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Community Art Radio Economic Conversion

[ShamekaParrishWright @Seasoned4u]

I've been told, "Louisville isn't New York," by some Metro Council colleagues as a way to discourage me from running for mayor again. After the exciting victory of Zohran Mamdani in New York City, that comparison has come up even more. And I do agree we are not New York. Louisville is Louisville. Our challenges are different, our opportunities are different, and our solutions should be shaped by the people who live here. We can definitely learn from our neighbors both regionally and nationally. I am inspired and happy for the people of New York. They are winning in so many ways. I am fighting because Louisville deserves better and we can get there together.

But let's talk about the label that some people throw around like it's an insult: "socialist."

Yes, I was proud to seek and earn the endorsement of the Louisville DSA during the primary. Yes, I sought the endorsement of the local Democratic Party who failed to see the vision. Yes, I have been a lifelong Democrat in every way not to just raise funds. And yes, I have said that many of my values align with democratic socialism. It is important to win by being myself and not lying because we have too much of that now.

Why? Because I believe we have a responsibility to one another. I believe human lives are infinitely more valuable than shareholder profits.

I don't believe someone with political connections and very rich friends should be able to place a massive data center next to a neighborhood they will never have to live in. I don't believe developers should be mayors or receive tax breaks to build hundreds of hotels and luxury apartments while setting aside only a handful of units as "affordable." I don't believe public resources should primarily benefit private interests.

So if you're going to call me a socialist as a criticism or claim that my values are somehow out of touch with Louisvillians at least understand what the term actually means. Read the Merriam-Webster definition before using it as a political talking point.

The truth is, I'm not obsessed with labels. I'm focused on values. I unlike Mayor Greenberg have lived many lives of Louisvillians. Those experiences will impact my decision making.

My values are rooted in equity, fairness, accountability, democracy, and human rights. If you believe people should come before profits, that working families deserve a fair shot, and that government should invest in the public good, then we probably have more in common than you think.

As your Metro Councilwoman, I've invested hundreds of thousands of public dollars back into our communities intentionally from youth programming and home repair assistance to neighborhood improvements and small business support. I'm interested in how public money and public policy can be distributed democratically and equitably.

I'm not interested in TIFs that primarily enrich corporations while neighborhoods continue to struggle. I'm not interested in giving away publicly owned land in exchange for a handful of low-wage jobs. I'm interested in building a Louisville that is more affordable, more sustainable, and more accountable to the people who actually live here.

Democrats have long stood for lowering costs, improving healthcare, creating good-paying jobs, protecting our democracy, and fighting corruption. Those are values I share. My politics have never been about ideology for ideology's sake y'all they've always been about improving people's lives.

Louisville doesn't need to become New York. Louisville needs to become the best version of itself. And that starts by putting people first.

Now as voters and people who participate in our democracy you have to do your homework and hold us all accountable equally and you will get better results.
#TeamShameka #ShamekaforMayor https://t.co/y0qeGunzIX

[B L A K E L E Y™℠©® LLC @_iamblakeley]

This is fucking insane and can’t stand.

[Mark Slapinski @mark_slapinski]

OMG

The death of Virginia Giuffre is now being investigated as a HOMICIDE

[Ariana Jasmine @arianajasmine__]

Florida tried to create "Alligator Alcatraz."

The Miccosukee Tribe stood up and sued. As a result, Alligator Alcatraz was officially shut down today.

We need to thank the Miccosukee Nation for their courage and attention to this fight; this victory wouldn't have happened without their commitment to protecting our environment.

[𐌁𐌉Ᏽ 𐌕𐌉𐌌𐌉 @OrevaZSN]

Do you remember when radio stations used to give away concert tickets and backstage passes? I just heard a midday radio giveaway, and now the prizes are groceries, a year of gas, or rent paid. It’s a strange reminder that survival has become the prize. That’s pretty sad.

[Dr. Allison Wiltz @queenie4rmnola]

@Phil_Lewis_ Our weekly reminder that the Supreme Court is racist

[ShamekaParrishWright @Seasoned4u]

Ok y'all! #Lunchtime post! Here’s my comments about our city budget. Please note I work 2 jobs while running for #Louisville Mayor. I have plenty of solutions I would love to work to implement with community, business, development and faith leaders. I have to be in the right position to get it done. Join #TeamShameka here: https://t.co/y0qeGun1Tp

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that people think the Mayor sits down alone and decides where every dollar goes, and that Metro Council simply votes yes or no. That is not how Louisville's budget process works.

Louisville Metro's budget process is complex, and frankly, I think it should be more transparent and people-centered than it currently is.

Each year, the Mayor submits a proposed budget. That proposal is developed with input from Metro departments, budget staff, and administration officials. Before Metro Council ever sees the budget, departments have already received guidance from the administration regarding priorities, reductions, and spending recommendations because those departments ultimately report to the Mayor.

Once the proposed budget reaches Metro Council, the Budget Committee begins a series of hearings. During those hearings, council members question departments, review expenditures, identify concerns, and advocate for priorities from their districts and the broader community. I've served on the Budget Committee for the past three years and have attended virtually every hearing because I believe those conversations matter.

What many people don't realize is that Metro Council has the legal authority to create and submit its own budget. However, doing so would require significant political will and collaboration among council members. Historically, there has not been enough support to pursue that option. As a result, Council works from the Mayor's proposed budget rather than creating an entirely separate spending plan.

Council members submit requests, advocate for projects, ask questions, and negotiate changes. I do this every year. There are emails, letters, meeting notes, and public records documenting requests I've made for District 3 projects, community organizations, parks, traffic calming, libraries, public safety improvements, and citywide priorities.

The final budget recommendations ultimately move through Budget Committee leadership before reaching the full Council for a vote. That means not every request made by individual council members becomes part of the final package.

I understand the frustration many residents feel. Some of that frustration is justified. The process is not perfect. I would prefer a more inclusive budgeting process that incorporates more community input, greater transparency, and stronger participatory decision-making. I ask questions that come from residents, neighborhood leaders, service providers, and my own experience navigating city systems—not simply questions handed to me by staff.

As your Councilwoman, my responsibility is to advocate within the system we have while continuing to push for a better system. That means fighting for District 3 priorities, supporting community organizations, holding departments accountable, and making sure residents understand how decisions are actually made.
https://t.co/I42MRxEa8k

You deserve transparency. You deserve honest answers. And you deserve a government that is more accessible and responsive to the people it serves. #WeDeserveBetter #WeGetThereTogether

There are myths and there is reality. What are your thoughts?

[skumm🧊 @skumWgmi]

I'LL SAY IT AGAIN:

IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL to charge a "convenience fee" for paying a bill online. The convenience is for the company. The fee is for you.

[LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 @LongTimeHistory]

UPDATE—First interview with mother of 1 year old baby shot & killed by police.

Cops lied—her car was driving away from where officers stood.

"I raised my baby up to show them that he was in the car," she says.

"By the time I sat my baby down—they fired off like 3 or 4 shots."

[Dr. Allison Wiltz @queenie4rmnola]

This is what happens when police don’t face consequences.

[CJ @IamCJ_27]

Hunter Foster is the name of the cop who murdered Kohen Wiley. Don’t let the state hide this. They’re trying to cover it up.

[HolisticallyMáat🖤🇺🇸🌍🦆 @Holiistically]

She prepaid for her purchase, was picking it up had a receipt. Walmart employee accused her of stealing, cops showed up and killed her baby….

This is America.

[Dr. Allison Wiltz @queenie4rmnola]

A Black girl killed over orange juice, a Black boy killed over bottled water, a Black baby killed over diapers. This is America

[Power to the People ☭🕊 @ProudSocialist]

A profession where you can get away with murdering a 1-year-old baby and then be placed on paid administrative leave needs to be abolished.

[Power to the People ☭🕊 @ProudSocialist]

A day after murdering a 1-year-old baby the police returned to the scene of the crime they committed to protect capital (Walmart) and tear-gas the community. There is no reforming a system that is this barbaric and inhumane.

[Black Girl @t_sadiity]

yall don’t think it’s WEIRD , that CPS will potentially take your kids if you’re struggling (unable to feed them , clothe them , pay for necessary medicines , etc.) 🤔 and then once your kids are taken , they put them in a home with another family , and then give THEM money every month to take care of your kids ??

is that not a fucked up system ?!

[Dr. Allison Wiltz @queenie4rmnola]

Fascism is here

[MP Arizona☀️🏳️‍🌈💙🌵🐕🐕‍🦺🫂💦🏜🐟🌴🎙🌎🌻♍️🌊 @AzPetrich]

Now I'm no lawyer, but doesn't this "emergency meeting" with Vance & other senior officials in the Situation Room to "war game" the fallout for Trump raping children in the Epstein files, makes everyone in that room part of a criminal conspiracy, which I think is kind of illegal.

[Sarah Wilkinson @swilkinsonbc]

The israeli genocide is in 4K on your telly, so you can’t say you didn’t know, you can only say you didn’t care | Irish actor Liam Cunningham

[Jo @JoJoFromJerz]

There are credible allegations made against Donald Trump that he mutilated a child’s nipples while raping her.
Allegations so serious, his inner circle had to meet in the Situation Room to discuss them.

I mean, how the fuck isn’t this the biggest scandal in the world right now?