At the end of August, an expanded Intake Center will open in the Hall of Justice downtown. Soon, domestic violence victims will be able to go to one secure location in the courthouse and find a one-stop shop for their legal needs.

Currently, there are three different locations where victims must go to receive services, depending on whether they need an emergency protective order, a criminal complaint or both. The new Intake Center will include 10 private offices, where victims can meet confidentially with support staff, and a waiting area that will be sensitive to children.

Former County Attorney Irv Maze told a story to Metro Council members a few years ago that I will never forget.  A young mom came to the County Attorney’s office seeking protection from her abuser, and she brought her children with her. The office provided some toys for the children to play with, which they found to be very entertaining. The little boy turned to his mother and said, “Mom, the next time Dad hits you, can we come back here so I can play with these toys?”

The Intake Center is a collaborative effort among the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. The center will work closely with many community partners such as Metro Police, the Center for Women and Families, Legal Aid and Elder Serve.

The Metro Council also deserves congratulations for contributing funding to the new center. Councilman Kelly Downard, a champion for domestic violence issues, said, “The center has been a long time coming. It is much needed, and I couldn’t be more pleased to have been allowed to be a small part of it.”

Assistant County Attorney Susan Yates Ely, the division chief for domestic violence, said she anticipates the Center will serve between 7,000 to 10,000 victims each year.

Intake Center staff members are going to need equipment to help these victims, such as computers, copy machines and furnishings for the waiting room. To raise money for these items, the National Council of Jewish Women is hosting a fundraising cocktail supper at the home of Penny and Ivan Diamond at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27.

Tax-deductable donations for the fundraiser can be mailed to NCJW, Mid-City Mall, 1250 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204.

Good news for Newburg
Last Saturday, the brand new Newburg library branch opened. This $1.9 million library is the first new library the city has built since 1996.

Shortly after Julie and I were first elected, Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin pulled us aside and asked us to support a new library in Newburg. We happily agreed, and I am so glad for all Newburg residents that their persistence has finally paid off.

Some of our libraries are serving as after-school care centers for children. At Bon Air Library, which was in my district, children would come to the library after school and stay until it closed at night. I don’t know where their parents were, or what they did about dinner, but it was a sad situation. I’m glad they at least had a safe place to go and do their homework.

Rand Paul push-back
Julie’s column criticizing Rand Paul for announcing his Senate campaign on cable news channels rather than in Kentucky struck a chord with some of our readers.  One supporter told us, “Yes, Dr. Rand Paul made his announcement in New York City on Fox News about 1,000 miles from Kentucky with good reason. From reading your column, you are probably part of that reason.”

What an arrogant mind-set for a campaign to develop, considering potential primary voters as “part of the problem.”

From reading all of the e-mails we received from Paul supporters, I get the impression that his followers look at him as a hero who is not like all the other “career politicians.” I respect many politicians, but I’ve always found it sad when people place all of their hopes on one candidate who they believe can fix everything. 

This kind of hero worship is a sure path to disappointment, so Paul supporters may want to put the Kool-Aid down.

Julie and Ellen own Adams & Call Inc., a Louisville public affairs firm. Visit adamsandcall.com.