Mayor

[Nimbus Couzin]

If you would really like to have an impact on our local schools, perhaps you can use the experience you will gain running for mayor in a bid to run for the 1st District school board vacancy that will be available next year when Miss Elmore retires.

http://www.jcpsky.net/Board/BoardMap/Bo ... strict%201

I'm sure with your obvious passion and your experience as an educator, you could make a real difference in some of our under-performing west end schools. I think that you would have better chance of election and at the least, you could get some of your progressive ideas heard.

I suspect that election is the same time as the mayoral election. I'm running for Mayor. The election is in one year and a week.

[TP Lowe]

TP, great question. I'm going to put a little thought into it and give you a better answer than I can at this second. I've lived in "mid-sized" cities like Portland and Tucson, so I do have some perspective on what has worked there. Green and Tech are my knee jerk reactions, and we have some amazing resources like the U of L right here. I'll get you a solid answer shortly. (working now, so hopefully today, but by tomorrow for sure).

No great hurry, of course. It is a big question, and the correct answer could transform our community.

[Nimbus Couzin]

TP, great question. I'm going to put a little thought into it and give you a better answer than I can at this second. I've lived in "mid-sized" cities like Portland and Tucson, so I do have some perspective on what has worked there. Green and Tech are my knee jerk reactions, and we have some amazing resources like the U of L right here. I'll get you a solid answer shortly. (working now, so hopefully today, but by tomorrow for sure).

No great hurry, of course. It is a big question, and the correct answer could transform our community.

Well, like I was saying initially, I think the focus needs to be on green high technology jobs. Those are real jobs that are sustainable. Currently, there is significant federal funding that our city really should be applying for. Why aren't we? Where are the proposals? I'm not in office yet, but the guys there now should have been doing it in January.

And when I'm talking about green tech jobs, these are the type of jobs that are sustainable. I'm talking about building an industry. Other stimulus jobs, like construction projects, are fine for the year or so that they last, but they aren't long term. They aren't sustainable. I'll be working on acquiring seed money for long-term sustainable green technology. Solar, wind, and other technologies. That is an industry that isn't going away. And the jobs I'm talking about range from Research and Design, all the way to production. Many will be high paying, and a bunch of small businesses should be able to branch off as it grows.

The days of $25/hr Ford jobs are probably a thing of the past, so we need to look into the future.

There really is no overnight instant solution, but we can steer the ship in the right direction.

[Steve Magruder]

In my opinion, there are only three running who could run the city effectively: Allen, Fischer, Heiner. The rest would be too controversial or overwhelmed with the job.

[Nimbus Couzin]

In my opinion, there are only three running who could run the city effectively: Allen, Fischer, Heiner. The rest would be too controversial or overwhelmed with the job.

So Steve, would I be - in your opinion - too controversial, or overwhelmed with the job? Just curious.

[Leah s]

In my opinion, there are only three running who could run the city effectively: Allen, Fischer, Heiner. The rest would be too controversial or overwhelmed with the job.

Well, those three, and King will be viable candidates because they have the fundraising organization to raise enough $$ to mount a serious campaign. This campaign is gonna be expensive.

[Robin Garr]

I'd also push for a substantial fire prevention campaign. There is no reason homes shouldn't have smoke detectors for example. It costs five bucks and can save lives. It takes some pushing, but lives really should be spared for a price like that.

Again with respect, Nimbus, you may want to check on what is already being done in this area. Maybe we're exceptional, but in our neighborhood in Crescent Hill, a fire squad came around a few years ago giving out smoke detectors with 10-year batteries - and offered to help locate them and put them up.

[Jeffrey D.]

I'd also push for a substantial fire prevention campaign. There is no reason homes shouldn't have smoke detectors for example. It costs five bucks and can save lives. It takes some pushing, but lives really should be spared for a price like that.

Again with respect, Nimbus, you may want to check on what is already being done in this area. Maybe we're exceptional, but in our neighborhood in Crescent Hill, a fire squad came around a few years ago giving out smoke detectors with 10-year batteries - and offered to help locate them and put them up.

There is an ordinance that requires certification of the presence of a hard-wired or 10-year battery smoke detector in every Jefferson County/Metro house sold. It is one of the papers required at all closings in which at least one licensed realtor is involved.

[Nimbus Couzin]

Even though something like 96% of homes have smoke detectors, only 75% are working. That is primarily due to missing, disconnected or dead batteries. Firemen don't have time to go door to door checking, so I'd set up some kind of "community fire safety" volunteer groups. Give them a fancy hat or something and let them go door to door. I bet you'd see the 75% number approach the 96% number, and you'd see the 96% number approach 100%.

Cheap, and relatively easy. There are plenty of folks with a few hours on their hands who would be more than happy to give back to their community. Just an idea.

[Charles W.]

Apparently there's a new candidate for mayor:

Leo story on Jackie Green for Mayor

With the filing deadline for the mayor’s race approaching, a few more candidates are expected to enter. One late-filing candidate is likely to be bicycle advocate Jackie Green, who plans to run as an independent. Co-owner of Bike Couriers Bike Shop, Green says transportation will be a focus of his candidacy because it stands at the forefront of Louisville’s future.

“Transportation is more automotive infrastructure than ever, so yes, that’s a step backwards,” Green says. “We need a great public transit system. We have a decent one at rush hour right now. Outside of rush hour, it is a very poor system, and that is a must for our city to be great.”

Green says independent candidates will bring alternative ideas that mainstream candidates ignore. He’s hopeful that the media will give him and fellow independent mayoral candidate Nimbus Couzin, owner of the Highlands coffee shop Ray’s Monkey House, an equal platform during the campaign.

[Matthew D]

Apparently there's a new candidate for mayor:

Leo story on Jackie Green for Mayor

With the filing deadline for the mayor’s race approaching, a few more candidates are expected to enter. One late-filing candidate is likely to be bicycle advocate Jackie Green, who plans to run as an independent. Co-owner of Bike Couriers Bike Shop, Green says transportation will be a focus of his candidacy because it stands at the forefront of Louisville’s future.

“Transportation is more automotive infrastructure than ever, so yes, that’s a step backwards,” Green says. “We need a great public transit system. We have a decent one at rush hour right now. Outside of rush hour, it is a very poor system, and that is a must for our city to be great.”

Green says independent candidates will bring alternative ideas that mainstream candidates ignore. He’s hopeful that the media will give him and fellow independent mayoral candidate Nimbus Couzin, owner of the Highlands coffee shop Ray’s Monkey House, an equal platform during the campaign.

I don't know what it says about me, the circles I run in, or the businesses I support, but it turns out I know both Jackie and Nimbus. I'm not surprised Jackie's putting transportation at the center of his platform as he has long been active in making Louisville a safer place for cyclists and as a place forwardly-thinking about public transportation.

A coffee shop owner. And a bicycle shop owner. I can only think that many of us have more in common with both of these men then we will ever have in common with a judgeship-buying good-for-nothing. When these two men are inevitably characterized as "being out of the mainstream," instead of nodding our heads in agreement, we should take a moment to consider what the mainstream is, who it represents, and if that is what we want for our city. I wish the best of luck to both Jackie and Nimbus. If both men ran the local government like they run their businesses - through hardwork, honesty, conviction, and customer-first principles - then I can't help but imagine both would do a hell-of-a-job as mayor.

[Nimbus Couzin]

Thank you for the very kind words, Matthew. I also know Jackie pretty well. He is a good guy. I've worked side by side him at events like Earth Day at University of Louisville.

Yes, it does make one wonder what mainstream means. Is is mainstream population, or status quo control?

I guess I'd agree that I'm not a mainstream political candidate.

[Steve Magruder]

In my opinion, there are only three running who could run the city effectively: Allen, Fischer, Heiner. The rest would be too controversial or overwhelmed with the job.

So Steve, would I be - in your opinion - too controversial, or overwhelmed with the job? Just curious.

Overwhelmed, unless you can convince the public otherwise. I only have one vote.

[Steve Magruder]

In my opinion, there are only three running who could run the city effectively: Allen, Fischer, Heiner. The rest would be too controversial or overwhelmed with the job.

Well, those three, and King will be viable candidates because they have the fundraising organization to raise enough $$ to mount a serious campaign. This campaign is gonna be expensive.

King will learn the same lesson that Charlie Owen and Bruce Lunsford already have learned: Dollars don't vote, people do.

[Brad Keeton]

Tandy is a milquetoast, will be beholden to a lot of folks. He is one of the people who agreed to Cordish's ridiculous confidentiality agreement, very seldom has stood up to the mayor. Think Jerry-lite.

Disclaimer - I work in the same law firm as David, but I think this characterization of him is untrue. David has supported the mayor in a lot of his endeavors, such as urban development, but has also stood up to Cordish and called for transparency there more than most, especially on the council.

He has also worked tirelessly for his areas, and his visions of an improved Louisville are very solid, including an improved corridor that runs from downtown proper south along 3rd Street to UofL, i.e., improving safety and commerce in Old Louisville, and fixing the relative no-man's land between oh, Broadway and St. Catherine, let's say. I've also heard him speak to making sure our downtown doesn't "end" at 7th Street.

I have no affiliation with David's campaign, and am not even convinced at this point whether or not he has my vote (I have a lot to consider, as we all do), and differ with him on certain issues, such as his support for the status-quo of the bridges project. However, to call him "Jerry-lite" and "milquetoast" is unfair, untrue, and offensive.

I would encourage everyone to wait until his campaign rolls out in full force before pre-judging him simply because he supported the mayor - we don't have to elect a mayor that is the opposite of Jerry, but trust me, David Tandy is not Mayor Jerry.