Next Time, LEO Will Put A Mirror On The Cover

LEO’s annual Loserville issue is out. Spokespeople, personalities, a TV station, politicians and assorted inanimate objects all get a fun dose of negativity. But the final entry is…you, or…us.

Yeah, you. You’re overweight, but you can’t stick to a diet. You’re undereducated, yet you pretend to be an expert after browsing Wikipedia. You voted for Rand Paul, even though you’re not a millionaire and are benefiting from state and federal programs that you can’t even name, and, speaking of names, you probably don’t even know who your congressman, councilperson or state representative is, but you think Barack Hussein Obama is a dirty Kenyan socialist. You breed like there’s no tomorrow, you drive your car to the Wal-Martdown the street, and save your meager intellectual prowess to debate last night’s episode of “Lame Ass TV Show.” Meanwhile, the world is growing more polluted, the gap between rich and poor increases, and all you care about is whether you got shortchanged on the levels of your Big Gulp soda.

We’ve all fallen so far. We were Time’s Person of the Year in 2006.

Troutmans To Leave Louisville

As reported on WFPL, Public Health Director Dr. Adewale Troutman has taken a job in Florida and Troutman’s wife Denise Troutman will step down as president and CEO of the Center for Women and Families to move to Florida as well.

Health department spokesperson Kathy Harrison says Dr. Troutman’s decision was not inspired by the upcoming mayoral elections. A new mayor could have replaced Troutman, but that has not been widely discussed, if at all, in the campaigns. Rather, Harrison said the 65-year-old Dr. Troutman had been contemplating retirement simply received an attractive offer. He will be the director of the University of South Florida’s Public Health Practice and Public Health Leadership Institute.

“He’s also going to serve as a consultant to the Department of Community Health in Tampa and will be a full professor at the University of South Florida and he expects to start his new post in early November,” says Harrison.

Troutman will step down in November. Medical director Dr. Matt Zahn will be interim health director. The next mayor of Louisville will appoint a permanent director.

Denise Troutman will leave the CWF in March. A search for a new president and CEO will begin next month.

Two New Heiner Ads To Air Soon

Republican mayoral candidate Hal Heiner has two new television ads that will begin airing soon. The spots focus on transparency in government, particularly making note of a forgivable loan given to the Cordish Company for developments at 4th Street Live. One ad features former County Judge/Executive and current Heiner campaign chair Rebecca Jackson, a Republican who won a county-wide election, much as Heiner is hoping to do. She also appeared in ads for Heiner during the primary.

Louisville Declared Underrated

The Huffington Post has named Louisville the 5th most underrated city in America. Fort Worth, Akron, Sacramento and Portland were also on the list, along with 13 others.

The Kentucky Derby may be its claim to fame, but the famous horse race isn’t all Louisville has to offer. Nestled on the banks of the Ohio River, this Southern underrated city has loads of small-town charm, a cosmopolitan riverfront district, a diverse art scene–thanks to the Kentucky Center for the Arts–and a growing foodie market with its own Restaurant Row. Sports lovers should make a stop at the Louisville Slugger Museum, while history lovers can sip mint juleps on a river cruise aboard the Belle of Louisville, a National Historic Landmark.

Your thoughts?

(via)

Jefferson County GOP Unity Picnic Is Sunday

The Jefferson County Republican Party is holding a unity picnic this weekend. Senator Dan Seum is hosting the event. Mayoral candidate Hal Heiner, Congressional candidate Todd Lally, Senate Candidate Rand Paul and the losing candidates from those primaries have all been invited, according to the GOP’s press release, which also says the picnic’s goal is to bring the former rivals together to build momentum for the general election.

Seum’s rival Marty Meyer recently held a campaign office grand opening celebration. Do events like this influence you as a voter?

A Leisure City?

Men’s Health has named Louisville one of the best places to live.

The magazine calls it the Best Place to Sip Whiskey and Watch the World Go By.

The editors base their choices on the idea that a magazine’s reader might move to a new city for a specific reason.  They also look at access to leisure activities and culture.

The brief article refers to Bardstown Road as a “slice of weirdness in the midst of an upscale neighborhood.”  It also points out bourbon has become a “sophisticated beverage rather than redneck swill” and says that “parallels the city’s cultural renaissance.”

What’s this “Watch the world go by” comment about? I’ve heard visitors say they like how leisurely Louisville seems. I’ve always credited that to the fact that these people are probably on vacation, but is it true? Does Louisville (through a combination of the city government, business atmosphere and overall culture) give off a relaxed vibe? Is that a bad thing? Can a city be leisurely and businesslike at the same time?

Will Candidates Share Their Love?

Consuming Louisville‘s annual “One Thing I Love About Louisville” essay series has begun, and Michelle is extending an invitation to submit to each candidate for mayor. Details below, but first a few disclaimers…1: Michelle is volunteering for one of the campaigns. 2: I’ve written an essay for this year’s series.

After tweeting about some difficulty finding e-mail addresses, Michelle sent this invitation to the candidates:

Each January I run a series on Consuming Louisville called “One Thing I Love About Louisville.” The series is as simple as it sounds, individuals from the community write a guest post for Consuming Louisville describing one thing they love about our great city. I’m extending an invitation to all of the candidates for Mayor to write a post for the series. The entry can be as short or long as you want and as concrete (pancakes at Wild Eggs) or abstract (“welcoming vibe”) as you want.

I will post one entry per candidate and I will post one per day in the order that I receive the entries from the candidates. The deadline for sending me entries is 10AM Monday January 11, 2010. Entries received from candidates after that time will not be posted.

I look forward to seeing your “One Thing I Love About Louisville” entry if you choose to participate.

Michelle Jones

I’m anxious to see who writes a piece and what they love. We may see some insights or a pander-fest.

Political Fun For Your Weekend

Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson isn’t running for Lieutenant Governor (yet…maybe) but he’s already lost the union vote. Joe Gerth (who appeared on today’s inaugural State of Affairs State of the News) confirms the rumor Jake at Page One floated earlier today. The AFL-CIO opposes Abramson for Lt. Gov.

“I am writing to express our strong opposition to Mayor Abramson for Lt. Governor,” Bill Londrigan, president of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO, said in a letter dated Thursday. “Mayor Abramson has established a long record of antipathy towards organized labor, both during his tenure as Mayor of Louisville as well as the merged Metro Government.”

Maybe it was the labor ordinance. Jake has another theory. Your thoughts?

The Best City

Local blogs and Twitter feeds are abuzz with pleas to vote for Louisville in Kiplinger’s Best Cities Poll.

Over at Page One, Jake says:

There’s no way we’re gonna let a city with a giant hole downtown beat us, is there?

He’s talking about current poll leader Lexington, but at first I thought it was a jab at my beloved hometown St. Louis. City officials are currently trying to find a sponsor for the Cordish Company’s proposed “Ballpark Village.” The picture to the left is how the project looked last year…and every year since the new stadium was built.  As you can see, it is literally a hole downtown.