There has been speculation that it was the intent all along to find something wrong with the arena deal, wherever it may have been planned. Ultimately, the state's desire, and maybe Larry Clark's too, is to keep the "arena" at Freedom Hall and under the control of the Fair Board, Harold Workman, et al. Fletcher gets to give Abramson the boot, despite Abramson's Faustian agreement with Republican leaders in bringing Metro government to Louisville and Jefferson County, in exchange for mayoral opponents like Jack Early, and apparently Kelly Downard as well, who seems to be stumbling along in his race. Abramson will no doubt win his race for mayor, but he is left as a man without the support of, or commitment to, either political party. Which, frankly, is right where he started.

This is the latest update on the Metro Council arena voting. It is important for all of us who believe in labor to see how the council voted in this issue.

Kelly Downard who is outwardly trying to show he cares about labor voted NO in regards to allowing unions a voice to negotiate some issues of construction. Mayor Abramson is considering a veto on the council's agreement.

As I have stated from the onset of my campaign NEITHER candidate believes in labor and this is but one show of that in my opinion. Downard does not want to allow the union participatory involvement and Abramson has not bargained fairly with labor in this community.

The following is a link to the C-J article in this regard:

This is the link to the council vote and how each council member voted:

http://www.courier-journal.com/assets/B234095714.JPG

Note Downard voted in favor of the agreement but against union negotiations. Also the Democrats have countered with allowing minority hiring oversight by none other than Louis Coleman of the Injustice Resource Center.

We deserve better than this.

Thanks

Ed Springston Louisville Metro Mayor 2006

As we now know Abramson vetoed the council vote. Once again he is showing that he is against labor in this community. Kelly Downard also voted AGAINST the labor portion of this council agreement thus showing he is against labor as well.

As always, I have been the only candidate that has stood for labor in this community and the latest is just one more example of why neither can be effective today.

Both continually side together so there are no major differences in either.

I support the council agreement and offer better for our community and those of us who work in labor each day.

Ed Springston MyViewMatters.org

Any thoughts about asking Republican constitutional leaders--Fletcher, Grayson (who will be in Louisville) and Farmer about Senator Roeding's comments on U of L's health insurance plans??

It's interesting that Abramson has taken over $160K in the last year from big-time contractors who happen to be anti-union. Also interesting information here.

You should check it out, Mark.

And maybe look into all of the money he's taken from LG&E (big surprise, I know):

HAMILTON, JUDY
4611 SOUTHERN PARKWAY
LOUISVILLE, KY, 402140000
Employer : LG&E
Occupation : HUMAN RESOURCES SPEC INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$900.00 on 01/03/2002
ABRAMSON, JERRY for
MAYOR - LOUISVILLE-GREATER-JEFFERSON

MCCALL, JOHN
192 BOW LANE
LOUISVILLE, KY, 402070000
Employer : LG&E ENERGY CORP
Occupation : EXEC VICE PRESIDENT INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$500.00 on 01/08/2002
ABRAMSON, JERRY for
MAYOR - LOUISVILLE-GREATER-JEFFERSON

NEWTON, FREDERICK
27 SOUTHWIND ROAD
LOUISVILLE, KY, 40207
Employer : LG&E ENERGY
Occupation : SVP-CAO INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$250.00 on 11/30/2001
ABRAMSON, JERRY for
MAYOR - LOUISVILLE-GREATER-JEFFERSON

O'BRIEN, DOROTHY
2402 VALLEY VISTA ROAD
LOUISVILLE, KY, 40205
Employer : LG&E
Occupation : ATTORNEY INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 12/11/2001
ABRAMSON, JERRY for
MAYOR - LOUISVILLE-GREATER-JEFFERSON

O'BRIEN, DOROTHY
2402 VALLEY VISTA
LOUISVILLE, KY, 402050000
Employer : LG&E
Occupation : DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 09/26/2005
ABRAMSON, JERRY for
MAYOR - LOUISVILLE-GREATER-JEFFERSON

POTTINGER, SCOTT
10302 CARRIAGE HOUSE COURT
LOUISVILLE, KY, 40223
Employer : LG&E/FT. KNOX
Occupation : DIR HR/CONTROLLER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$150.00 on 11/22/2001
ABRAMSON, JERRY for
MAYOR - LOUISVILLE-GREATER-JEFFERSON

RIVES, S.
14509 MAPLE GLEN PLACE
LOUISVILLE, KY, 40245
Employer : LG&E ENERGY
Occupation : SR V-P INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$250.00 on 11/29/2001
ABRAMSON, JERRY for
MAYOR - LOUISVILLE-GREATER-JEFFERSON

SIEMENS, GEORGE
913 LONE TREE COURT
LOUISVILLE, KY, 40223
Employer : LG&E
Occupation : ATTORNEY INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 12/10/2001
ABRAMSON, JERRY for
MAYOR - LOUISVILLE-GREATER-JEFFERSON

STAFFIERI, VICTOR
8306 WESTOVER DR.
PROSPECT, KY, 400590000
Employer : LG&E ENERGY
Occupation : EXECUTIVE INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 07/06/2005
ABRAMSON, JERRY for
MAYOR - LOUISVILLE-GREATER-JEFFERSON

STAFFIERI, VICTOE
8306 WESTOVER DRIVE
PROSPECT, KY, 400590000
Employer : LOUISVILLE GAS & ELECTRIC
Occupation : CEO INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 01/30/2002
ABRAMSON, JERRY for
MAYOR - LOUISVILLE-GREATER-JEFFERSON

"If he upholds that deal and vetoes the arena labor agreement, he'll piss off every union member who supports his democratic campaign for reelection."

Mark who else they gonna vote for, Kelly Downard? The mayor has made the right call on this one. Labor is scrambling to save face right now after getting a beatdown on the failed effort to require a PLA.

Is there ever going to be a new post on this site, or should I take it off my favorites?

I'll vote for whoever preserves whats left of the open space (forests, patches of woodland, cropland, other areas undisturbed by human intrusion, etc) in Jefferson County and gives back the Post Offices and annexing powers (and thus their own identity) to Saint Matthews, Jeffersontown, Middletown, and other real "towns" in Jefferson County.
And they also need to improve recycling throughout the county.

We should set a zoning ordinance that preserves architecturally distinctive old buildings (which have been routinely demolished over the years throughout the county)

And not only should they make a zoning ordinance protecting cropland wetlands and woodland etc from development, but also, if an old or established tree is is healthy and not a threat to surrounding trees, the person cutting it down will have to go through many months of legal procedures first giving a truly good reason.