Mayor Greenberg releases 2025 general assembly agenda

Mayor Greenberg releases 2025 general assembly agenda
Mayor Greenberg releases 2025 general assembly agenda(WAVE News)
Published: Jan. 28, 2025 at 1:46 PM EST
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) -Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg has laid out a list of changes he’d like to see from lawmakers in Frankfort during this year’s General Assembly.

Much of Greenberg’s agenda deals with public safety.

In an effort to reduce gang violence and other violent crime, Greenberg wants background checks for all firearm sales in Metro Louisville, allowances for Emergency Risk Protection Orders, a waiting period for first-time gun buyers and limiting concealed carry for people younger than 25. He also believes a wiretapping law, could crack down on gangs.

“There are some unique issues going on here in Louisville with respect to violent crime, compared to other parts of Kentucky and we in Louisville should have the autonomy to have all the tools that we can think of to reduce the amount of gun violence here in Louisville,” Greenberg said.

When it comes to money and funding requests, this year isn’t a budget year. But looking ahead, Greenberg is asking state lawmakers for $75 million for a dedicated first responder training facility, $60 million for the Jefferson Memorial Forest master plan, and $30 million to build an aquatics center.

Here’s a total breakdown of Greenberg’s General Assembly agenda as supplied by the Office of the Mayor:

Improve Public Safety - The following items each require a statutory change to give Louisville Metro greater ability to apprehend gang members and violent offenders, protect property and public employees, and address other criminal elements that are diminishing the quality of life of our citizens:

Crush confiscated cars involved in illegal racingSupport an amendment to Kentucky’s auction statutes that would allow confiscated vehicles to be crushed or sold off in whole or parts to non-profit organizations. Illegal street racing is a nuisance that negatively impacts our community and endangers law enforcement, spectators, and the drivers.

Allow liens for fires on vacant properties with negligent owners – Amend KRS 65.8840 to empower local governments to place liens on properties for the recovery of emergency response costs when fires occur in vacant and neglected buildings due to owner negligence. In Louisville, there were 103 fires in neglected and abandoned buildings in 2023 and 89 fires this past year. The October 24, 2024 fire at the vacant St. Paul’s German Evangelical Church in Louisville demonstrates the financial and public safety risks posed by such properties. This change would let local governments hold negligent property owners accountable, recover emergency response costs, and encourage the maintenance or rehabilitation of abandoned properties.

Enact a state wiretapping law – Kentucky is one of only four states without a wiretapping law. Such a law would be narrowly targeted and could successfully address gangs and violent offenders in jurisdictions with more than 250,000 in population. It would require extensive training for investigative law enforcement.

Responsible firearm ownership Metro Louisville could address gang violence and other violent crime if given autonomy to require background checks for all firearm sales, allow for Emergency Risk Protection Orders, require a waiting period for first-time gun buyers, and limiting concealed carry for individuals under 25 years old.

Protect transit drivers from assaultsStrengthen KRS 508.025 to make attacking a public transportation driver assault in the 3rd degree. TARC drivers provide a valuable service in our city, yet have been the subject of several physical assaults while serving the community. This proposal would extend the same protections to those employees who are currently enjoyed by police officers, social workers, teachers and school bus drivers who are subject to an attack in the course of their duties.

Protect Public Infrastructure from Theft – Amend “Key infrastructure assets” under KRS 511.100 to include equipment and cable, telephone and broadband communications lines, and pedestrian and street lighting. The theft of copper wires is a serious issue in Metro Louisville and across Kentucky, compromising critical infrastructure and public safety. Increasing the criminal penalties will deter copper theft and protect these critical assets.

Park Ranger recruitment – Add Park Rangers to officers receiving KLEFP stipend in KRS 15.380. The Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund (KLEFPF) provides necessary funding for the mandatory training of certain Kentucky law enforcement officers. Expanding it to include Park Rangers would support recruitment to this law enforcement category tasked with ensuring safety in Louisville’s renowned public parks system.

Spurring Economic Development - Louisville Metro supports the following economic development tools to boost tourism, support the labor force, and ensure mobility in the city:

Provide for a state sales rebate for large, multi-day entertainment venues From Gazebo Fest to Louder than Life to Bourbon and Beyond and more, Louisville is among many Kentucky cities that excel at hosting large multi-day music events. Stronger state incentives make us more competitive in keeping these tourism and economic juggernauts here and securing new ones.

Dedicated state funding for TARC Kentucky has consistently underfunded the Transit Authority of River City – woefully lagging behind peer state investment in public transit. We support a dedicated, state funding stream that complements considerable local and rider financial support.

Expand eligibility of ECCAP to include first responders - Many government agencies face vacancy and recruitment challenges, particularly with First Responders. The state Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership (ECCAP) program is a public-private partnership that provides a state match to employers that provide childcare stipends. The program is underutilized but could be made a valuable recruitment tool if ECCAP eligibility included municipal and government employees.

Thrive By 5 Louisville – Support Thrive by Five, an independent nonprofit that is leveraging public and private funds to support quality early learning/childcare for four-and three-year-olds could serve as the model system to address the childcare crisis in the Commonwealth. It has three key objectives: 1) recruit and retain the early learning workforce, 2) invest in facility improvements, and 3) offer financial assistance to qualified families. This work is independent from Headstart and JCPS.

Creating More Housing - The Kentucky Housing Task Force provided an effective forum for discussing the critical need for more housing across the Commonwealth, including in Louisville. We support many of the proposals brought forth by Task Force presenters, including the establishment or expansion of:

State Affordable Housing Tax Credit - Many states have created their own version of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to pair with the federal program. These can be targeted to both rental properties and single-family homeownership.

First-time Homebuyer Tax CreditThis program would offer qualifying, first-time homebuyers down payment assistance. Indiana has a successful program that provides up to 6% down payment assistance in the form of an interest- and payment-free second mortgage (to be repaid in full if the borrower chooses to refinance or sell within the forgiveness period).

Revolving loan fund for workforce housing - Establish and capitalize a fund at the Kentucky Housing Corporation to provide financing for housing development for working families. This program would complement the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which supports projects serving our lowest income households. Other states have successfully provided construction loans at 0% interest rates and a 24-month term.

Housing support from state economic development tools - Expand the use of industrial revenue bonds to fund affordable housing projects by modifying the definition of “building” or “industrial building” in KRS 103.200(1) to include affordable housing projects.

Tax Increment Financing Updates - Adjust the methodology for evaluating tax increment financing projects to make it easier to fund housing development in urban areas.

In addition to the items presented at the Task Force, we support the following new incentives and policy changes:

  • Stimulate the supply of new homes by eliminating the sales tax on building materials used in single-family homes.
  • Make it easier for faith-based organizations and religious institutions to build affordable rental housing on their properties, including providing technical help, financial grants and other assistance to streamline this process.
  • Stop bad actors from purchasing vacant properties at Kentucky Master Commissioner sales by requiring bidders to certify, under penalty of law, that they have no record of failing to maintain other property, no outstanding liens, and hold no properties that have been vacant for 18 consecutive months, unless there is active construction on the property.
  • Revise KRS 65.360 to increase the size of the Landbank board to make it easier to reach quorum and conduct business of landbank. Currently there are only 3 members, whereas best practices across the country show a minimum of 5 board members.

Capital/Funding Requests - With the understanding that the 2025 Legislative Session is not a budget session, Louisville Metro will begin or continue work with the General Assembly on securing future appropriations supporting the following projects:

New public safety training facility for first responders – There is an acute need for a dedicated first responder training facility in Louisville. A new facility would provide training to any agency or department in county, including access to a physical, driver’s training track, which is key to police and fire training. LMPD currently relies on simulators to mimic chases, obstacle negotiation, and other emergency scenarios. Project cost – $75 million (estimate).

Downtown Investments – Louisville Metro is highly appreciative of the more than $100 million General Fund investment into Downtown Louisville and has worked quickly to deploy those dollars. We will continue to advocate for more support from Frankfort to hasten Downtown Louisville’s renaissance.

Jefferson Memorial Forest Created by the city of Louisville in 1945 to honor military veterans, Jefferson Memorial Forest (JMF) is the largest municipally owned urban forest in the United States. This 7,000-acre nature preserve and public park has the potential to become a major recreational and educational site in Kentucky, attracting visitors from around the region and country. A new masterplan is being developed to create an ambitious and innovative plan for JMF’s future with goals to attract more local, national, and international visitors to JMF and Louisville; to significantly improve the infrastructure and diversity of activities in JMF; to promote more healthy, outdoor recreational opportunities; and to support complimentary growth and investment in neighborhoods adjacent to JMF. This project will generate significant new tax revenue for the Commonwealth and be a catalyst for Fairdale and surrounding neighborhoods in Southwest Jefferson County. Project cost - $60 million (estimate).

Aquatics Swimming & Training Center – Louisville is respected around the country for producing Olympic and elite collegiate level swimmers. Yet, we do not have a year-round indoor/outdoor aquatics facility that matches this level of success or takes advantage of this reputation economically. A world-class aquatics swimming and training center would support our local athletes, while attracting regional and national competitions that generate tourism and new economic growth. Project cost – (estimate) $30 million.