FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

January 17, 2023      

You Decide, Kentucky! Road Show spans state to spread message, hits Northern Kentucky for tenth stop in six months

Louisville, Ky. — You Decide, Kentucky! (YDK!), the statewide initiative that supports modernizing the Kentucky Constitution to give the General Assembly the authority to implement revenue diversification at the local level, will hit double digits this month of stops in their event series around the Commonwealth, launched in September.

The organization launched in 2020, and in September 2022 Lena Muldoon was hired as its first full-time Executive Director. That same month the group, focused on educating the public on the need to remove the constraints of Section 181 of Kentucky’s Constitution and empowering Kentuckians to decide what revenue streams will improve the quality of life in their communities, launched the ‘YDK! Road Show’ aimed at spreading awareness of their mission through speaking engagements of all sizes across the state.

So far, the Road Show has stopped in Lexington, Prestonsburg, Owensboro, Corbin, Madisonville, Hopkinsville, Frankfort, Covington, and Louisville to speak with local chambers, breakfast clubs, elected officials, economic development councils, and more to educate local residents and organizations to imagine the possibilities and work together to improve their hometowns – ultimately ensuring that the potential constitutional amendment passes on the ballot.

YDK! Road Show’s next stops include speaking to the Northern Kentucky Chamber Business Advocacy Council on Thursday, Jan. 26, and to the Elizabethtown/Hardin County Industrial Foundation on Thursday, Apr. 20.

The constitution, which requires legislative action and then a voter-approved ballot referendum to amend, currently prevents local municipalities from options to help them compete, grow, and thrive. YDK! works to spread the message that local decisions and local investments can transform communities.

The Kentucky House and Senate must pass legislation to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot with a three-fifths majority in each chamber. Such legislation has received overwhelming support in previous legislative sessions. Once passed, voters would then decide the referendum on an even-numbered year general election ballot. If voters agree, legislators could then debate and enact bills in an upcoming session to modernize revenue options for cities and counties.

Any inquiries for public speaking engagements or presentations may be directed to lena@youdecideky.org.

Contact:

Jenny Recktenwald

You Decide, Kentucky!

502.994.9167

youdecidekentucky@gmail.com

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