Broadband Stimulus Oversight Still Unfunded

Seven billion federal dollars have been given out to help telecoms build high speed broadband networks (we’ve written about one post for each dollar awarded), but the government may not have the ability to make sure the money is being properly spent.

From Politico:

The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, one of the agencies leading the charge, initially expected Congress to set aside millions of dollars for oversight when the stimulus program expired Sept. 30.

But lawmakers haven’t voted on President Barack Obama’s proposed 2011 budget, which called for roughly $24 million to help keep tabs on award winners. And while Congress is in the throes of approving a bill this week designed to keep the government running until December, that proposal lacks the relief NTIA sought.

Updated: Moxley Endorses Heiner At Education Press Conference

Republican candidate for mayor Hal Heiner Thursday discussed his plans for improving Jefferson County Public Schools, and announced his latest endorsement.

Heiner recently called for an end to the current student assignment plan in a television ad. The spot drew criticism from Democratic candidate Greg Fischer, among others. Heiner says he still supports diversity, but the assignment plan has not improved schools. He said scrapping the plan is only part of his education platform, which calls for more magnet schools and incentives for teachers at underperforming schools.

“What we need is a comprehensive re-look at how we go about education in this community, determine what resources are necessary to get there, then get about the business of improving these schools. We really have no time to waste in that regard,” said Heiner.

Former Democratic mayoral candidate Lisa Moxley announced her support for Heiner at the press conference. The mayor has no direct authority over JCPS, but Moxley said the mayor should lead efforts to improve schools.

“I think it’s absolutely appropriate for the mayor to take a leadership role for issues that impact the city and this is an issue that impacts the city. It impacts the families and the communities and the people who live here,” she said.

Fischer has proposed using public-private partnerships and after-school programs to improve education.

Update:

Here is the raw audio of the announcement. (MP3)

And here is Fischer’s response:

“Like many people in Louisville, I am frustrated with the lack of significant improvement in our schools. The student assignment plan and our school system are not working the way we expect and demand they must.

“The school board must fix the student assignment plan, and they are taking steps to do so, and as mayor I will be an active partner to make sure we get it right.

“I will do everything in my power to raise both the standards and expectations we have of our schools. A great city deserves great schools, and right now we are letting some of our parents and children down. High quality schools are the key to our city’s economic future and, as mayor, I will be there to make certain we get this right.”

Kentucky Leads Neighbors In Child Poverty

The latest report from Kentucky Youth Advocates (PDF) shows that child poverty has increased, and, according to 2009 numbers, Kentucky leads neighboring states in the percentage of children who are poor.

• Kentucky – 25.2%
• Indiana – 19.%
• Tennessee – 23.5%
• Ohio – 21.5 %
• West Virginia – 23.4%
• Virginia – 13.6%
• Illinois – 18.6%
• Missouri – 20.3%

Child poverty in Kentucky increased to 25.2 percent in the 2009 American Community Survey (ACS) from 23.4 percent in the 2007 ACS. In Kentucky, over 250,000 children are poor, up from 228,000 in 2007, according to Census Bureau data released today. Poverty also rose sharply for the total population in Kentucky in 2009, highlighting the widespread impact of the recession. Total state-level poverty rose to 18.6 percent in 2009 from 17.3 percent in 2007. Over 770,000 Kentuckians lived in poverty in 2009.

(via Page One)

White Moderates Fairness Chat

Former Democratic mayoral candidate Shannon White has blogged about a lunch meeting she set up between Republican mayoral candidate Hal Heiner (whom she has endorsed) and Fairness Campaign director Chris Hartman. Heiner’s history on Fairness has been a frequent target, and White’s account restates several of Heiner’s explanations for his actions.

Hal said he voted against Fairness, because he was under the impression that the LGBT community was protected under federal statutes and named three cases where folks were defended.

Chris proved this argument to be false and mentioned three local cases where the Fairness ordinance was the only protection available for LGBT in our community.

Hal repeated that he had NO intention of overturning the Fairness ordinance and as a referendum by the voters, he took the will of the people very seriously.

Chris appreciated hearing this AGAIN, and sincerely thanked him for his support moving forward.

Chris asked Hal about how he felt about domestic partnerships for Metro Government employees in his Administration.

Hal stated that putting financial considerations aside, a “PLUS ONE” benefit program whether for domestic partners of same sex or straight couples would be something he would like to see in his first term.

Teachers Endorse Fischer

The Jefferson County Teachers Association has endorsed Democratic candidate Greg Fischer in the Louisville mayor’s race.

The mayor has no direct power over education, but all of the candidates have proposed various methods for improving schools. Most recently, Republican Hal Heiner proposed ending the student assignment plan and offering incentives to teachers who will work in under-performing schools.

Fischer’s plan centers on after-school programs, more nurses in schools and more parental involvement.

Independent Jackie Green has also proposed ending the student assignment plan, but he says affordable housing must be distributed evenly across the community to keep schools and neighborhoods diverse.

From the Fischer campaign:

Louisville’s teachers today endorsed Greg Fischer for Mayor, saying he has the vision, insight and experience to lead the city and help improve education.

“Teachers touch all our lives and are the foundation on which we build our community,” Fischer said. “I am honored that the teachers believe in me and my campaign.”

The Jefferson County Teachers Association represents 6,000 teachers, librarians, speech clinicians, physical therapists and occupational therapists.

Fischer has been discussing ways to improve education since his campaign began more than a year ago.

BBC Blogs Louisville

The BBC’s World Have Your Say program is broadcasting from Louisville and the Idea Festival for the rest of the week. The staff is in town, and they’ve been posting updates to their blog and Flickr page.

So far they’ve seen Muffyoke at Miss C’s on Chestnut Street and watched the Greenpeace protesters climb the Seelbach during yesterday’s EPA hearing.

WFPL.org has more information on the visit and the broadcasts.

Habitat HQ To Open Next Week

Earlier this year, WFPL reported that Habitat for Humanity received city funds to set up a new headquarters in the Portland neighborhood:

The latest city budget allocates 400 thousand federal and local dollars to Habitat. The organization is currently raising 2.5 million dollars to renovate the Portland building. Director Rob Locke says the new headquarters will house Habitat’s administrative offices, thrift store donations and storage and a construction shop. With that city money, he says work on the facility could begin as early as next month.

“We already have enough to acquire the building, which is done and we have enough to renovate the office space and get our office people over there,” he says. “And we’re really close to having enough money to have the shop and to get the Re-store distribution center up.”

LEO is reporting that the new facility will open next week.

The official opening of the new facility will be held on October 5 at 10:30 a.m. at 1631 Rowan Street, where the non-profit will have about 40,000 square feet and additional office space to house Family Services & Outreach, Administration and Development.

“It took Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville 24 years to build our first 300 houses,” says executive director Rob Locke, . “We want to build our next 300 in less than 10 years. This new headquarters and construction facility will go a long way in helping us to achieve that. Needless to say, we’re very excited.”

But…There Was A Louisville App…Unofficially

With both candidates for mayor pitching smart phone applications, it should be mentioned that there once was a Louisville iPhone app.

The “MyLouisville” application was not affiliated with Metro Government. It was programmed independently by developer Splaysoft and featured a map, social network, news feed and flag and fact display (pictured). Richard de los Santos with Splaysoft says the MyLouisville app was removed during a recent sweep of the App store, but will return as part of a multi-city app.

However, the application doesn’t do what the candidates say their official city app would do:

“If you can find a Starbucks with an app you should be able to find a pothole,” says Joe Burgan with Republican Hal Heiner’s campaign, which proposed a city application during the primary. (Read this PDF for more details)

“…people can snap pictures of neighborhood problems then e-mail them, with geocoding, to the city,” says Democratic candidate Greg Fischer‘s plan, which was unveiled this week.

What would you want a Metro Government application to do? Provide TARC information? Let you report crimes? Give news updates?

Of course, many citizens won’t be able to access a smart phone application, and many others won’t even be able to access the city website, so applications aren’t the centerpiece of any candidates’ platform.

Could Texting While Driving Bans Increase Accidents?

Kentucky’s texting while driving ban is in effect, but new evidence indicates such laws could increase accidents.

From NPR:

The report is from the IIHS’s Highway Loss Data Institute; both groups are funded by automobile insurers and the report is being presented at the Governors’ Highway Safety Association, meeting this week in Kansas City, Mo. It suggests some drivers lower their phones into their laps to text out of sight of police officers.  Problem is, they also lower their eyes away from the road. IIHS President Adrian Lund says state lawmakers are ‘focusing on a single manifestation of distracted driving and banning it. This ignores the endless sources of distraction and relies on banning one source or another to solve the whole problem’. He may have a point.

Rolling Stone And Rand Paul

Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi recently visited Kentucky three times in pursuit of a story involving Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul. The result is Tea and Crackers. The story opens with Sarah Palin‘s speech at the NQC in Louisville. The article will be printed in an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone, but is online now.