn't alone. But I don't have to speak for Flatt, of the 23 comments currently below this offensive image, six are Flatt struggling to rationalize why the humor is okay:

(posts by other people)

So what happens now?
It's not up to me. But I propose we let all let him know how insensitive and offensive his action was, and explain to him why it is offensive, because it appears he doesn't really 'get it.' Something like, well here's my attempt, something tells me he'll be reading this post:

"Mike. It's offensive to interchange images of a monkey and an African American because the inference, the reason it makes you laugh, is the idea that Africans are less evolved than Non-Africans. That's a belief rooted in our racist history, not from fact. But even if it were a fact (which it's NOT!) laughing at another form of life because we think we're better, isn't that the height of arrogance?"

Okay, maybe someone else should try. This video gives good ideas.

No one should be judged by their worst act, either. Flatt has repeatedly demonstrated extreme generosity to the Louisville AIDS Walk, as in thousands of dollars, and we all know that AIDS affects the African American community disproportionately. Flatt stepped up to the plate in times when Connection co-owners George Stinson and Eddie Lewis "could not find it in their budgets."

Publisher's note: Flatt was a Facebook friend who I have ever met, but ironically he liked one of my posts this morning even. In the past, I have been one of his customers as well. Pursuant to his instruction, I just deleted him as a Facebook friend. And before the 10-15 people call me to tell me why I shouldn't have published this, be prepared to format your call with:
"Hi, I'm _______, and I'm calling to defend racism against African Americans because ____________."

update 4/08/2012 8pm:
Courier-Journal: Joke about Obama causes rift in gay community

Occupy update / Van De Rostyne campaign is on it

2012-02-01T22:50:00.002-05:00

I learned today Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell's office is who advised IPL's Jim Mims to extend Occupy Louisville's tent permit with conditions. Conditions were related to paying for electricity and the number of required portapottys.
At this afternoon's Occupy Louisville GA, the first and last one I'll ever be allowed to keep minutes, occupiers decided to authorize our legal counsel, Chris Harrell, to accept the clarifications to the tent permit extension with clarifications. This permit will expire March 31, 2012.
Since part of this includes a $500 deposit for the cost of electricity for the 3 months of 2012, contributions be made via credit card by calling Harrell's secretary.
The GA also gave Harrell authorization to drop the lawsuit he had filed on behalf of participants.
This is undoubtedly a win for Occupy Louisville, regardless of the motivation behind it.
Kinda barely related:
The Jefferson County Attorney primary race should prove interesting. Tom Van De Rostyne has the early support of some folks in the social justice community I really respect.
And I just noticed while at Kinko's, Van De Rostyne is having paper signs printed already. Of all the races out there, I haven't seen signs from anyone.
I'm not looking forward to signs everywhere really, even if some of them have my name on them. But alas, that's how democracy works. Let Spring begin!

Kentucky's 99% protests Mitch McConnell

2012-02-01T13:48:00.001-05:00

Publisher's note: Below are the contents of a press release from the Occupy Louisville Direct Action Work Group, which I completely support but am not a member:

Occupy Louisville will "Occupy Mitch McConnell" in observance of the National Day of Action against NDAA 2012 on February 3
LOUISVILLE (January 30, 2012) – Occupy Louisville has heeded the nationwide call to action against the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act by organizing a protest demonstration titled "Occupy Mitch McConnell" to take place at the Gene Snyder Federal Courthouse, 601. W. Broadway, on February 3 at 12:00 noon.

The NDAA 2012, signed into law by President Obama on December 31, 2011, contains two sections (1021 and 1022) which many argue have repealed the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Many legal experts and law scholars across the country believe that the language of the act will allow for Americans to be indefinitely detained by the military without access to an attorney or a trial by jury on orders of the executive branch.

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h1540/text

When signing the Act into law, President Obama released a signing statement which, in part, said: I want to clarify that my Administration will not authorize the indefinite military detention without trial of American citizens. Indeed, I believe that doing so would break with our most important traditions and values as a Nation. My Administration will interpret section 1021 in a manner that ensures that any detention it authorizes complies with the Constitution, the laws of war, and all other applicable law.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/12/31/statement-president-hr-1540

Two of Kentucky's representatives, Senator Rand Paul and Congressman John Yarmuth, were alarmed enough to vote against the NDAA 2012 in order to protect their constituents' Constitutional rights. The other Kentucky Senator, Mitch McConnell, placed his vote in favor of it, which Occupy Louisville and thousands of citizens across the nation view as a betrayal of the American people.

In order to spread the word on the need to repeal the NDAA 2012, Occupy Louisville's Direct Action Working Group has organized a creative protest demonstration to take place in front of Senator McConnnell's office in the Snyder Federal Court House. They invite all the citizens of Jefferson County, southern Indiana, and adjoining counties to come "Occupy Mitch McConnell" by joining them as they line the sidewalk outside McConnell's office and raise their voices against this injustice. There will be street drama, songs and chants and a few surprises. Along with signs, participants are invited to bring drums, whistles, kazoos or other musical instruments because it is time for the citizens to be heard. A march will follow the rally, traveling up 6th Street, past the jail and Hall of Justice, ending at the Occupy Louisville site at 5th and Muhammad Ali.

Occupy Louisville works in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and all the countless Occupy groups across this nation and the world, which believe that the people, united, will never be defeated.

Switching tracks.

2012-01-31T23:01:00.003-05:00

On January 31, 2012 at 2:15 pm, I withdrew my candidacy for Louisville Metro Council. With 3 other candidates on the ballot, voters have choices. I believe we deserve choice in who we send to Frankfort, too.

So at 4 PM, I was in Frankfort at the Secretary of State's office, filing to be a candidate in the Democratic Primary for State Senator District 35. (Secretary of State)
Also, Dan Johnson did file for the 37th. He was leaving as I arrived.

If anything, this race will not be boring.
My campaign website? SenatorAwesome.com. This is the website I had for the Metro Council race, only I kept the issues up that apply to Frankfort, but I expect to be adding more issues in the coming weeks so please check back.

The twitter name, @SenatorAwesome, of course.
Facebook: http://m.facebook.com/morrison4senate
I haven't got it all together yet, but be patient. You know I will.

Occupy Louisville News: IPL has made a permit offer to Occupy Louisville that they were considering at tonight's GA, which I couldn't make. My friend Lark, who was there, says there was a lot of input and discussion, so much in fact they didn't finish and there's another GA tomorrow at 4 pm.
CJ: Occupy Louisville protesters get extended permit to camp in park

Permit possible for Occupy Louisville

2012-01-30T14:54:00.001-05:00

It looks like IPL Director Jim Mims is presenting the city's change of heart to the media, before presenting it to Occupy Louisville directly.

ow.ly/1FaYWa

The 1% support their minions

2012-01-30T00:30:00.001-05:00

Councilman Jim King has joined in my call for defunding Greater Louisville, Inc., albeit a month after he and the Council voted unanimously to fund them $500,000. Mayor Fischer went along with it, even though all "sky is falling"-stuff he talks about now, we knew then.

Would this defunding talk lead GLI to work on their image? Certainly. I've seen more about those scholarships they're giving to African American high school students in last few days than I have in last few years.

But alas, they're still in the business of connecting the rich and powerful together with our without our tax dollars, so they're going to slip up.
Like this tweet:

@GLIchamber: GLI welcomes new member Harmony Landing Country Club! http://t.co/SMj7utNX

Original Message:
http://twitter.com/GLIchamber/status/162995810705997824

Sent from HootSuite for iPhone
http://ow.ly/7trFE

Dan Johnson considering 37th Senate

2012-01-28T23:30:00.001-05:00

Shortly before 11 pm Friday evening Louisville's 21st District Metro Councilman Dan Johnson who is a Democrat, let his Facebook friends know that he's considering filing for Senator Perry Clark's vacated 37th District Senate seat. Redirecting moved Clark into the 35th with Denise Harper Angel (And a couple dozen other Democrats who would make great state legislators.)

I was recently impressed with Johnson for introducing a resolution for the Louisville Metro Council to let Congress know that we want the re-instatement of the Glass-Steagall Act through HR 1489. Glass-Steagall was repealed in 1999, but only in the last year has it become crystal clear that bankers and gamblers shouldn't be doing business with one another. This is just one of the issues Occupy Louisville, and Occupy Wall Street, are all about.

Chris Thieneman, a Republican and former mayoral candidate who successfully led the charge against a proposed library tax a few years ago, filed for the Republican primary for that seat earlier this week. (http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120125/NEWS01/301250081/Chris-Thieneman-state-senate-filing)

Public Works eliminating 16 parking spaces from Deer Park neighborhood

2012-01-28T20:41:00.007-05:00

The house fire on the 1800 block of Stevens Avenue last November may be extinguished (LC: Wednesday before Thanksgiving), but a spark from that fire may have lit another.

Seven people rescued from the fire, many with help from neighbors Randall and Gaia Bohannon before Louisville Fire and Rescue arrived, were taken to the hospital. One victim, Benjamin Rau, 88, died two weeks later.

Mistakes may have been made.

"No trucks" sign on 1900 block of Steven's Av

On their way to the fire, Louisville Fire and Rescue chose to ignore the posted "no trucks" sign on Stevens, thus scraping the right front corner of an unoccupied car parked on the corner of Stevens and Fernwood.

At least some of the ambulances responding to the fire that morning were perhaps overly intimidated by the "no trucks" sign, choosing instead to park in the Gate's Automotive parking lot, and wheeling victims of the fire an entire block.

The delay Louisville Fire and Rescue experienced by scraping the car or by the ambulances parking a block from the scene is unknown.

Also unknown, is why emergency vehicle drivers did not take advantage of access to the 1800 block where the fire was located directly from Norris Place.

While emergency vehicles they would have needed to travel down a way down a one way street for a few hundred feet, it was about 6 AM. There likely was no traffic.

No one would ever find fault with the route chosen by the driver of an emergency vehicle. Emergency responders must choose routes quickly, under unimaginable stress.

But in what happens next, this author sides with the Deer Park neighborhood.

On January 11, 2012, Ashley T. Sells, a Traffic Engineer with the Department of Public Works, sent a letter only to the 10-12 homes closest to the intersection Fernwood Avenue and Stevens Avenue. The letter starts:

"This mailing is being sent to inform you of a parking change on Stevens Avenue."

Specifically, Sells was notifying residents they were losing what appears to be, from a graphic she provided, 16 parking spaces. The sacrifice is for fire lanes.

Approximately 8 parking spaces will be taken from the 1900 block of Stevens.

Approximately 8 parking spaces will be taken from the 1800 block of Stevens.

The parking changes are needed, Sells claimed in the letter, because:

"...the fire apparatus cannot make the turn if vehicles are parked along this section of the roadway. The change (see attachment) would be to install NO PARKING ANYTIME FIRE LANE in these areas."

Any of the 10-12 residents who received Sells letter, had until January 25 to contact her, "if they had any questions." There was no offer for Public Works to consider public input from the community, or even to notify all the affected parties in the community before the change.

Area residents, especially on Stevens, are already scrambling for parking as a result of the recently remodeled Seviche-A Latin Restaurant's success. Stevens is parallel to Maplewood Place, where some homes actually have no parking spaces at all. Those residents typically park on Fernwood, Stevens, Bardstown Rd, or Bonnycastle Avenue. Like the Seviche customers often do.

After one of the alerted parties notified the rest of the neighborhood of the change, including Seviche, emails were exchanged, and Councilman Tom Owen was asked to intervene.

Sells email to Councilman Owen

Sells responded to Owen's intervention in an email where she illustrated just how little influence Owen had in the matter:

"The Fire companies want the fire lane as marked to remain the same with no changes."

Sells did offer to notify all the residents of Stevens Avenue, "if need be," she wrote.

In a previous email to concerned Deer Park residents, Owen wrote, "We need the wisdom of Solomon."

Multiple residents have pointed out there are countless intersections in Louisville with even more narrower passages than the one being targeted.

"There needs to be some kind of compromise, because taking both sides of both blocks seems extreme." says Marilyn Belak, a Stevens Avenue resident.

An aerial view of the effected intersection:

View Larger Map

'Barefoot Campaign' targeting Frankfort

2012-01-28T15:55:00.001-05:00

On February 7, University of Louisville students and their sympathizers will be headed to Frankfort. Only barefoot.
The Barefoot Campaign is described on signs around campus as a rally for higher education that characterizes Governor Beshear's proposed cuts to education as "Kentucky's attempts to fulfill its own stereotypes."
Registration is at http://UofLSGA.org/Register
I'm hoping someone checked to see if admission into the Capitol is permissible barefoot...Where's Tyler Hess? He would know.

Nuttall house: River Field's latest weapon

2012-01-28T09:15:00.001-05:00

See today's CJ? River Fields is trying to use additional properties, like the Nuttall House, to hold up the East End bridge. (New ruling sought on historic...)
The Nuttall house formerly belonged to, that's right, a Brown. Someone get the Pope involved because surely that alone makes it sacred.
I told you they were going to try that in August. Shouldn't I get donuts for predicting future and stuff? Cream-filled with chocolate icing, please.
http://louisvillecourant.blogspot.com/2011/08/is-river-fields-going-to-ask-for-more.html

Reader threatens to jaywalk

2012-01-27T21:58:00.002-05:00

To the 'educated' reader who recognizes my role in promoting the idea to de-fund GLI:

1) thank you.

2) It's going to be okay, really. Please don't put yourself in harm's way.

{virtual hug}

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "GLI Joe Reagan's salary revealed: $369,268":

An overwhelming number of companies and educated jobs have been brought to this city thanks to GLI and Joe Reagan. UPS, Humana, and most every other large employer in this city is a partner with GLI...but perhaps they should be spending their time with you instead in all of your wisdom. The largest tax payers in this city support GLI. Our average education level is a joke and our unemployment is partially a reflection of that. Defunding GLI will only increase unemployment and shift funding from job creators to the inefficient government. The day that our economic development efforts are driven by polls of the uneducated and the "will of [our mediocre] public" is the day that I step into oncoming traffic...or better yet, move.

Posted by Anonymous to Louisville Courant at January 27, 2012 8:12 PM

'Holding the line' on deficit spending

2012-01-26T23:28:00.002-05:00

Republican candidate for Louisville Metro Council District 19 Marilyn Parker wants to "hold the line on deficit spending that ultimately hurts the private sector."
Putting aside my lack of compassion for the oppressed billionaires of the private sector, I'm going to be mean here and point out that the city of Louisville doesn't do 'deficit spending.'
Also, the "limited government" Parker's proposing on the local level would mean decreased city services. The courage to ask for change isn't enough. Which city services does she want to cut?
I commend Parker for her interest in transparency and ethics, though.
Parker is challenging the incumbent Councilman Jon Ackerson as well as the first candidate to file, Teague Ridge.
So far, District 14 is the only other council seat with a 3-way race in the Republican primary.

Southern Indiana legislators betray union workers

2012-01-26T22:38:00.002-05:00

Below is an email I received tonight from John Sodrel indicating the fate of Indiana's unions lies in (gulp) Governor Mitch Daniel's hands.

"See link below to find out how your representative voted. It has now passed in both chambers and will likely become law in Indiana.
The two people (Representative Ed Clere and Senator Ron Grooms) representing me in Indiana's legislature are Republicans and, not surprisingly, voted for "right to work." Here is the message I sent them today:
'VERY disappointed (but not surprised) with your vote on the so-called right to work bill. Why do Republicans ALWAYS side with big business at the expense of average workers?
There's not one shred of evidence this bill will help Indiana's economy, but there's plenty of evidence it will depress wages. In a nutshell, it's a crummy deal for hard-working Hoosiers....'

...

http://www.indystar.com/article/20120125/NEWS05/120125041/How-Indiana-House-members-voted-right-work-"

Another victim of redistricting releases statement

2012-01-25T19:52:00.004-05:00

My friend Shawn Reilly, who was hoping to run in the upcoming primary to represent his 19th District found out last Friday that the 19th District moved, without him. His statement, with very helpful maps of where Louisville's senate districts are now located (provided by Reilly), are below:

It is with great regret that I must inform you that I will not be a candidate for the State Senate in the 19th District.
Based on the redistricting of the State Senate map, I now live in the 35th district that is for now represented by two incumbent Democrats; Sen. Perry Clark and Sen. Denise Harper-Angel. These two will have to face a primary against each other. Therefore, I will not be a candidate for the 35th district either. Early in November I committed to each of them that if I were placed in their districts I would not challenge them in a primary and I will not break that commitment.
This year's bloody redistricting has been one of the worst on record, but it has become a unifying force. Republicans and Democrats alike are now expressing outrage at the arrogantly political decisions and the secretive way they were reached. The worst example of this is how Republicans in the Senate disenfranchised more than 100,000 Lexington residents by moving Sen. Kathy Stein's district to northeastern Kentucky.

Democrats and Republicans are saying there has to be a better way, and they are right. In the coming days I will calling for changes to the way redistricting is conducted before the 2020 census. I will also be announcing my support for a bill filed by Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, that would create a seven-member Committee on Redistricting appointed by members of the Supreme Court to draw legislative and congressional boundaries after the 2020 census

Thank you for your support of these past few months.

--
Shawn Reilly
Louisville, KY

Editor's note: The House Bill filed by Rep. Wayne, was co-sponsored by Rep. Bill Farmer, a Republican no doubt, and is HB304. More info on that bill at: Kentucky.com
Click on maps to make them full-size:

Police raid Occupy Lexington

2012-01-24T16:48:00.007-05:00

After 118 days of continued protest on the corner of Main St and Esplanade, Lexington, Kentucky police, under the supervision of Mayor Jim Gray, came by Tuesday between 12:30-1 PM and confiscated occupiers' tents and canopies.

The police brought more trailers than they needed. All in all, it only took 5-10 officers to confiscate the property. No arrests were made and they left no officers on the scene.
Protesters were allowed to save what personal items they could quickly grab and throw in the back of Ford Ranger belonging to a huge longtime supporter, the owner of Natasha's Bistro on Esplanade.
According to occupier Steven Burt, the police have been less than cordial over the course of the occupation.
"They've complained about our sidewalk chalk. They've said we were dirty and we looked disgusting," Burt said.
Occupy Lexington is located adjacent to a 14-story Chase JP Morgan bank, on the sidewalk. The rumor is that the raid was justified by Lexington police because the protest was on the sidewalk,but that leaves protesters puzzled since that had been the case for 118 days.
Passing motorists are honking and making eye contact just a few hours later, a show of solidarity that is lacking today from Mayor Gray.
"We're not going anywhere. We're needing solidarity from our supporters tonight though," says Stacie Catlett.
A General Assembly (GA) is planned by the occupiers for 630 PM tonight at the site.

1.24.2012 7:16 PM Update: Photos of chalk messages outside Chase:

Update 01/25/2012, 8:17 PM:

Lexington's WKYT is reporting on yesterday's eviction/ raid/ confiscation, whatever you want to call it, with a detail provided by the police that was not mentioned to me at the scene yesterday by any of the protesters.

The police officer who allegedly made the decision for the raid told WKYT's Melissa Etezadi:

"...I called in a couple of trucks to start cleaning up the mess assuming they'd left."

If this was truly the intention and trigger behind the confiscation, then how were occupiers allowed to salvage their personal items, and why wasn't the confiscation abandoned altogether when occupiers were identified at the scene?

Also, curious that Etezadi did not identify the source she was quoting. Since that particular police officer is attempting to shoulder the responsibility for the decision.
The WKYT story here: Occupy Lexington protesters say they have a new plan

Kentucky House Distraction #2 = Miss America

2012-01-24T14:43:00.001-05:00

This legislative body is so desperate to take our minds off their performance, first they offer a penguin, now Miss America.

Louisville Courant

Rick Pitino, who is that?

Courier-Journal: Police to set aside space outside KFC Yum! arena for Occupy Louisville protest

"Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino said Tuesday that he wasn’t aware that there was an Occupy Louisville movement, but didn’t think they would disrupt the game, which is after the scheduled end of the protest."- Rick Pitino

I've never heard of this Rick Pitino guy, but someone told me he must be a friend John Schnatter's, because he has unlimited access to his two lear jets kept at Clark County Airport.

I don't care what he does for a living, either, as long as he's kept away from young people, especially African Americans, because he obviously has no earthly clue about the world they're about to enter.

Stuff I left out at Labor Council interview

Yorkie dog missing in Highlands

Mayor thinks I think for my dog. Ha.

In other OL news, Sandy Knauer's back.

Videos from Occupy Louisville arrests at Chase Bank

National Press: Huffington Post: Occupy Louisville Protestors Arrested After Clash With Police At Chase Bank in Kentucky

And something I think we should re-consider here, especially in preparation for our next demonstration on Wednesday against ALEC: ‘Shame! Shame!’: What would King say to Occupy?

Remains from LMPD action against peaceful Occupy Louisville demonstrators

Fwd: Occupy Louisville demonstrator(s) arrested at direct action opposing foreclosures

Occupy Louisville demonstration at Chase Bank

A trite gay mystery, not quite yet solved

No contract between Drumanard owners and KYTC

Legislative candidates still twiddling thumbs

Outdoor use electrical cord protectors for Occupy, please?

Contact David Barfield (jdavidbarfield@gmail.com ) onsite at Founder's Square if you have any questions.

Also, tonight Occupy Louisville Direct Action Workgroup meeting to plan upcoming ALEC demonstration for February 29th: LC: Occupy Louisville Direct Action #F29 planning this Thursday.

That demonstration, which is set for next Wednesday, also has a Facebook event now: Occupy Louisville - #F29 Rally to Shut Down ALEC. Please RSVP, share on your wall, and invite all your friends who are not corporations. :-P

Occupy Louisville Direct Action #F29 planning this Thursday

Occupy Louisville's #F29 demonstration, which is set for next Wednesday, also has a Facebook event now: Occupy Louisville - #F29 Rally to Shut Down ALEC. Please RSVP, share on your wall, and invite all your friends who are not corporations. :-P

Granville T. Woods' role in industrial revolution

SHOCKER! Tom Owen's 1st tweet about past

Five Kentucky Democrats pictured at ALEC convention

ALEC's Denise Harper Angel opposing the EPA

Kentucky doesn't need casinos

My Old Indiana Home: A Study of Rising Foreclosure Rate

The first of 10 casinos re-opened in Indiana 1995. An 11th was added in 2006. That same year, Indiana's ranked as one of the leading 3 states in foreclosures, having rates 50% higher than the national average.

But I knew about this before the 2007 study because I sold real estate in Indiana at the turn of the millenium. Specifically, I sold a lot of vacant foreclosures to investors.

Foreclosures littered with literature about Caesar's VIP club. Mailboxes full of special offers preying on repeat gamblers to come back again. And again. There were homes, where people once lived and raised their families.

And no, correlation does not cause causation. But blind faith that gambling revenue will solve all of Kentucky's problems without a comprehensive studys to understand the social and economic consequences, are you telling me that makes sense?

In context, the incumbent 35th District Senator Denise Harper Angel, who I am challenging, has co-sponsored Governor Steve Beshear's bill to pave the way for casinos and their social and economic problems in Kentucky. (14: KY Gov calls for statewide vote to expand gaming)

There's another solution. A tax revenue reform plan already put together which fixes our broken tax structure. It's calling the Moving Kentucky Forward Plan and was introduced this year by Representative Jim Wayne and 8 co-sponsors: HB-127.http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/12RS/HB127.htm.

Although Wayne's been on to these solutions for some time, I admit I only found them in 2010: (LC:HB 13 Kentucky Forward Plan)

Read what KFTC has to say about this year's version of the plan: Fair and sensible tax reform - House Bill 127

Take a look at who is currently paying Kentucky's taxes...I think you'll be surprised:

Kentucky Saves Week begins Sunday

Metro TV's Friday video fun

Justitia robbed: Owen cashes in on earned media

'Paddy Wagon'- today's racism awareness tip

Insight to Metro Louisville's overtime problem

Cool cardboard outside U o L Humanities Bldg

Branden Klayko to present at Pecha Kucha

David Yates, lying

Public Meeting for Olmsted Parkways Plan

The Olmsted Parkways master plan was completed in January 2008, developed with citizen input gained from seven public meetings held throughout 2007, and outlines alternatives for bicycle and pedestrian improvements for the parkways.

Metro Parks is now beginning the Phase 1 Design component of the project, which includes all of Southern Parkway, all of Algonquin Parkway, and Southwestern Parkway from Gibson Lane to Broadway.

The meeting will begin with an open house at 6:00pm. The presentation of the plan begins at 7:00pm, followed by a question and answer period.

The Louisville's Olmsted Parkways plan is available online: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroParks/planninganddesign/projects/olmstedparkways.htm

These people love mountains - more photos!!

4 Slots left on MSD Board

Mayor Greg Fischer @louisvillemayor mentioned you:

Mayor Fischer thinks private industry creates conservation?

A little maintenance, please?

'I've had people thrown out for this' - Senator Harper Angel

Anti-preservation ordinance up to 8 sponsors :-(

Bardstown Rd sidewalk closed by serial killer

Open up redistrict process to the people

Thank goodness for the Amish

Cunningham /McGarvey file for State Senate, District 19

More Anti-preservation nonsense

Discussion of Pending Legislation Regarding Proposed Revisions to the Landmarks Ordinance and Possible Action Regarding Recommendations -

Friday, February 10, 2012 - 11:00 A.M.

Conference Room 101 - Metro Development Center

444 South Fifth Street

Half dozen Metro Councilpersons introduce Anti-Preservation ordinance

Mayor Fischer goes all Scott Walker

Mystery Photo fun

KDP inviting new voices to party

Fairness Campaign makes announcement via Facebook

Williams, Stumbo, Beshear fail at governing

What else you got?

A comment on Louisville Courant last night triggered me back into being the person I'm here to be.

Vetting politicians to make sure they are sincere in their ideas and not compromised by corporate interest is pretty damn important. We all want people, on some level, to hold us accountable, this helps us be the best we can be. (Admit it, Greg, you know you like it)

And, I'll be darn, I'm on stage here. So I figured, let's get this over with, and sitting parked in my card on Cardinal Blvd, I wrote on Facebook the comments below, and about 40 of my friends apparently think I'm NOT insane, which is reassuring.

Oh, you can't read that. The caption: