LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It's nearly one year in office for Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, and he believes his administration already has 'reset the tone' of the city and set the foundation for years to come.
"We have planted some pretty impactful seeds this year that are going to sprout in the future, and people are going to start to see new libraries open, parks being redeveloped, new housing projects that are opening up where more people can live affordably," Greenberg told WHAS11 in a sit-down interview Thursday, recounting significant moments since being sworn in Jan. 2, 2023.
Increased government and police transparency was a major campaign promise for Greenberg, who ran on the pledge that he'd help make Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) the "most trusted and well-trained" agency in the country.
When asked if transparency with the community is at a level he's pleased with, the mayor answered: "We are making significant improvements so that LMPD is a more transparent organization. When there is an officer-involved shooting, we are now releasing the body cam footage within 10 [business] days."
He also touted his administration's effort at revamping the city's open records request system, which has been known for delays and still is dealing with backlogs, citing five new positions added to the department to increase response times.
When asked for his biggest regret since taking office, Greenberg talked about his frustration with the struggle to get more illegal guns off the street, echoing what LMPD Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel has said at multiple news conferences at officer-involved shootings in recent months.
"But our city's hands are tied by state and federal laws that will not let us do more, and that's why you'll see me in Frankfort next year," Greenberg said.
One of the mayor's major requests to state lawmakers is to give Louisville's government more autonomy to change local gun laws.
When asked whether any Kentucky GOP leadership has voiced consideration for that kind of action, Greenberg responded, "I am more optimistic about some of the other areas of our legislative agenda."
He's referencing his goal to bring universal pre-K to every 3 and 4 year old in Louisville, another campaign promise.
Greenberg, alongside his Early Learning Action Group formed in June, is set to unveil that plan and pitch to Kentucky lawmakers in January -- asking for millions in annual state funding.
"I am optimistic, because state leaders see the same research that I do," he said. "And they see that early childhood education is great for kids and it's also great for their parents. It helps them reenter the workforce. It helps them participate in our growing economy."
And we had to ask about the looming federal consent decree, of which Greenberg says the city still hasn't received a first draft. Louisville will eventually be under watch by the U.S. Department of Justice.
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When asked if it has surprised the mayor how long it's taking the feds to send over the draft, Greenberg said it's taken longer than he expected.
"We've asked questions -- when is it coming? And we haven't gotten guidance on when we can expect the first draft yet either," he told WHAS11.
WHAS11 also asked Greenberg whether he and LMPD's chief are on the same page when it comes to the findings in the DOJ report, with Gwinn-Villaroel at one point referencing them as 'allegations' during testimony in a separate trial.
Greenberg has often said the findings will work as a 'blueprint' for reform within the police department.
"Yes, we're on the same page. We accept those findings, and we are now focused on moving forward," Greenberg said.
Greenberg predicts a lot of the investments made in 2023 will pay dividends in the years to come.
WHAS11 is told the final version of his affordable housing plan, penned 'My Louisville Home', is likely to be released in January. Meanwhile, the mayor unveiled the final version of his strategy to boost Louisville's economy last week. You can find those details here.
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