Rachel Greenberg's presence in City Hall is a positive thing for Louisville. Not nepotism.
Being Mayor of Louisville is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week job. It can take both a toll on the officeholder and his/her family. On behalf of my constituents and the Metro Council, I want to say thank you to Rachel Greenberg for taking an active role as First Lady of Louisville. It’s a positive thing for the Mayor and a positive thing for Louisville. There are a thousand other things she could be doing with her time, including taking a paying job somewhere, but instead she is choosing to be an unpaid volunteer and leading initiatives to help make Louisville a better city.
Don't clear out homeless camps. We dehumanize the unhoused by trashing their only belongings.
I have been the Metro Councilperson for District 26 for 15 years. I am an attorney, have chaired the Government Oversight and Accountability Committee for years, had input into the current Louisville Ethics Ordinance, and I do not see the active role as First Lady as a violation of Louisville’s anti-nepotism ordinance (LMCO § 21.04). Rachel Greenberg is neither on the city’s payroll nor does she hold an appointed position in her husband’s administration. Transparency being important in government, we appreciate that she has a city email account, computer and phone. The use of these items for the volunteer work and the initiatives she does for this city makes her role even more transparent and documented. Regarding having a parking spot close to Metro Hall, we understand the importance of her safety, just as important as the Mayor’s safety.
There have been some negative opinions stated and questions raised recently about her active role as First Lady. We hope that such does not discourage her from continuing as is. Her chosen volunteer involvement is a tremendous asset for us. It would be a loss for Louisville should we let the naysayers divert her from the work she is doing for Louisville. We thank Rachel for staying the course and being a volunteer champion for Louisville.
Brent T. Ackerson, Louisville Metro Councilman, District 26. Ackerson was first elected as the 26th District Councilman in 2008 and was re-elected in 2012, 2016, and again in 2020.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville first lady Greenberg isn't violating laws by volunteering
