Alabama communities receive nearly $19 million in federal grants
Almost $19 million in federal money is going to dozens of communities around Alabama to help with everything from sewers to removing old buildings. The grants announced this week by the governor’s office are from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides block grants to help cities and counties. A statement says $18.7 million is going to 58 communities in amounts ranging from about $120,000 to $450,000. Cullman and Brewton are among the cities getting the maximum amount. Both towns plan work including sewer improvements. Tallassee and Scottsboro each are getting more than $200,000 each to demolish dilapidated structures. Local communities apply for the grants, which the state administers for the federal agency. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Understanding Cullman County local amendment 1: sheriffs pocketing prison money
When Alabamians get to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6, voters in some counties will see local amendments on the ballot. Here’s a look at what residents of Cullman County need to know about a local amendment they’ll see on the ballot: On the ballot: PROPOSED LOCAL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE (1) Relating to Cullman County, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide that effective beginning the next term of office of the sheriff, all allowances or amounts received by the sheriff for feeding prisoners would be deposited in a special account and used for feeding prisoners in the county jail and any excess in the fund would be authorized to be used for law enforcement purposes by the sheriff and to provide that, at that time, the annual salary of the Sheriff of Cullman County would be equal to the annual salary of the Judge of Probate of Cullman County. (Proposed by Act 2018-409) Vote: Yes/No What it means: If passed, the amendment would put an end to local sheriffs being allowed to keep any money they have left over after providing food for the jail inmates in their custody. Sample ballot Click out the Cullman County sample ballot: Front side | Back side Don’t live in Cullman County? Find your county’s sample ballot here.
Cullman County to put ‘In God We Trust’ on schools
The Cullman County school system voted Thursday to put “In God We Trust” on school buildings. The Cullman Times reports that the Cullman County School Board on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution to display the motto at all county schools. The action comes after the Alabama Legislature this year voted to allow the motto’s use on schools, courthouses and other public property “Some people may disagree with it, but the Legislature voted to allow it,” Superintendent Shane Barnette told newspaper. “I think it’s important for students to know the history and how this came about in our nation’s early years.” Brock Boone, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama, told the newspaper that the display could make some feel unwelcome. “I think it is unfortunate the county school board wants to make people who disagree, or may not be religious, or of a different faith feel alienated,” said Brock Boone, an attorney for the ACLU in Alabama. “If someone wants to attend a private religious school, then that’s fine to post it.” It is not known how many school systems have taken action to display the motto since Alabama lawmakers approved the legislation. The Alabama legislation is not a mandate. Tennessee lawmakers this spring approved legislation that requires the motto’s prominent display inside all public schools.
Judge rules Cullman County’s bail system illegally discriminates against the poor
People who fall victim to what many deem a “two-tiered” system of justice that’s based on wealth, won a significant victory in Cullman County, Ala. on Thursday when a federal court judge ruled that the practice of jailing those who cannot afford cash bail is unconstitutional. U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Haikala entered a preliminary injunction order that prohibits Cullman County from continuing to discriminate against the poor through its bail system, which many deem a “two-tiered” system of justice that’s based on wealth. Her decision follows a memorandum opinion entered last week explaining why the county’s practices were illegal. As the Court explained, “Cullman County’s discriminatory bail practices deprive indigent criminal defendants in Cullman County of equal protection of the law” and its justifications for using a bail schedule are “illusory and conspicuously arbitrary.” This preliminary injunction will remain in effect while the lawsuit challenging the practice is fully resolved and permanent relief is ordered. The suit was brought by the Southern Poverty Law Center(SPLC), Civil Rights Corps, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama on behalf of Bradley Hester, who was held on a $1,000 bond he could not afford. “Today was a big win for all Cullman County residents because no longer will the county be allowed to treat residents with means differently than those without in our criminal justice system,” said Sam Brooke, deputy legal director, the Southern Poverty Law Center. “Jails are not meant to warehouse people who have not been convicted of a crime, particularly where, as here, the rich are able to buy their freedom and impoverished people are left to languish in jail. This form of wealth-based discrimination that keeps people in jail just because they cannot afford their freedom is unconstitutional. We will continue to fight to eliminate wealth-based justice.” Katherine Hubbard, attorney, Civil Rights Corps, says most municipal courts have already moved away from cash. bail. “Today’s decision affirms that progress, and encourages more, recognizing that our district and circuit courts still have a long way to go,” she said. “We look forward to working with the county officials to ensure their new practices comply with the preliminary injunction order, and we will continue our litigation against Cullman County until permanent relief is implemented.” “The federal court’s decision today acknowledges what policy makers, advocates, and state courts across the country are recognizing: that locking people up simply based on poverty is unacceptable, and that a just bail system must provide robust protections to ensure that those presumed innocent are released pretrial, while only the most severe cases will require detention,” added Brock Boone, staff attorney, ACLU of Alabama. Brock continued, “Cullman County is in many ways typical of courts across Alabama. Far too often, its bail system results in people being locked away pretrial simply because they could not pay. Courts throughout Alabama, and the country, are setting bail above what people can pay, without any protections to ensure that this draconian penalty is used only when absolutely necessary.” Others moving away from cash bail Last month, California became the first state to fully abolish cash bail, a step backers said would create a more equitable criminal justice system, that’s not as dependent on a person’s wealth. “Several U.S. cities and states have in recent years reduced their reliance on bail, arguing the system unfairly confines poor people, creating overcrowded jails and extra costs for taxpayers,” the Wall Street Journal reported. Those who have been accused of crimes will instead be assessed, released on their own recognizance, given conditions for their release (GPS trackers, placed on house arrest) or held in jail.
Alabama unemployment rate unchanged in July
Alabama’s unemployment rate is unchanged from last month. State officials said Friday the July jobless rate was 4.1 percent, the same as it was in June. That rate is also the same as it was in July of last year. It is higher than the national unemployment rate of 3.9 percent. However, the Alabama Department of Labor says the number of people working is at a record high. More than 2.1 million people are now working in the state. Shelby County in metro Birmingham has the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 3.1 percent, followed by Cullman County at 3.5 percent. Wilcox County had the highest unemployment rate at 11.2 percent. Clarke County followed at 9.1 percent. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
