Thread by @joesonka

Gov. Bevin’s “roundtable” in Portland set to begin in around 5 minutes. Pastor Darrell Scott from Trump campaign set to appear. Background on Scott’s work here: thedailybeast.com/trump-tells-hi…

In attendance: Fischer opponent Angela Leet, CM David James and Evander The Real Deal Hoooooooooooolyfield. Stay away, @jacobhryan.

Also Labor Cabinet Secretary Ramsey

Also @SadiqaLUL

Also Mr. Portland himself, Gill Holland

Also Council members Hamilton and Sexton Smith, and Bevin ally Rev. Milton Seymore

Evander Holyfield’s ear profile:

Hal Heiner is here

And the program begins. I see Hampton but not Bevin.

Caudill Seed owner leads off discussing his West lou business

This is billed as Cabinet for Economic Development event, codenamed “Project Seed”

Still not sure what this is

Part A: Trump pastors talk about the great diversity work of Trump admin until 4, then Part B: Bevin will arrive and speak with business owners here.

Holyfield gets a shout out

Scott and Lanier introduced, being billed as members of Trump admin. ( they’re not)

Scott: “You guys have a great governor, give him a hand.”

Scott: I’ve known Trump since 2012, we’ve had candid conversations about race with him.

Scott: African Americans are fortunate to have Trump as president.

Scott gives Trump’s lawyer who paid off Stormy a shout out. (Background: thedailybeast.com/trump-tells-hi…)

Scott intros Lanier.

Lanier thanks Bevin and Trump “for being so open to hearing different perspectives”

Lanier gives Holyfield another shout out, says the champ texts him every morning.

Lanier going over Trump’s 13 point program for urban renewal

Lanier touts Trump’s tax bill as allowing governors to name opportunity zones that can get funds from people who save capital gains taxes.

Lanier says the Trump tax bill is great for his impoverished blacks

Lanier gives The Healing Place a shout out, calls it a homeless shelter, says he’s inviting them to the White House

Bevin walks in and Lanier pauses and tells crowd to give him applause

I’m still not entirely sure what this event is.

It’s Matt.

4 people being introduced and I’m not sure why

Still waiting for this to come back to “Project Seed,” whatever that is.

Lanier opens up for Q. Someone asks for his website. He gives the IRS website where you can read Trump’s tax bill.

Lanier introduces someone from “Blue Sky Capital”

Dunno if he meant Blue Mountain Capital

Scott talking about how a bunch of companies are coming into west Louisville to develop, I think?

Scott: The purpose of meetings like this is to coordinate fed state and local government on what’s working, like Healing Place. (?)

Black Lives Matter leader asks a question

Lanier asked about including local people in initiatives.

Lanier: There is no trust from urban area of government, especially this administration.

BLM’s Helm asks about redlining, says we don’t have welfare prob, asks about reparations. Scott: “I think redlining is more imagines than real. The white man isn’t against us.” (!!!!)

Some in the crowd didn’t like Scott saying redlining is a figment of black people’s imagination.

Helm is shouting back at Scott and they are going back and forth now.

Scott: These people are up on stage because no black business leaders wanted to be here.

Helm: Because of who you’re with.
Scott: Who’s that?
Helm: The biggest crook of them all, Trump.

AWKWARD IN HERE.

Lanier: Well be working with “the local officials who are running things here.”

Black woman in front row invites Scott to learn about history of redlining and Reagan’s drug war.

Woman receives applause. Scott says “we can dwell in the past or focus on the future.”

Another black woman from Russell stands up and says she’s proud of her community, Scott mocks her. (!!!)

Bevin is standing here watching all of this silently.

Bevin chatting with Gill Holland now away from stage.

Black business owner asks about if local business owners are going to be doing included in whatever it is they’re doing. Lanier: We’re not the bad guys.

I think Helm maybe was kicked out, not sure

Bevin admin official says that more local residents weren’t invited here because of the fire code.

Here’s some of the room.

Bevin admin official talks about Bevin praying for west Louisville and thanks him for that

And here’s Bevin taking the mic.

Bevin says he just witnessed what’s wrong with Louisville.

Bevin says he’s heard people in Lou talk about not wanting to go past 9th street. And some Qs asked by people here come from a place of cynicism.

Bevin thanks people for showing up and caring. Then says he’s talking about Evander Holyfield.

(I still don’t know what this event is)

Bevin taking about everyone coming together and uniting despite their differences to make Louisville better. But if we continue to look backwards to the past we’ll fail.

Bevin thanks people “who invested their time and treasure to come here.”

Bevin talking about jobs and dignity. Says he grew up poor, too, was taught about dignity and self respect from parents.

Bevin: “I’m here promising you nothing... I have no bag of money for you... I just commit to come here and work with you to make Lou a beacon for America.

Ends speech.

(I still don’t know what this event is)

Caudill now reading questions for Bevin.

Bevin: Prigress starts with dialogue. He wants people like Scott and Lanier to come here and help. Touts Trump’s tax bill and opportunity zones.

Bevin: Capital goes where it is welcome. Are we going to be a community that welcomes it?

I assume this event has something to do with economic opportunity zones. But that is only an assumption at this point.

Bevin says that west Lou didn’t vote for him, but he says west Lou should take advantage of tax policies to lure businesses here.

Q: What can state do to help make businesses come here to west Lou.

Bevin: Some if it is lighting, some of it is picking of after yourself. Council members do the best they can but don’t have magic powers.

Bevin criticizes JCPS busing and touts neighborhood schools.

Bevin: What can state do? Rethink how we deliver things. What we have now in Louisville isn’t working.

Bevin mentioned that right after criticizing JCPS.

Bevin: Role of govt isn’t what people want, it’s what they need. They need public safety, education, and infrastructure.

Interesting 3 areas he mentions.

After talking about SNAP and Section 8 housing, Bevin says his father refused government cheese because you should never take something you didn’t earn.

Bevin talking about misinformation about work requirements in his Medicaid plan. “No man feels like a real man” if he depends on government.

Bevin: “we have to realign people’s sense of hustle”

Bevin now talking about grown men roaming around, says nothing good can come from it.

Bevin talking about The Healing Place like it’s a small business.

(I still don’t know what this event is)

Bevin basically just giving his laundry list of prescriptions for what can cure black America.

Bevin: The solution to the drug problem isn’t putting more people in jail. I led on expungement bill. I’m pardoning a lot because I believe in second chances.

Bevin: I put more $ for drug treatment in past two years than Kentucky has in its entire history.

Lt. Gov. Hampton still hasn’t spoken at this event.

She’s been here since the event began at 3. (Whatever this event is)

Bevin gives a shout out to Gill Holland, says he’s a good guy.

Leet is sitting next to The Real Deal

Q: There is momentum happening with west Lou right now, so I suggest to not start from ground zero, there is shared knowledge here, build on what we have.

Bevin: good advice.

Bevin: What I don’t want is another 5-year study or blue ribbon panel.

Bevin: In closing, thanks for coming and staying, that tells me about your heart. I’ll fight for this part of city whether you’re with me or not. I’m more effective if you’re my ally.

Bevin out. What was that?

And @ChanelleHelm wasn’t kicked out.

Bevin and Lanier.

Had some long chats with Councilman James, Councilwoman Hamilton and Secretary Heiner about what we witnessed today. I’ll tweet later, headed out.

Summation of the thoughts of James and Hamilton about the first hour: WTF

Heiner’s: Well.... I don’t know, you saw what I saw. 🤷‍♂️

I wish I had audio/video of the crowd when the Trump pastor Darrell Scott said that redlining was a figment or black people’s imagination to blame the white man.