Jefferson County Chapter and the People's Forum

by Beth Bissmeyer

Louisville has always been home. I've lived in the South-end of town, in the same neighborhood, all my life, and I've always felt a sense of pride to be living in this city, but I didn't feel truly engaged in a local community until I left Louisville to attend college in Berea. During my time at Berea, I became involved with the local chapter of KFTC and learned how important it is to of in local government by going to City Council meetings and working on local energy and utilities issues. Now that I'm back in Louisville, back in my old neighborhood, I'm working on being an active contributing member of this big-city community, and attending events like the People's Forum is a big part of that.

Organized by ten social-justice groups, the People's Forum, held February 2^nd, provided a space for Louisville's mayoral candidates to speak to the issues community members care about. All mayoral candidates were invited, and nine of the eleven running--Tyler Allen, Burrel Charles Farnsley, Greg Fischer, Jackie Green, Jim King, Connie Marshall, Lisa Moxley, David Tandy and Shannon White--participated in front of a crowd of about 150 community members. The Jefferson County Chapter of KFTC, ACLU of Kentucky, Community Farm Alliance, Fairness Campaign, Hispanic/Latino Coalition, Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Kentucky Jobs With Justice, Making Connections, Metropolitan Housing Coalition, and Women in Transition organized the forum and asked questions of the candidates on topics that aren't often considered in such a public space including high energy costs for low-income families, police brutality, local foods, and domestic partner benefits.

George Eklund, a Jefferson County KFTC member, said of the forum, "It was good to bring different social justice issues up in a campaign that will be dominated by economic issues, and it was a good way to show candidates that progressives do exist in the city.â€

While some of the candidates' answers were good, I didn't hear everything I would've liked to, but that gives me further reason to stay connected and in the loop about what local candidates are saying and doing. With current Mayor Jerry Abramson not seeking re-election, this is the first time in years that there has been a real opportunity for new leadership in Louisville. Abramson, who many jokingly refer to as 'Mayor for Life' has been mayor of Louisville for all but four years that I've been alive, and this will be my first Louisville mayoral election in which I can vote. I'm excited to learn more about the candidates as the election draws nearer, and I hope that candidates will actively seek out and participate in more important events like this month's People's Forum.

To check out video clips of the People's Forum from Louisville History and Issues, go here: http://www.historyandissues.org/louisville/viewtopic.php?t=1868