Which is why we’re having a mixed reaction to this:

Today, I named Maria Koetter as the city’s first Director of Sustainability. She has more than 20 years in the environmental experience, most recently as the founder and owner of Louisville-based Bgreen2.

Koetter is great. There’s no doubting that. But….

We can afford another $100K salary but can’t afford trash pickup. We can afford another $100K salary but can’t afford to feed the animals at Metro Animal Services. Think on just those two things for a moment.

Shouldn’t sustainability be a function of government as it is? Without having to pay someone to tell you how not to be wasteful and ridiculous?

Strikes us as bizarre because there’s no reason this information couldn’t be obtained for free through any number of channels. Greg Fischer has tons of green-types in his immediate circle.

Maybe we’re reacting negatively because it’s Greg and he screws everything up. Just smells like more wasted money to us.

Dramatic evidence that the American dream is slipping further out of reach for far too many Americans, indeed. [Mother Jones]

Congressman John Yarmuth summed things up quite nicely yesterday. [Twitter]

Hilarious: One of Jane Driskell’s pals has been emailing us, telling us we have no clue what we’re talking about when it comes to Greg Fischer. HA! [Louisville Is Screwed]

Yep, Jerry Abramson’s past is being forever ignored by the mainstream media. The Democrats, who have hated him for years, are suddenly in love. [Page One]

It’s interesting watching FOX41 (still WDRB? no affiliate?) report on the WAVE3 Heitz situation without ever mention that station brought the story to life. [FOX41]

Jake’s kitchen leads people to believe he is 100% Indian so Diwali is something he’d want us to mention. [Consuming Louisville]

That’s leadership, transparency and change you can believe in. Here you go. It’s Greg Fischer. Defending his decision NOT to fire Mike Heitz for getting caught as he was about to drive his city vehicle after drinking. Even though he only stopped because he got caught. Told ya he didn’t have the courage to do the right thing. At least EMS – with its embarrassing leader – knows when to can people for bad behavior. [WAVE3]

Humana has apparently improved in Newsweek’s “green” rankings. Maybe more local companies should follow this lead. [Business First]

Call us heartless for not being surprised that daytime violence like this is occurring at a Cordish joint. [WHAS11]

How does your local Clear Channel affiliate cover the Occupy Wall Street protests? By saying they’re all rioting. [84WHAS]

Hope you trust your Metro Councilcritters. Because they’re redrawing council districts and will vote on the final map today. [WLKY]

A whopping 62% of Jefferson County Public Schools students receive assistance with meals. That’s more than food for thought. [C-J/AKN]

Today Congressman John Yarmuth will cosponsor HR1905, the Iran Threat Reduction Act. It strengthens sanctions against Iran and closes loopholes in current energy and financial sanctions. [Press Release]

This is how the University of Kentucky tries to silence its faculty members who speak up and ask questions. At the very least, this is how it tries to slow them down. Does this go on at the University of Louisville? You bet. [H-L]

Metro Animal Services knows this dog died as a result of an illness (as so many do) it contract at LMAS facilities and is still refusing to cover its vet bills. Justin Scally maybe isn’t working out so well for your image, is he, Greg? [WAVE3]

Here you go. Here’s more of Greg Fischer and the Democrats making all of their moves with organized labor 100% secret and not open to public scrutiny. Your tax dollars at work. [C-J/AKN]

We tend to dislike the death penalty because it’s the easy way out. The fact that this guy is begging to be killed right away illustrates that. [FOX41]

How many months will it be before Greg Fischer rides that bicycle to work again? [Broken Sidewalk]

Jack Conway’s brain is melting (no, not from the bleach/Sun-In) because Sullivan University, a for-profit school, is the subject of some positive press about reducing its carbon footprint. Sure, Sullivan probably paid for it/got it for being an advertiser, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t melting Jack’s brain. [WHAS11]

The Belknap Fall Festival is this Friday and Saturday and you should probably be there. [Consuming Louisville]

Teddy Gordon says it’s time for Jefferson County Public Schools to end litigation. What do you think? Should our tax dollars continue to be spent to fight a losing court battle? [WLKY]

The longer this orchestra mess goes on, the more people develop a negative attitude toward the musicians and the orchestra. It’s an embarrassment for this city. They’re behaving like Greg Fischer’s new Animal Services guy. [FOX41]

CLICK TO ENLARGE

She rode around on an electric Hustler Zeon Lawn Mower at the Billy Goat Hill Community Garden to show off the latest in green technology.

“This is a very important day for the district as we move forward with our Green Triangle initiative,” said Ward-Pugh. “If we are serious about being good stewards of our environment and creating sustainable solutions, this lawn mower is a logical choice to help the community garden.”

She purchased the mower for the garden in the 9th District with Neighborhood Development Funds. It mows more than an acre on a single charge.

“No gas to spill, no fumes to pollute and a lot less noise in something as basic as mowing grass,” said Ward-Pugh. “This mower is an important step towards the day when everyone will be able to breathe air free from pollution, and enjoy a quiet afternoon free from a roaring lawnmower machine. The next step is to find ways to power this mower from renewable energy sources as well as reducing the amount of grass to be mowed!”

Why Greg Fischer needed to be there is beyond us. His quotes have been ignored.

Here’s the Associated Press version of the Steve Pence story. [H-L]

40% of Republicans say that President Barack Obama wasn’t born in the United States. And with that, mouth-breathers unite. [Slate]

Jefferson County Public Schools now has 16 hybrid electric school buses. [FOX41]

Welcome to Kentucky, the 8th-least green state in the country. More stats for us to be proud of. [HuffPo]

Census roundup: mixed news for Louisville. Branden Klayko is alive! [Broken Sidewalk]

Greg Fischer says he’s optimistic about saving 5 of 7 of the Iron Quarter buildings. It’s a shame no one is holding their breath at this point. [C-J/AKN]

What? Even more great coffee roasters in Louisville? This is why Louisville can have nice things. [Consuming Louisville]

Everything in Louisville is all flooded out. When will the rain stop? [WAVE3]

It was so rainy Saturday we almost can’t believe the Easter Parade went on. [WHAS11]

What are your thoughts on Rand Paul’s Social Security “plan”? [Page One]

So check this out:

The little things can add up and make a difference when it comes to preserving the Earth, says Gill Holland of Louisville, Kentucky. Holland took his commitment to saving the planet to the theaters with a movie, FLOW: For Love of Water.

“The good thing is anybody can make a ‘green’ movie now,” he said, challenging kids to go out and write their own stories and make their own films. “You can go out and make one on a phone and post it to the Internet tomorrow.”

The movie takes on the politics of water and won several film festival awards, including two Best Documentary awards.

Holland’s commitment goes beyond his moving making, too. His offices and his home are both green buildings. He and his wife Augusta renovated a 116-year-old building, transforming it into a modernized, sustainable home for his office, an art gallery, and restaurant.

To see someone we know in Scholastic brings out our inner child and flashbacks to the Weekly Reader. Gill will likely roll his eyes at this post, but let’s get real. It kind of is a big deal when even the kids are paying attention to the efforts you’re making.

Also nice to see Louisville get some positive press with the youngins!

From 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. all five locations will hand out (while supplies last) will hand out the Kentucky-grown seedlings – 400 Eastern Redbuds (these are gorgeous!) and 400 Gray Dogwoods. No purchase is necessary.

“Rainbow Blossom is happy to join the millions of people across the world this Earth Day demonstrating their commitment to earth stewardship. Giving away trees is a fun, interactive thing that we can do to celebrate Earth Day with our customers,” says Summer Auerbach, the chief operating officer of RB.

Seriously. Get on this. Redbuds are amazing:

They’re part of what makes Eastern Kentucky so beautiful.

The Tennessee Valley Authority will pay a $10 million penalty and shut down more coal plants in an agreement with the EPA. [H-L]

A new proposal from the developers/redevelopers of Kentucky Kingdom will ask the city for less money. [FOX41]

Here’s what Governor Steve Beshear and Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo had to say about Beshear’s testimony before the U.S. Congress yesterday. [Page One]

I know this is bad behavior but it’s typical of teenagers. So what’s the big deal? Why should his future as a football player be in doubt over this? [Deadspin]

Your congresspeople need to hear from you this morning. Make your voice heard. [KYA]

Today at 11:00 A.M. Governor Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear will attend the ‘They’re Off!’ luncheon at the Galt House. [Press Release]

Food advocates are none too happy with Greg Fischer’s media appearance at a West End McDonald’s. Can we say hot mess? [WFPL]

The rising Ohio River is causing concern among Thunder goers and is greatly impacting activities in Southern Indiana. [WAVE3]

Is this another contender in the Bardstown Road/Baxter Avenue pizza war? Can anything top what we’ve already got? [Consuming Louisville]

The entire city is freaking out over Trader Joe’s. Freaking out. Even people who don’t know what it is. [WHAS11]

David Tandy and Tina Ward-Pugh will be on-hand.

Artist Eli Noyes has done a great job, eh?

While we’re at it, take a look at this cool cancellation the USPS will be using in honor of The Green Building:

See? Good things can happen in Louisville.

The funds, according to the Governor’s Office, are from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act.

13 refuse haulers will be retrofitted with Diesel Particulate Filters and Closed Crankcase Ventilation Systems that reduce particulate matter emissions by 90%.

“We are excited about this award and the opportunity to take another step toward a more air-friendly fleet,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “Sanitation trucks are on the roads nearly every day throughout our community, so reducing emissions from these vehicles will benefit us all. Metro Government must set an example when it comes to improving Louisville’s air quality, and this project is a big step in the right direction.”

This isn’t horrible news, right?

In other news, mouth-breathers want to send the EPA to its grave.