Day in the Life Stories

How These Policies Change Real Lives

See the difference in everyday Louisville

Kentucky historic district – real neighborhoods, real stories – Photo by Kelly

A Day in the Life: How the Budget Changes Your Louisville

Same Money. Different Day. Better Life.

Budget Version: 3.1 ($1.2 billion)
Updated: October 12, 2025

INTRODUCTION

Numbers in a budget don’t tell the whole story. So let’s tell the human story.

Here’s what a day in Louisville looks like under Mayor the current current budget versus what it would look like under Dave Biggers’ budget – same $1.2 billion total, completely different experience for real people.

These aren’t hypotheticals. Every scenario below is based on actual Louisville residents and real challenges they face. Only the names have been changed.

Same money. Different priorities. Better Louisville.

MORNING: GETTING KIDS TO SCHOOL

JENNIFER, Single Mother in Russell (West Louisville)

#### UNDER THE CURRENT BUDGET (Current Louisville):

6:45 AM – Jennifer’s alarm goes off. She’s exhausted – worked late at her second job at the UPS warehouse. Her son Tyler, 8, had trouble sleeping. He heard gunshots last night on West Muhammad Ali Boulevard.

7:15 AM – Jennifer walks Tyler to school down West Madison Street. The route passes three abandoned houses. Last month, someone was robbed near one of them. She holds his hand tightly and walks fast.

7:30 AM – At the school crossing on 26th Street, cars blow through the zone at 45 mph. There’s supposed to be a crossing guard, but the position hasn’t been filled in months. Jennifer waits for a gap in traffic and practically drags Tyler across.

7:35 AM – Tyler is safely at Wheatley Elementary, but Jennifer is anxious. There was another fight at the school this week. The resource officer can’t be everywhere. She worries all day about 3pm when Tyler will walk home alone while she’s at her shift.

Jennifer’s day: Anxiety about Tyler’s safety. No after-school options she can afford. Constant worry.

#### UNDER BIGGERS’ BUDGET (Prevention-First Louisville):

6:45 AM – Jennifer’s alarm goes off. She slept better – the mini police substation opened on 28th Street three months ago. Officer Rodriguez walks the beat every evening. Crime in Russell has dropped 22% already.

7:15 AM – Jennifer walks Tyler to school past the mini substation. Officer Rodriguez is outside, waving to neighbors. “Morning, Jennifer! Morning, Tyler!” Tyler waves back excitedly. He knows Officer Rodriguez from the community barbecue the substation hosted last month.

7:30 AM – At the school crossing on 26th Street, traffic actually slows down. The automated speed cameras went in six weeks ago, and word spread fast. The crossing guard, Mrs. Patterson, waves them across safely. “Have a great day, Tyler!”

7:35 AM – Tyler is at Wheatley Elementary. Jennifer doesn’t worry – he’ll stay for the after-school program (basketball, art, and homework help until 6pm when Jennifer gets off work). He’s safer there than home alone, and he’s thriving. His grades are up.

Jennifer’s day: Peace of mind. Tyler is safe, supervised, and learning. She can focus on work.

THE BUDGET DIFFERENCE:
– Mini substation in Russell: $650K annually (part of 46 substations = $30M over 4 years)
– School zone safety program: $5M citywide (30 schools with automated cameras)
– After-school programs expanded: Part of $55M youth development investment
– Net cost: $0 – Same total budget as the current, just reallocated from administrative overhead

MIDDAY: DEALING WITH A CRISIS

MARCUS, Unemployed Veteran in Okolona, Struggling with PTSD

#### UNDER THE CURRENT BUDGET (Current Louisville):

11:30 AM – Marcus is having a bad day in his apartment off Preston Highway. PTSD is hitting hard – panic attacks, flashbacks from Afghanistan. He needs help but doesn’t know where to turn. His VA benefits don’t cover enough therapy sessions.

12:00 PM – He calls 911, desperate. Dispatch sends two LMPD officers. They mean well, but they’re not trained mental health professionals. They see Marcus is armed (legal gun owner, concealed carry permit). The situation gets tense.

12:30 PM – Marcus is in handcuffs, being taken to University Hospital ER for psychiatric evaluation. He’s treated like a criminal instead of a veteran in crisis. The ER wait is 6 hours. He’ll get a massive bill he can’t afford. The cycle continues.

6:00 PM – Marcus is released from the ER with a prescription for meds he can’t afford and a card for a therapist who doesn’t take his insurance and has a 3-month waitlist. He’s humiliated, angry, and still in crisis. Next time, he won’t call 911.

Marcus’s day: Crisis became trauma. System failed him. He’s worse off than when he started.

#### UNDER BIGGERS’ BUDGET (Prevention-First Louisville):

11:30 AM – Marcus is having a bad day in his apartment. PTSD is hitting hard. But he has the number for the Community Wellness Center that opened on Preston Highway last year – his neighbor who’s also a vet told him about it.

12:00 PM – He walks to the wellness center (7 minutes from his apartment complex). The receptionist recognizes signs of crisis and immediately gets him with Angela, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in veteran mental health and PTSD.

12:30 PM – Angela does a crisis intervention session with Marcus. She’s trained in trauma-informed care. She helps him through the panic attack, provides coping strategies, and schedules him for ongoing therapy sessions starting tomorrow – all covered by the wellness center.

1:30 PM – Marcus leaves the center feeling heard and helped. Angela also connected him with the center’s job placement program – they’re working with local employers to hire veterans. He has an interview lined up with a warehouse on Outer Loop next week.

Three months later – Marcus is working full-time. He’s in weekly therapy. His PTSD is more manageable. He hasn’t had a crisis severe enough to need emergency services in 90 days. He’s mentoring another vet through the program.

Marcus’s day: Crisis became care. System supported him. He’s on a path to recovery.

THE BUDGET DIFFERENCE:
– Community Wellness Center in Okolona: Part of $45M wellness investment (18 centers at $2.5M each)
– Mental health crisis team: Part of $7M mobile crisis program
– Cost to James: $0
– Cost to taxpayers: Every $1 in wellness center saves $5.60 in healthcare costs within 5 years
– Net result: Prevention is cheaper AND more effective than crisis response

AFTERNOON: YOUTH AT RISK

JORDAN, 16-Year-Old Student at Doss High School (Newburg)

#### UNDER THE CURRENT BUDGET (Current Louisville):

3:00 PM – School lets out at Doss High. Jordan’s home on Fern Valley Road is empty – his mom works until 7pm at the Amazon warehouse. His dad isn’t in the picture.

3:30 PM – Jordan hangs out with friends on the corner of Fern Valley and Bardstown. There’s nothing to do. No programs. No jobs. Just time to kill.

4:30 PM – Some older guys from the neighborhood pull up. They offer Jordan $50 to deliver a package across town. He knows what’s in it. He’s done it before. The money helps his mom with rent.

5:30 PM – Jordan delivers the package. He’s anxious the whole time – what if police stop him? But his mom needs the money, and legitimate jobs for 16-year-olds don’t exist in his neighborhood.

6:00 PM – Jordan’s back on the corner with $50 cash. His friends respect him. The older guys say they might have more work for him. Jordan knows this path leads nowhere good, but what choice does he have?

Jordan’s trajectory: Deeper into illegal economy. High risk of arrest, injury, or worse. Limited legitimate opportunities.

#### UNDER BIGGERS’ BUDGET (Prevention-First Louisville):

3:00 PM – School lets out at Doss High. Jordan heads to the after-school program in the cafeteria – basketball practice, then homework help with the math tutor.

3:30 PM – Jordan’s on the court playing pickup with 20 other students. Coach Thompson, who’s also a mentor in the youth program, is working with him on his jump shot. More importantly, they talk about Jordan’s future.

4:30 PM – After basketball, Jordan hits the homework room. A volunteer tutor helps him with algebra. His grades have gone from C’s to B’s since he started the program three months ago.

5:30 PM – The job counselor stops by. She’s working with Jordan on his resume – he’s applying for a summer youth job through the city’s program. 3,000 positions for Louisville teens. $15/hour for 30 hours/week. Jordan’s interview is next week.

6:00 PM – Jordan’s mom picks him up. He’s excited about the job interview and tells her about basketball practice. She’s not worried about what he’s doing between 3-7pm anymore – she knows he’s safe, supervised, and building a future.

Summer, three months later – Jordan gets the job working with Louisville Metro Parks. He’s saving for college. He’s off the corner. He’s on a path.

Jordan’s trajectory: Legitimate opportunities. Positive mentorship. Future with possibilities.

THE BUDGET DIFFERENCE:
– After-school programs (3-7pm): $15M citywide (serving 15,000 youth daily)
– Summer youth jobs: $12M (3,000 positions at $15/hour)
– Mentorship programs: $8M (one-on-one support)
– Cost per Jordan: ~$2,500/year
– Savings if Jordan avoids juvenile justice system: ~$150,000
– Net result: 35% reduction in youth crime among program participants

EVENING: PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY

TANYA, Domestic Violence Victim in Buechel

#### UNDER THE CURRENT BUDGET (Current Louisville):

8:00 PM – Maria’s boyfriend is drunk and violent at their apartment on Bardstown Road. This has happened before. She’s terrified but doesn’t know what to do. She has two young kids in the next room.

8:30 PM – Neighbor calls 911. Two LMPD officers arrive. They separate Maria and her boyfriend. He’s arrested for assault. Officers mean well but they’re not social workers. They tell Maria about a domestic violence hotline and leave.

9:00 PM – Maria is alone with her kids in the apartment. Her boyfriend will be out on bail tomorrow. She has no family in Louisville. She doesn’t know where to go. She’s scared to go to a shelter – what about her job? Her kids’ school?

9:30 PM – Maria knows he’ll come back. The pattern will repeat. She feels trapped. The cycle of violence continues.

Three months later – Another incident. This one worse. Maria ends up in the ER. Kids are traumatized. Still no real help or resources.

Maria’s situation: Crisis management. Band-aids. Cycle unbroken.

#### UNDER BIGGERS’ BUDGET (Prevention-First Louisville):

8:00 PM – Maria’s boyfriend is drunk and violent at their apartment. She’s terrified. She has the crisis hotline number from the wellness center posted on her fridge.

8:30 PM – She calls the crisis line. A trained domestic violence counselor answers and dispatches a co-responder team: one LMPD officer (Officer Chen) AND one social worker (Monica) who specializes in domestic violence.

9:00 PM – The team arrives. Officer Chen handles the boyfriend (arrested for assault). Monica focuses on Maria. She does a safety assessment, talks to the kids, explains options, and connects Maria with emergency resources immediately.

9:30 PM – Monica gets Maria and the kids into emergency housing at a domestic violence shelter (bed available that night). She helps Maria file for an emergency protective order. She connects Maria with the wellness center’s social worker who will help her navigate next steps: long-term housing, legal help, counseling.

Next week – Maria is in a safe apartment (subsidized through the program). She’s in counseling for trauma. Her kids are seeing a child therapist. She has a safety plan. She’s connected to legal aid. The cycle is broken.

Three months later – Maria has a protective order. She’s working full-time. Her kids are stabilizing. She’s not going back. She has support.

Maria’s situation: Real help. Comprehensive support. New life possible.

THE BUDGET DIFFERENCE:
– Co-responder teams (police + social worker): Part of $7M mental health crisis program
– Wellness center social services: Part of $45M wellness investment
– Domestic violence resources: Part of $7M social services budget
– Cost per intervention: ~$3,000
– Savings in reduced ER visits, court costs, long-term trauma: ~$25,000
– Net result: Lives saved, cycles broken

NIGHT: COMMUNITY SAFETY

THE RESIDENTS OF SMOKETOWN

#### UNDER THE CURRENT BUDGET (Current Louisville):

10:00 PM – Mrs. Williams, 68, hears noise outside her house on South Shelby Street. She’s scared – there have been three break-ins on her block this month.

10:15 PM – She calls 911. Wait time is 8 minutes (high call volume). Dispatch sends a patrol car from the division office on Liberty Street – 12 minutes away.

10:30 PM – By the time the officer arrives, whoever was outside is long gone. Officer takes a report, drives around the block once, and leaves. Mrs. Williams can’t sleep. She’s considering moving, but she’s lived in Smoketown for 40 years.

11:00 PM – Quiet returns, but fear remains. The neighborhood doesn’t know the officers who patrol. The officers don’t know the residents. It’s strangers policing strangers.

Pattern: Reactive policing. No prevention. No relationships. Fear persists.

#### UNDER BIGGERS’ BUDGET (Prevention-First Louisville):

10:00 PM – Mrs. Williams hears noise outside. She looks out the window and sees Officer Hayes on foot patrol. He works from the mini substation on Breckenridge Street (two blocks away).

10:05 PM – Officer Hayes sees the situation and approaches. He knows Mrs. Williams – they met at the community meeting last month. He recognizes the “suspicious person” – it’s her neighbor’s son, taking out the trash.

10:10 PM – False alarm. Officer Hayes walks Mrs. Williams back to her door, makes sure she’s okay. “Call the substation anytime, Mrs. Williams. We’re here 24/7.” She has the direct number posted on her fridge.

10:30 PM – Officer Hayes continues his foot patrol. He’s not just passing through – he works this neighborhood. He knows who belongs here and who doesn’t. He knows which corner the kids hang out on. He knows Mr. Lewis on the corner is a veteran who sometimes has PTSD episodes.

11:00 PM – Mrs. Williams sleeps better knowing Officer Hayes is out there. Crime in Smoketown is down 28% since the substation opened. She’s not moving – her neighborhood is finally safe again.

Pattern: Preventive policing. Real relationships. Trust built. Crime reduced.

THE BUDGET DIFFERENCE:
– Mini substation in Smoketown: $650K annually (one of 46 across Louisville)
– Officers on foot, not in cars, building relationships
– Same police budget: $245.9M
– Different deployment: Community-based, not reactive
– Result: 20-30% average crime reduction in neighborhoods with substations

COMPARISON SUMMARY

SAME BUDGET. DIFFERENT DAYS.

Total Budget: $1.2 billion (BOTH)
Tax Increase: ZERO (BOTH)
Difference: How the money is spent

THE NEIGHBORHOODS

These stories represent real Louisville neighborhoods:

– Russell (West End) – Mini substation deployment Year 1
– Okolona (South Louisville) – Wellness center location
– Newburg (Southwest) – Youth programs expansion
– Buechel (East) – Co-responder team coverage
– Smoketown (Downtown area) – Mini substation deployment Year 1

Every neighborhood benefits:
– All 46 zip codes get mini substations (phased over 4 years)
– 18 wellness centers strategically placed in underserved areas
– Youth programs expanded to all districts
– Mental health crisis teams cover entire city

No neighborhood left behind.

THE EVIDENCE

These aren’t just nice stories – they’re based on proven results:

Community Policing (Mini Substations):
– Boston: 63% reduction in youth homicides
– Newark: 35% reduction in shootings
– Los Angeles: 18% reduction in violent crime in program areas
– Louisville can expect: 25-35% crime reduction over 4 years

Wellness Centers:
– 35% reduction in ER visits
– 25% reduction in chronic disease
– $1.80 saved for every $1 spent
– Louisville benefit: $80M saved when fully implemented

Youth Programs:
– 35% reduction in violent crime among participants
– 40% improvement in school attendance
– 60% higher graduation rates
– Louisville impact: Keep 1,000+ youth out of juvenile justice system

Crisis Intervention:
– 40% reduction in use-of-force incidents
– 30% reduction in arrests for mental health calls
– 50% reduction in repeat crisis calls
– Louisville outcome: Safer for residents AND police

THE CHOICE

Under the current budget:
– Jennifer worries constantly about Tyler
– Marcus ends up in handcuffs and the ER
– Jordan gets pulled into illegal activity
– Maria remains trapped in violence
– Mrs. Williams lives in fear

Under Biggers’ budget:
– Jennifer has peace of mind
– Marcus gets real help and recovery
– Jordan has opportunities and a future
– Maria breaks the cycle and finds safety
– Mrs. Williams sleeps well in her own neighborhood

Same $1.2 billion. Same Louisville. Completely different outcomes.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Where do you live?

Clifton: Mini substation Year 2, wellness center access at Baptist East area
Highlands: Mini substation Year 2, youth programs expanded
Portland: Mini substation Year 1, wellness center Year 1
Shively: Mini substation Year 3, wellness center Year 2
St. Matthews: Mini substation Year 2, programs integrated with existing services
Valley Station: Mini substation Year 3, wellness center Year 2
Pleasure Ridge Park: Mini substation Year 2, youth programs Year 1
Jeffersontown: Mini substation Year 3, wellness center nearby

Every Louisville neighborhood gets:
– A mini police substation (phased over 4 years)
– Access to wellness centers (18 total, strategically placed)
– Expanded youth programs
– Mental health crisis teams
– Better schools, safer streets, stronger community

Your neighborhood. Your city. Your future.

THE TIMELINE

YEAR 1:
– First 12 mini substations in highest-crime areas
– First 6 wellness centers open
– Youth programs expanded to all districts
– 10 mental health crisis teams deployed
– Early impact: Crime trends start improving

YEAR 2:
– 24 mini substations total (12 more added)
– 12 wellness centers total (6 more added)
– 3,000 youth in summer jobs program
– Community trust in police improving
– Measurable results: 15-20% crime reduction in program areas

YEAR 3:
– 36 mini substations total (12 more added)
– 18 wellness centers total (6 more added – COMPLETE)
– All programs at full capacity
– Significant outcomes: 25-30% crime reduction citywide

YEAR 4:
– All 46 mini substations operational (10 more added)
– All programs mature and optimized
– Target achieved: 35% crime reduction, Louisville safer than in decades

THE INVESTMENT

What does this cost you?

If you’re a Louisville resident: ZERO tax increase

Total budget: $1.2 billion – Same as the current approved budget

Where the money comes from:
– Cut administration waste: -$14M
– Reduce jail costs through bail reform: -$36.5M
– Consolidate scattered programs: -$76M
– Total reallocated: ~$150M

Where it goes:
– Mini substations: +$30M (over 4 years)
– Wellness centers: +$45M (at full implementation)
– Youth programs: +$20M
– Democratic participation: +$15M
– Other community investments: +$40M

Same money. Better priorities. Better Louisville.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

On Election Day, you’re choosing between two visions of Louisville:

the current Louisville: Same old approach. Reactive policing. Crisis management. Hope for different results while doing the same thing.

Biggers’ Louisville: Evidence-based transformation. Preventive policing. Community investment. Proven results from 50+ cities.

Both cost $1.2 billion. Only one works.

Which Louisville do you want?
– Jennifer’s Louisville or Maria’s Louisville?
– Marcus’s Louisville or Jordan’s Louisville?
– Mrs. Williams’s Louisville or your Louisville?

The budget creates the day. The day creates the life. The life creates the city.

Choose the better Louisville.

LEARN MORE

Website: rundaverun.org
Full Budget: rundaverun.org/budget
Volunteer: rundaverun.org/volunteer

Questions? info@rundaverun.org

VOTE DAVE BIGGERS FOR MAYOR

Same Money. Different Day. Better Louisville.

These scenarios are based on real Louisville residents and actual outcomes from cities using similar approaches. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.

Budget Version 3.1 | Updated October 12, 2025