16 responses so far ↓

• 1 Chris // Aug 25, 2011 at 12:39 pm

  “I don’t think it’s productive for us to second guess the mayor and his new hire.”

  As this article says, no one is suggesting that the mayor should be micro-managed. But isn’t this kind of like saying it isn’t productive for the FAA to second-guess the airlines. What is the role of the Council if not to provide wisdom, maturity, and good sense, and to shepherd the progress of the city.

• 2 Laura // Aug 25, 2011 at 12:49 pm

  Hey Jim- just drive on out to Manslick unannounced- what are you afraid of? That they won’t be on their ultra best behavior for your visit? That you might see something going on that you should actually do something about?? This mayor has had ample time to make this right- it is painfully obvious that he needs oversight. I would love to know how many animals have suffered without medication, clean cages, lack of food and in general neglect and how many have been needlessly euthanized while the mayor and metro council sit and wait either for a miracle or for everyone to forget what is going on. It ain’t going to happen. Just how spineless do you have to be to sit on Metro Council?

  I live in Jims district and I can tell you the only thing that might get me to vote for him next time is some measurable change and progress at LMAS- if Jim helps to make sure that happens, great- because he certainly does nothing for our neighborhood.

• 3 Eileen // Aug 25, 2011 at 4:38 pm

  The main problem with the new hire is that there’s plenty of evidence he can’t do what Fischer promised and what the Council approved, which was to make LMAS “no kill”–meaning that only irredeemably suffering and vicious animals are euthanized (what happens now is not euthanasia; it is convenience killing). Hiring a guy with a record of killing 80% to “transform” LMAS is like hiring someone from Monsanto to manage a farm’s conversion to organic. It’s like hiring junior management from Exxon to manage your conversion from petroleum to solar power. It’s like hiring Yum! management to oversee your child nutrition program.

  They may have some of the same knowledge base, but they have completely different worldviews and values.

  We need Jim King and every other Council member to speak up at their meeting AND go on TV to
  1. Re-affirm the commitment to no kill,
  2. Let the public know that they can save dogs and cats by adopting from LMAS, fostering, volunteering, or donating, and let LMAS management and staff know that saving lives is top priority and not to create barriers by doing things like sending potential adopters to Animal House if they come to Manslick, and
  3. Demand an independent investigation into animal cruelty charges at LMAS.

  Then council members should go visit the Manslick shelter, unannounced. And direct some of their discretionary funding there, with or without advertising credit. Jim King, Jake’s right, you have some power: use it to stop the slaughter.

• 4 Chris // Aug 25, 2011 at 4:50 pm

  The letter just strikes me as being dishearteningly aloof and insubstantial. Jim King is a fighter and dog lover, he tells us, but he is unmoved by the story of Blue, the puppy (LMAS ID# A439479) that allegedly lay on a concrete floor with a broken leg, untreated, for five days. By the time rescue organizations were notified about Blue, he was one day away from his scheduled death. By the time a rescue, foster, and sponsor came forward, he was hours away from his scheduled death. And by the time the foster went to pick him up, it was too late. Blue was gone.

  What happened? Kelly Downard would like to know, but Jim King so far seems unbothered by allegations of animal neglect and cruelty, which as Kelly Downard points out, have been out there for months, if not years. Why not second Kelly Downard’s call for action?

  Everyone knows the big problems at LMAS are systemic. There is a culture of dysfunction, low morale, secrecy, and systematic killing. Some long-term strategies are needed to turn LMAS around, not simple tweaks and adjustments here and there, and especially not hyperbole like, “We’re gonna be world-class.”

  So what are those strategies? What is the strategy for checks and balances on animal abuse? What is the strategy for moving animals quickly into rescue rather than just killing them?

  The council could certainly ask these kinds of questions. Jim King could ask these kinds of questions.

• 5 Roger // Aug 25, 2011 at 6:50 pm

  Hey, Jim. Maybe you should get ready for a fight, because that’s exactly what is needed. If you can’t effectively legislate, try calling him out and embarrassing him daily.

  Our mayor has sat with his thumb up his ass for most of a year. The smile on his face seems to have encouraged the council to join him.

  What a damned embarrassment. Every freaking one of you.

• 6 WTFking // Aug 25, 2011 at 10:50 pm

  Hey Jimmy boy,

  Ask your wife, who I think is on the Zoo’s board, if the USDA shows up announced or unannounced to inspect the Zoo and it’s large collection of animals? I bet they just show up. When is the last time someone of authority to inspect LMAS? I bet never. Jim you should read the article in the Aug. 24th NYT about governing instead of being focused on re election. If you don’t have backbone then borrow your daughters. She did a pretty good job earning respect in her courtroom about month ago or so ago

• 7 brian // Aug 26, 2011 at 6:36 am

  Jake, why dont you volunteer your time to piss or get off the pot? You wanna bash LMAS all of the time, but I dont see you getting off of your ass to try to do anything other than to piss and moan about it here. What a waste of internet!

• 8 jake // Aug 26, 2011 at 7:04 am

  “brian” – Because I already do…? And adopted? Which you already know, because this is something you can’t stop foaming at the mouth over:

  
  CLICK TO ENLARGE
  

  If it’s so unimportant, why on earth are you STILL reading about it and commenting about it? Common sense would lead folks to believe you’re part of the problem.

• 9 JTT // Aug 26, 2011 at 7:35 am

  I am glad people are volunteering, but you know, it really should not be necessary for the day to day functions of the job – which is properly caring for the critters. That’s like saying, we don’t have enough dispatchers today, could someone please show up and help us out for a few hours on the radio? Or could you donate a few trash bags for the trash cans at City Hall?

• 10 slug // Aug 26, 2011 at 10:08 am

  readers are somewhat correct. chronic complaining about these issues isn’t going to change anything. the king’s, owen’s, fischer’s are immune to this. i find it ironic that king uses our form of government to hide behind (he’s legislative and LMAS is executive branch’s problem). he has used this same excuse in response to emails i have sent him. none of them have the balls to call anyone out – because they don’t want to be called out! all of this results in stagnation and misadministration

  only way to change things is on election day and get these a-holes out of there. honestly, until someone steps up and begins requiring some governmental accountability, they are all useless.

• 11 jake // Aug 26, 2011 at 10:16 am

  Standard complaining doesn’t solve much, really.

  But constructive criticism on a site like this and regular discussion of the problems can and does spur action on the part of government and law enforcement.

  Unfortunately, it just takes years to get people to do anything.

• 12 Eileen // Aug 26, 2011 at 10:29 am

  Advocating, lobbying, researching, and calling attention to the issues on an ongoing basis help get people informed to choose better candidates. More knowledgeable, engaged citizens make better choices. The continued killing and suffering at LMAS, and politicians’ stonewalling, are galvanizing people to find out about how government works (or doesn’t).

  Did you know that Kentucky is one of the few states with no provisions to recall elected officials? I’m sure Jake knows, but do others? One very frustrated LMAS volunteer sought out that information. The mayor and council would be quite alarmed if they realized just how much we’re learning in the course of our so far fruitless attempts to bring about real change at LMAS. Since they don’t really care about it one way or the other, they would be much better off just putting in the money and good leadership to make the place “no kill.” Then they could go back to ignoring it and the advocates would leave them alone. As it is, volunteers are getting engaged in government, and I think that the last thing elected officials in Louisville want is more informed and engaged citizens.

• 13 The Highlander // Aug 26, 2011 at 11:02 am

  Jake’s absolutely on target with this last observation. This city is plagued by ‘latent inertia.’ It’s been suffering from that plague for decades. Anyone who’s ever stood up to the ‘powers that be’ and challenged their prerogatives (as they view them) has been severely chastised and deplored (depending on the subject involved). If it’s a position against the busing plan, then anyone who challenges it is a racist. If its a position against one of their political favorites, then anyone who challenges one of those is ‘ignorant.’
  This cite/blog is refreshing because it’s willing to challenge the ‘inertia-ridden’ mess around here.

• 14 Bill // Aug 26, 2011 at 11:13 am

  Reading the comments of Jim King makes me glad that I didn’t vote for him. In fact, I didn’t vote for Fischer either despite being a registered Democrat of 20 years. These clowns are the most unaccountable and truly backwards City Council I’ve seen in my travels. It would be nice to note that for once these people would get their head out of their ass. There are a few council members willing to do that but very few and shenanigans of the majority keep things the same.

  If they don’t want to do their job to represent the citizens of Louisville, then its time for them to get out and start doing their job they get paid 45k a year to do. Pretty decent change for raising a few votes and doing basically nothing for many of them. I don’t think all of them are bad people or stupid, they just are lackadaisical in their interest to do their job and usually in private business that means you get fired. One can tolerate mistakes if they are truly a case of quick judgment where one makes a hasty decision. This case is years of non-interest in doing a job they are paid to do and that is to represent the best interests of all the people in Louisville. Having been over to the Manslick shelter a few times, I think they need to grow some and step out and pay the shelter a visit. After all, it is being ran with our tax dollars and that in itself should get the interest of Mr. King and the rest.

  Its time to toss these bozos that don’t want to do the job. Same as they are pretending to do with Judy Green. Sit back and watch them cower when her trial comes up and she finally spills the load of manure all over the Council chambers. I don’t think it is going to be pretty but it will be necessary and then maybe enough people will take notice. That’s a dream but you never know. What I will say, is that what really needs to be done is to bombard your council members with letters and emails and phone calls. That’s the only way anything will ever get done.

• 15 Turner // Aug 26, 2011 at 1:38 pm

  Jake, I missed the comments of Kelly Downard. Where can I find them? Thanks.

• 16 jake // Aug 26, 2011 at 2:15 pm

  Click here for the Downard story.

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