Below are ideas first discussed in the Louisville KFTC annual chapter meeting and developed over the past weeks by an ad hoc subcommittee. These ideas for study and action are presented as beginning points for local chapter study and action. In turn, this work which could benefit from collaboration with other KFTC chapters and in some cases may in time be usefully included as new planks in the KFTC Platform.

If approved for further study, subcommittees can further refine these ideas for specific Chapter activities, plan of work and communication to the state KFTC organization as campaign proposals and possible future Platform Planks.

The Louisville Chapter of KFTC, situated in the only first class City in Kentucky, is uniquely positioned to influence the direction of development in the region and beyond. Louisville, has enormous resources and influence in the region, and has many strengths as a community. There are areas in which Louisville can do better which can benefit from the organizing and policy strengths of KFTC.

1) Green and Sustainable Communities.

Trees give back. Trees take in polluted air and water and give us clear skies and streams. Woods shelter all the creatures of the earth, and form the canopy beneath which life's complexity unfolds. Forests take the light of the sun and turn it into healthy food and soil and shade.

In simple but precise metaphor, trees embody the guiding development principle of the age of sustainability: Every building  as beneficial as a tree; Every neighborhood, community and economy as healthy as a forest.

Sustainability depends on integrating environmental, economic, equity, multi-generational and local/global aspects of development.  Green communities are learning communities, where all aspects of business, government and community life are moving through democratic transformations towards sustainability. There are already Green Roofs initiatives, solar buildings, green spaces, native wetlands pilot projects and much more underway in Louisville and across Kentucky. The challenge is to adopt policies citywide and practices throughout the development business and neighborhoods organizations which reflect comprehensive green standards adoption.

Possible Future Plank Statement:

KFTC supports Community and State wide standards which lead to the creation of ecological, equitable and economically successful communities throughout the Commonwealth.

Here are some elements of policy and  process reforms which the Louisville chapter could support:

1.1) City-wide LEED Green Building standards.

Many communities around the world are moving from "Pilot Projects and PR " to community-wide adoption of Green building and design standards.  for example, Washington DC has adopted a policy whereby all new construction in DC MUST conform with Green Building "LEED" standards by 2010. Louisville, with a much smaller building footprint could move even more quickly.

1.2) Green Neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods and villages around the world are moving towards Green practice through LEED Green Building and Ecovillage standards. While Louisville already has the optional "village form " district designation for neighborhood planning, Louisville does not yet have any substantial Green Building or neighborhood standards in place. Existing planning and building codes and ordinances should be amended and extended so that not only city wide Green Building LEEDs standards but Green neighborhood and regional design "from the bottom up" is the defacto standard for the community. Democratic neighborhood councils and small cities can move to adopt these measures even before Metro government acts, and in so doing can strengthen neighborhoods and community democracy  movements.

1.3) Living and learning for sustainability.

There are a variety of measures that community organizations and institutions can undertake to move towards sustainable community education, including citizen and vocational learning in addition to public schools and universities.  Solar technician and construction training, green neighborhoods planning training and democracy schools are among the means for learning the technical and process skills of a sustainable society.

2) Community communications.

Louisville is the only major city in the United States that does not have a substantial non-profit community communications media center, and among the very few without a multi-channel cable access system and citizen media democracy institutions.  With the continuing controversy over the transfer of cable ownership and a new cable franchise agreement nearing, it is imperative that Louisville citizens get organized to build the political base and community education needed to reform the communications policies of the city.  In addition, KFTC as a whole may need to look to Frankfort to stop the continuing state-wide rollback of citizen oversight of community communications.

Possible Future Plank Statement:

KFTC supports local control of community communications systems which benefit all members of our communities through media democracy and access to new media.

Specifically:

2.1) Cancel the current cable franchise agreement.

Support the nullification of the Louisville Franchise called for by the Jefferson Co. Attorney's in their opinions that the Carlyle takeover of Insight was illegal.

2.2) Call for a new community based cable system.

Support the creation of a new municipal community information utility as called for by the original Jefferson County Cable Commission. This community based system would assure funding for independent community media centers, at least 10% community broadband set aside, strong citizens oversight and other features of strong and progressive community communications policy.

2.3) State legislation Rollback of the centralization of local communications policy in Frankfort.

Currently the revenue sharing agreement which came into effect in 2005 limits the locaL control of communications policy and operations funds and policies. Current design favors  the cable industry by centralizing access and lobbying with Frankfort instead of working with local communities.

3) Direct Democracy.

The merger of Louisville highlighted and exacerbated many community democracy issues in Louisville.  The "Strong Mayor - Weak Council" model adopted through merger has resulted in a community with very little accountability or open and direct democracy. All boards are by appointment, not election; city budgets are proposed by the Mayor and can be little altered by the city council, with almost no citizen involvement.

Possible Platform Plank:

KFTC supports the development of direct democratic forms of governance in the Commonwealth.

3.1) Peoples Agenda.

KFTC was one of the founding members of the Peoples Agenda, a City-Wide coalition which aimed to hold the budget and other local governance processes accountable and open them to democratic participation. The PA effort should be revised with the specific aim of introducing participatory budget alternatives, not simply opening hearings, but changing the process towards the creation and governance of budget and boards through direct elections upwards from the neighborhoods.

3.2) Direct democracy at the precinct level.

Louisville was the site of one of the most important innovations in community direct democracy, the New Grassroots coalition in 2004. KFTC can have a big impact on local democracy by calling for reform of the precinct officer election rules to reflect these changes:

3.2.1) Precinct officers to be elected by neighborhood assemblies.

Precinct officers to be elected by neighborhood assemblies made up of at least two thirds of the voters for each party.

3.2.2) Neighborhood Assemblies meet regularly.

Neighborhood assemblies are to meet at least twice per year.

3.2.3) Neighborhood Platforms.

Neighborhood assemblies are to develop their own platforms to be used as the basis for LD< County, State and National platforms.

3.2.4) Recall

Precinct officers are to be recallable by the neighborhood assembly.

3.2.5) Notice

In addition to legal notices, all precinct voters are to be notified of upcoming precinct elections  in writing and in person by the precinct officers between 7 and 30 days prior to the precinct elections.
 

4) Transparency and the High Road

The KFTC High Road initiative highlights the opportunity to pursue economic development strategies which serve local communities well. In Louisville and elsewhere in the State, one of the problems local communities face is the emergence of the "Homeland Security" economy, and the related decline in other forms of economic development.

In Louisville, the State university based Economic Incubator systems and other economic development services have been reduced or eliminated in favor of "Homeland Security" campuses and funding. These initiatives, like most "low road" development, suffer from low jobs per dollar created, low retention of dollars in the local community, reliance on porkbarrel funding, tax and other giveaways and a lack of transparency from the community's point of view about how such decisions are made and where the money is going.

The KFTC High Road initiative in Louisville could focus on these disparities and call for transparency and accountability for Homel;and Security and related development.  KFTC can also support the creation of "sustainable development incubators." sustainability extension services and transparent and accountable incentives by State and local agencies as alternatives.

Possible Future Plank Statement:

KFTC supports High Road development which applies to all forms of economic development, including "Homeland Security."

Two other initiatives suggested at the meeting need to be fleshed out further:

5) Local/Global

Kentuckians are part of a global community, and the work of KFTC has often reflected this, most recently in the work with the UN on mountaintop removal in Appalachia.  The issues that matter to KFTC are similarly global, from environmental pollution to immigrant rights.  In an age of globalization, following the flow of money and decision-making that affects local communities is a complicated task. How do we develop transparent processes for understanding and influencing those aspects of global economy and governance which affect Kentuckians?

Chapters partner with "Sister Communities" and Networks.

Local chapters can develop relationships with communities around the world which are facing similar problems and share creative solutions. For example, the Global Ecovillage Network and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives are networks which support communities learning together how to "Go Green;" The World Social Forum encourages networking for "globalization from the bottom up;" Independent Media Centers Network focusses on encouraging local Media Centers to use common media platforms to create independent news networks of citizen  journalists who can track and report on the activities of corporations and governments with business in Kentucky; The International Forum on Globalization coordinates study and action on alternatives to globalization; And "Sister Cities " programs can benefit from an activist perspective.  In these and other ways, local members and chapters can develop local/global partnerships which open the door to new ideas and resources over time. By partnering with sister communities and networks, KFTC members reach is extended, with eyes and ears and voices around the world ready to respond to partner with KFTC on issues and high road development opportunities.

6) Education and Equity

Submitted for consideration 9/10/07.