Problem: Spaghetti Junction.

The Spaghetti Junction redesign threatens to smother our waterfront and stifle our beloved city's redevelopment. Even if the final plan moves those hideous ribbons of concrete further south, they will still run like a dagger through our downtown. If you haven't done so lately, go drive the stretch from the old Male High School along St. Catherine to 7th Street. Take a look at those beautiful old buildings, and that beautiful old neighborhood. Then think to yourself how I-65 tore the heart out of that district.

I spent over a decade living in Europe and now I have a house in Montreal. I've seen firsthand what it means to build a real transportation system that lives in harmony with its community. It requires vision, real thinking, and yes, money. But it can be done.

Solution: 8664.

Tyler Allen's brilliant plan says it all. Read about it here. If you send me to Congress, I'll do everything that I can to redirect funding in support of the 8664 initiative. I'll also seek funding to improve public transit in Louisville - another essential element in our redevelopment. I am the only candidate in this race, Ms. Northup included, who supports the 8664 initiative.

Problem: Louisville's air.

In spite of recent progress, the EPA rates Louisville's air as the worst in the region. Mayor Jer is doing a great job attracting new business to the area, but the EPA statistics are an impediment to progress - you'd better believe that prospective employers look at the EPA's numbers.

Solution: 8664, better mass transit, and the Kyoto Protocol

Building the eastern bridge and eliminating I-64 through the city will help to reduce vehicle emissions, but only a little. We need better mass transit - A MASSIVE improvement in bus service using pollution-free vehicles would be a great start. And why not a light rail system across existing railroad bridges to serve commuters from southern Indiana? Adherence to the Kyoto Protocol will directly benefit Louisville as well. Let's be realistic; few if any signatories to the Kyoto Accord will meet their emissions targets, but signing the treaty at least signals a willingness to work on the issue with the world community. The United States should sign the treaty.

Question: Museum Plaza: Love it or Hate it?

As Mayor Jer says, it's bold, it's ambitious, it's striking. But it does push the architectural envelope, and people will either love it or hate it.

Answer: I LOVE IT!!

Does that make my position clear enough?  But don't listen to me; I'm just a poor, dumb engineer. Here's what an architect friend of mine in Montréal (whose judgment I trust implicitly) had to say about the project: "...the architecture looks spectacular..." As for the OMA architectural partnership that designed Museum Plaza, my friend says, "these guys have done great things..." This kind of reaction is precisely what the project is designed to inspire, folks. When people on the outside can look at our city and see great things, then we're doing something right.

Problem: Where to build a new arena?

Water Company or LG&E sites?

Solution: Steve is Wiser.

I've had to update this topic since events are moving more rapidly. That's a good thing. I favor the old Water Company site because it's so much cheaper and we can get started ten months sooner. Read Billy Reed's Leo article about it. (You may have to search for "arena" in the Features section). We can still build something grand on the old LG&E site - someday. But let's please hurry and build something before the Rickster retires :-).

Problem: Basic Infrastructure

To continue the revitalization of downtown, we need more young urban professionals to live there. Progress is being made, but we're a long way from reaching critical mass. Yuppies need to know that there will be grocery stores, markets, and good schools for their kids before they'll make any long-term commitments to live in the city.

Solution: More and better tax breaks for businesses that commit to our city

Of course there are business incentives available, most notably Community Development Block Grants. Let's expand that program by diverting funds away from the ridiculous war in Iraq and re-investing in our inner cities. Let's fund the construction of a new, charter, magnet school for downtown, and guarantee loans and tax breaks for grocery stores, bakeries, and meat markets that are willing to commit to our city. My wife and I have a vacation house in Montreal, in the heart of the city. I can walk from our place to great bakeries, grocery stores, and dozens of shops. I can walk to a Metro station - the same public transit system that runs in Paris - and ride it all over town. I want those same things for Louisville. We're making great progress, but we have a long way to go. You'd better believe that I'll fight in Washington to increase funding for our city's development.

This site was designed entirely by James W Moore, and I am the sole author of its contents. Since it runs on my own web server, I can legitimately claim that it was paid for by James W. Moore for Congress, even though I didn't charge myself.