Mayoral candidates discuss creating job, helping businesses
7/8/2010Courier-Journal:
"The second mayoral debate of the season Wednesday focused on how the next mayor will create jobs, help entrepreneurs start new businesses and attract new companies to Louisville. The debate was sponsored by ...
08/04/2010
Hal's Neighborhood Network - Fern Creek
Please join Hal for a time of neighborhood discussion in Fer...Read More >>
A community's foundation is laid upon safe, secure and vibrant neighborhoods. Whether downtown, around town or outside of town, where we live and shop, visit friends and attend church, hike and bike with our kids – the places we call home come together to form a tapestry that binds Louisville as one community.
An area's quality of life is also an important consideration for industry and entrepreneurs. Great neighborhoods translate into greater ability to attract jobs and opportunity. Investments to make our city more livable is an investment in the economic prospects for its citizens.
Louisville has a lot going for it. We have wonderful parks, access to the arts, opportunities to take in world class athletic events, successful local retail in our neighborhoods and one of the highest concentrations of architectural splendor in the United States in Old Louisville and on West Main. With the Louisville Bridges, we are embarking on the most ambitious transportation project the area has ever undertaken. The downtown arena will provide for previously unknown opportunities to attract conventions, athletic events and entertainment. The 21st Century Parks initiative is the Olmstead Parks vision of our generation.
However, even with these substantial community assets, more can and must be done to make sure Louisville continues to be a great place to live, work and raise a family.
In 2008, there were 470 more violent crimes in Metro Louisville than in 2006. There were also over 2,500 cars stolen, more than 7,200 burglaries, 1,700 robberies and one-hundred meth labs uncovered throughout Jefferson County .*
Due to the recession, the homeownership rate in Louisville has dropped while single-family vacancies have increased.
Nearly 1,500 properties in Jefferson County are "blighted." Our streets and sidewalks require upgrade and upkeep, better lighting and safety improvements. Our aging infrastructure will require huge investment to ensure our city retains the level of services we have come to expect.
A commitment to safe and vibrant neighborhoods will be central to a Heiner administration. To get there we must:
Thriving neighborhoods are what thriving communities are built upon. Ensuring that our city's foundation is strong is a commitment we absolutely can and must make.
* Sources: Federal Bureau of Investigation (www.fbi.gov) and the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy (odcp.ky.gov)
The Heiner Plan for a Safe, Secure and Vibrant Louisville
(PDF, 0.6MB)
An area's quality of life is also an important consideration for industry and entrepreneurs. Great neighborhoods translate into greater ability to attract jobs and opportunity. Investments to make our city more livable is an investment in the economic prospects for its citizens.
Louisville has a lot going for it. We have wonderful parks, access to the arts, opportunities to take in world class athletic events, successful local retail in our neighborhoods and one of the highest concentrations of architectural splendor in the United States in Old Louisville and on West Main. With the Louisville Bridges, we are embarking on the most ambitious transportation project the area has ever undertaken. The downtown arena will provide for previously unknown opportunities to attract conventions, athletic events and entertainment. The 21st Century Parks initiative is the Olmstead Parks vision of our generation.
However, even with these substantial community assets, more can and must be done to make sure Louisville continues to be a great place to live, work and raise a family.
In 2008, there were 470 more violent crimes in Metro Louisville than in 2006. There were also over 2,500 cars stolen, more than 7,200 burglaries, 1,700 robberies and one-hundred meth labs uncovered throughout Jefferson County .*
Due to the recession, the homeownership rate in Louisville has dropped while single-family vacancies have increased.
Nearly 1,500 properties in Jefferson County are "blighted." Our streets and sidewalks require upgrade and upkeep, better lighting and safety improvements. Our aging infrastructure will require huge investment to ensure our city retains the level of services we have come to expect.
A commitment to safe and vibrant neighborhoods will be central to a Heiner administration. To get there we must:
- Commit to cost-effective and efficient service delivery in all our neighborhoods.
- Embrace successful strategies to ensure our neighborhoods and communities are safe and secure.
- Focus on the basics: roads and streets, sidewalks, street lighting, rain water drainage, garbage and recycling collections, etc.
- Support opportunities for citizens to have clean parks, biking trails and athletic facilities nearby.
- Be proactive in cleaning up blight and graffiti, abandoned houses and empty lots.
Thriving neighborhoods are what thriving communities are built upon. Ensuring that our city's foundation is strong is a commitment we absolutely can and must make.
* Sources: Federal Bureau of Investigation (www.fbi.gov) and the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy (odcp.ky.gov)
The Heiner Plan for a Safe, Secure and Vibrant Louisville
(PDF, 0.6MB)
