While Kentucky legislators compete to suggest more ridiculous and humiliating ways to punish people for paying their debt to society, civilization and humanity manages to prevail in Louisville.
Applicants for jobs with Louisville government and for many
vendors who work with local government will likely no longer have to
fill out applications asking if they have a criminal conviction.
After
some contentious debate and eventual compromise, the Louisville Metro
Council voted 26-0 Thursday night to approve the so-called ban the box
ordinance, which would not allow the city and its vendors or contractors
to ask about convictions on the job application.
The city already
does not ask about convictions on applications. The ordinance approved
Thursday, if signed by Mayor Greg Fischer, would put the practice into
law. Fischer, who had expressed concerns about some provisions that
later were addressed in amendments, commended the council for the
bipartisan passage of the “compassionate legislation.”
Supporters
argue that removing the box from applications would give convicts an
opportunity to get their foot in the door and have a chance to compete
for a job that would help them reintegrate into society. They believe
the move is crucial in Louisville with about 160,000 people in the metro
area with a criminal record.
“You can’t have a quality of life
without a job,” said Carolyn VanZant of Kentuckians For The
Commonwealth. She joined several organizations that participated in a
rally outside city hall before the vote.
Fischer and council
Republicans had expressed concerns about extending the ban to vendors,
arguing implementation would be difficult with 26,000 vendors of all
sizes. Republicans also disagreed with Louisville dictating policy to
businesses.
You know what, Greg Fischer? The only reason the rest of us in the Commonwealth tolerate Louisville at all is because it is an island of civilization and reason in a red-state hellhole. Don't fuck that up by vetoing this bill.
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