Now that we’re fully rested from the holidays and a new year has dawned, it’s time to get back to business, and for city leaders, that means legislative business — cue gavel slam.
Mayor Greg Fischer released his priorities for 2022 last week which include enhancing public safety, local tax reform + boosting equitable economic and sustainability efforts. It will also be Mayor Fischer’s last year in office, with the mayoral primary set to take place on May 17 and the general election to follow on Nov. 8. Check your voter registration here.
The Kentucky General Assembly’s 2022 Regular Session is already in progress, so with that in mind, let’s dig into some of these legislative to-dos from converting Downtown one-way streets into two-ways to reforming the commonwealth’s bail system.
🛣️ Infrastructure
- Reimagining 9th Street to promote safety and connectivity between Downtown + West Louisville
- Widening US 60 near Eastwood to improve intersection safety for a forthcoming JCPS middle school
- Converting multiple Downtown streets from one-ways to two-ways
- Incentivize electric vehicles + build out EV charging infrastructure along major routes and in urban areas
💰 Tax + Finance
- Supporting a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to discuss local government tax reform policies
- Support reforming Kentucky’s bail system
- Create protections for residents in the West End Opportunity Partnership and TIF areas
- Develop the biennial budget + allocate remaining American Rescue Plan funds
🚧 Development
- Redeveloping Kentucky incentive programs to attract business services and non-capital-intensive projects
- Supporting revitalization Downtown + incentivizing urban residency
- Allow for higher standards for energy efficiency in new construction allowing for “solar ready” buildings
- Modify the Kentucky Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program
🦺 Public Safety
- Support amendments to state law to allow law enforcement to destroy and/or remove seized firearms from circulation and require firearm owners to responsibly store their firearms + impose liability on violators whose weapons cause damages
- Urging legislators to support the Group Violence Intervention (GVI) initiative through amending state laws
- Support granting the Civilian Review & Accountability Board subpoena power
Pro tip: You can find your legislator + get in on the conversation using this handy interactive map.
