BUILD updates

Transportation: We met with Mr. Butler with Lextran and CM Ellinger. We heard Mr Butler say that the microtransit feasibility study is going well. They are about the halfway point. We asked if he was committed to a pilot and he said, “Lextran is committed depending on the outcome of the study. If it's feasible he is committed to doing it.” We asked who has the decision making power and he said ultimately the Lextran Board. We asked for a meeting with them.

- The next piece is community engagement. Meeting with BUILD is part of that. Don't want to just do a public hearing where the same people show up.

- Lextran to Host an event at the senior center

- Depending on where the zones are being targeted– community centers there.

- Active neighborhood associations

- Online survey – will be pushed nextdoor, online, engage Lexington platform

Mr Butler said that the study is scheduled to be finished early June. CM Ellinger said that the Lexington budget is being worked on now. If he is to ask for funding for microtransit he needs to know how much to ask for. He would need an amount by around mid-April. We asked Mr. Butler if that is possible and he said yes!

We also met with new CM Morton recently. He supports microtransit and plans to support CM Ellinger when he brings the funding request to council. 

We are meeting with a new Council Member Hale on TH, March 13 at 1:00 at Shiloh.

Also on March 18th, we are meeting with new CM Boone on Zoom. pre-meeting at 11am.

In these meetings with Council Members we are telling them about all 3 of our campaigns. 

Eldercare: BUILD helped secure city funding to get a study and that is currently being done by UK researchers. They are working with A Caring Place, Lexington’s first Village. This work will help to grow support for those in Lexington needing some assistance to age at home as long as possible. 

Rental Concerns: This is our first year working on this issue and it is a big one! After numerous research meetings with professionals in the city government, homeless services, housing advocacy groups, landlords, tenant groups and others, the committee decided to narrow the problem to the condition of rental housing. 

At MQ’s Network Assembly Feb. 24 Greg Williams, retired principal at James Lane Allen, told of 5 apartment complexes on Davenport Dr being recently condemned and all those families had to find new housing. Many of those families go to MQ. 

To prepare for the Nehemiah Action, where we will ask our city officials for specific ways to make Lexington a better place for us all, all Justice Ministry Network Members will gather at MQ for the Rally, April 1, 7 PM. Here we will get the latest updates on what we will ask at the Nehemiah Action and the officials that we will be asking. 

Then, to win the necessary help for our neighbors we need LOTS of people at the May 6 Nehemiah Action at Central Bank Center. Plan to attend! We will carpool from MQ at 6. Action starts at 7. Mark your calendars, more information will be coming. 

Contact Kabby for more information. ([email protected].)