Posted by: KFTC staff on April 27, 2018
Kentucky's immigrant communities help make our Commonwealth more just and democratic, and help build an economy that works for all of us. When our immigrant neighbors are taken from their homes, and families are torn apart, they deserve our protection and support.
Posted by: Ebeth Adami on April 20, 2018
KFTC’s vision statement reads:
We are working for a day when Kentuckians – and all people – enjoy a better quality of life…When all people have health care, shelter, food, education, and other basic needs…When children are listened to and valued…When discrimination is wiped out of our laws, habits, and hearts.
Kentucky legislators made many decisions that stand in the way of our vision during the 2018 General Assembly. Among them was the passage of House Bill 169, the "Youth Incarceration Bill."
HB 169 received final approval by the House and Senate on April 13. At the time this newsletter went to print, there was still an opportunity for Governor Bevin to veto the bill.
The bill expands the definition of gang membership, and mandates harsh sentences, even for misdemeanors, if one is part of a gang under a new, broad definition. The details of the bill are here.
Posted by: By Meta Mendel-Reyes, KFTC Chairperson on April 19, 2018
I was proud to join other Kentuckians in Frankfort on April 13 with my KFTC sweatshirt on. The huge crowd was what democracy looks like – even if the legislature was unworthy of it.
We all went to Frankfort to let our governor and legislators know that Kentuckians deserve better from our General Assembly.
This was one of the most damaging legislative sessions we’ve seen in years. Our elected leaders:
- raised taxes on 95 percent of Kentuckians – not to raise new revenue for state investments, but to fund a tax cut for the wealthy and corporations.
- passed a budget with significant cuts to education (including zero funding for textbooks and other school programs) and most other services across the board.
- passed House Bill 169, which will increase incarceration of young people of color, and cost an additional $19 million a year that we could invest in community supports for preventing gang violence.
Posted by: Lisa Abbott on April 17, 2018
In one of its final legislatives moves before adjourning on April 14, the Kentucky Senate tabled a vote on House Bill 227, the anti-rooftop solar bill pushed by utilities.
Posted by: Joe Gallenstein on April 12, 2018
Thursday afternoon hundreds gathered at Northern Kentucky University to speak out for more revenue, and to ask legislators to honor the commitments we have made to students across Kentucky.
The crowd began to gather before noon. Members of the broader community included KFTC, the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers, and the Northern Kentucky Justice and Peace Committe. However, the majority in attendance were students and faculty who were most likely to be impacted by the new state budget. Many came with signs illustrating issues impacting the NKU community. From rising costs of tuition, a tax structure that hurts lower and middle income Kentuckians, and what the impact of further cuts could mean to universities across the state.
Posted by: Lisa Abbott on April 11, 2018
In April KFTC members launched the Power House Project, an exciting effort to build New Power in every sense of the word: new economic power, new clean energy power, and new politi
Posted by: Carissa Lenfert on April 10, 2018
Every year KFTC's local chapters hold a chapter annual business meeting. All KFTC members in the chapter are invited and encouraged to participate to elect new local leadership, nominate themselves and others to statewide committees, set local priorties and goals, and make suggestions for KFTC's statewide platform. These meetings are fundamental pieces of KFTC's democratic and grassroots process. We hope to see you at your local chapter annual meeting. Full list below!
Posted by: Joe Gallenstein on April 9, 2018
Since last January Scott County members have been working with others in the community to stop a proposed expansion of the landfill in the north end of the county.
Posted by: Joe Gallenstein on April 8, 2018
Northern Kentucky members of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth showed up to support ongoing work around immigrant rights in northern Kentucky.
Posted by: KFTC Staff on April 6, 2018
On March 29, nearly a 150 people from across Kentucky and central Appalachia gathered in Harlan County for a community conversation with each other and with Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, as part of the national listening tour of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.
