William Bell, Marcus Lundy make amends after fight at City Hall
Birmingham Mayor William Bell and City Councilman Marcus Lundy said Thursday their raucous fight during a City Council meeting this week was water under the bridge. A day after Bell dropped pending criminal charges against Lundy for third-degree assault, the two men held a press conference to demonstrate their forgiveness and express their commitment to moving forward with the city’s agenda. “I stand here today to apologize to the public, to recommit myself to lifting up this city and ask for the prayers and the hard work of everyone to make this city great,” Bell told reporters. The city leaders came to blows Tuesday, when witnesses said Lundy tackled Bell and put him in a choke hold, leaving the mayor with a swollen knee and sore neck. Lundy sustained lacerations to the back of his leg. The two sounded conciliatory Thursday, saying they were sorry the fight may have tarnished the city’s reputation and that the pressing business of revitalizing the city after years of decline took precedence over settling personal scores. “We’re family and we’re gonna start acting like family,” Lundy said. The fight – dubbed on social media the “Brawl at City Hall” – garnered national headlines and attention from the public worldwide. Sources say the immediate cause of the fight was the city’s revocation of Lundy’s use of a city-owned vehicle. Other reports say Bell recently phoned the councilman’s employer and requested his dismissal, a charge the mayor denies.
William Bell orders warrant for Marcus Lundy’s arrest withdrawn
In a new development in the so-called “Brawl at City Hall” covered by news outlets around the nation, Councilman Marcus Lundy is no longer on the lam, according to information first obtained by Alabama Today. Mayor William Bell has asked Birmingham Police to withdraw a warrant from Lundy’s arrest, a day after Lundy attacked the mayor after forcibly restraining him from leaving a room just off the City Council chambers, according to a police report. “Having been informed by the complainant that he desires the warrant to be, withdrawn it is hereby removed from active status immediately,” the order simply reads. “We are concerned about the overall good of the city and keeping up the positive momentum that we have seen over the past sever years. With that in mind, I have withdrawn my complaint,” explained Bell late Wednesday evening. Lundy had been charged with third-degree assault. The fight reportedly started after Lundy’s use of a city-owned car was revoked by the City. Lundy also charged Bell may have called Lundy’s employer, Regions Bank, and demanded his dismissal. Bell denies doing so.
“Brawl at City Hall” garners national attention
The fight between Mayor William Bell and City Councilman Marcus Lundy that broke out Tuesday in City Hall – details of which were reported first by Alabama Today – has attracted the attention of the national press, as well as social media where the hashtag “#BrawlAtCityHall” amassed hundreds of Tweets. According to a police report first obtained by Alabama Today, Lundy attacked Bell in a break room adjoining the Council chambers, where a regular meeting of city of council was taking place. After forcibly stopping Bell from leaving the room by slamming the door shut, Lundy tackled Bell and “put him in a chokehold,” police said Tuesday. While both men were hospitalized with minor injuries, the report charges Lundy with one count of third-degree assault, calling him the aggressor in the confrontation. The story gained momentum nationally Tuesday afternoon and into the night, meriting reports from Reuters, ABC News, and the Associated Press. The fight broke out amid rumors that Lundy, who has often been at odds with the mayor’s office since first being elected in 2013, may try to run against Bell in a Democratic primary during the next mayoral election in 2018. Bell’s office recently revoked Lundy’s use of a city-owned car, citing a state law that may prohibit such use, and Lundy maintains Bell recently called his employer, Regions, and demanded his dismissal. Bell denies doing so.
Top 7 Twitter memes from Birmingham’s #BrawlAtCityHall
Things got a little physical Tuesday during a Birmingham City Council meeting between Mayor William Bell and Councilman Marcus Lundy. A fight over a consultant landed them both in the hospital and has garnered the Magic City unwanted much national attention. Being dubbed #BrawlAtCityHall, the hashtag referencing the fight has been used 561 times across the country, on Twitter alone, since the the fight broke out, according to data from Twitter analytics firm Keyhole. For the past 24 hours, Alabama Today has watched the Twitter reactions and we’ve seen some pretty epic 140-character Tweets. Here’s our top 7: 7. Tonight on RAW! The Mayor, William Bell vs Councilman, Marcus Lundy #BrawlatCityHall – https://t.co/nIQlBdSmdP pic.twitter.com/qSABGQFsCZ — Michael Tunnell (@MichaelTunnell) December 16, 2015 6. #BrawlAtCityHall Mayor Bell was in there like pic.twitter.com/PrNu9tVWZE — Aaron H (@alafishinwizard) December 16, 2015 5. #BrawlAtCityHall #Alabama #BirminghamPolitics #Birmingham pic.twitter.com/B3UK0qG1yI — René (@Naybug82) December 15, 2015 4. I’m gonna need a beer.. #BrawlAtCityHall pic.twitter.com/kmEiETVBQZ — Vulcan’s Beard (@VulcanB) December 15, 2015 3. This is what your face looks like when your bosses start fighting #BrawlAtCityHall pic.twitter.com/Om8Ywh9D6s — Madison Underwood (@MadisonU) December 15, 2015 2. #BrawlAtCityHall ????????? ?????? ? ? — Drew (@scog) December 15, 2015 1. #BrawlAtCityHall pic.twitter.com/iCdLQxABct — Matthew Churnock (@mattchurnock) December 16, 2015 This list has been updated.
Police report blames Marcus Lundy for starting fight; charges pending
Alabama Today has obtained the police report from Tuesday’s scuffle at Birmingham City Hall between Mayor William Bell and City Councilman Marcus Lundy at about 11 a.m. Tuesday. The two came to blows in the Mayor’s Office during a City Council meeting. Early reports indicated the fight started over a consultant who contracts with the city, but later reports from the police said the brawl broke out after Lundy’s use of a city-owned car was revoked. The police report charges Lundy with one count of third-degree assault, calling him the aggressor in the confrontation. Police say Lundy grabbed Bell and “put him in a chokehold” after forcibly preventing him from leaving a room behind Council Chambers, where city business was actively being conducted. Earlier reports indicated a man was heard to say “No! No!” from inside the room. The police report indicates those words were uttered by Bell, fending off an attack from Lundy. Jose Perry and Chris Mosley, both aides to Lundy, pulled the councilman off Bell, according to police. Both Perry and Mosley are listed as witnesses, as was Tyrone Silmon, an assistant to the mayor’s office. The police report says Silmon heard the disturbance from an adjoining room and tried to enter but Mosley closed the door on him. When Silmon forced the door open the three men were standing in the room, the altercation evidently already broken up. Mosley reportedly refused to give a statement to police when asked by an officer. Police said Bell was left with a bruise on the right side of his neck and swelling of his left knee. An earlier photo released by Council President Johnathan Austin shows scratches and bleeding on the back of Lundy’s lower left leg. City sources told Alabama Today the car was retrieved by the city because it’s illegal for a city councilor to drive it. The sources also said Lundy came up with a cover story for his attack on Bell, saying the Mayor called Regions Bank – Lundy’s employer – to demand he be fired. Sources also say a warrant for Lundy’s arrest is imminent. News reports indicated Bell may have called Lundy’s employer, Regions Bank, and demanded his dismissal, but Bell denies doing so. For more on this developing story, see State law may have prohibited Marcus Lundy from driving city-owned vehicle. Read the full police report here.
Scuffle breaks out between Birmingham Mayor William Bell and Councilman Marcus Lundy
Birmingham Mayor William Bell and City Councilman Marcus Lundy got into a dustup in the mayor’s office during a City Council meeting Tuesday morning, according to the city police department. AL.com first reported that the incident may have been over a consultant with a pending contract with the city. Police Chief A.C. Roper responded to the scene at City Hall, where paramedics tended Bell, who came away with a swollen neck. Both Bell and Lundy were subsequently taken to the hospital. Originally reports indicated Lundy grabbed Bell to stop the mayor from leaving a back room where the two had been discussing the consultant. Council President Johnathan Austin, however, implied Tuesday afternoon that it was Bell who assaulted Lundy. Bell was said to have contacted Regions, Lundy’s employer, to say the councilman ought to be fired, but Bell disputed that account. Both men were escorted to the hospital by police Tuesday morning, Roper said. “Violence is never the answer regardless of the location,” Roper said. “It’s extremely concerning, not just for me, but for our entire city so we’ll conduct a thorough investigation and try to get to the bottom of exactly what happened and what precipitated this incident.” Birmingham police said they are considering pressing charges against one or both men. Council President Austin said Lundy will press charges against Bell, but wouldn’t say who he thought began the fight. A photo provided by Austin, seen below, shows blood and scratches on the back of Lundy’s leg. It’s unclear at this time just how Lundy received the injuries. “We have worked continuously to move this city forward, and it’s a sad day when council members are attacked while trying to do the job that they were elected to do,” Austin said Tuesday afternoon. Bell received CT and MRI scans at a Birmingham hospital. The city’s official Twitter account Tuesday evening read simply, “Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers.” For more on the developing story, see Police report blames Marcus Lundy for starting fight with William Bell; charges pending. Hear audio footage of the dustup here.
Uber stoking support in Birmingham with new in-app “future view”
The ride-hailing app Uber has gotten creative in its months-long push to open up shop in Birmingham. Starting Friday, when you open up the app in the Magic City, instead of a car-less road map symbolizing the lack of progress in the City Council users will see a view of the future as supporters see it, in which Ubers are zipping up and down Second Avenue North. You’ll also get a little background on the firm’s regulatory battle with city officials and an option to help out the cause. “Make Uber a reality in B’ham!” a new dialogue in the app implores Birmingham. “This is how easy getting a safe ride could be if City Council pass draft regulations proposed at the meeting on Nov. 17 Committee of the Whole meeting. “Email City Council, urge them to PASS these smart ridesharing regulations this Tuesday,” reads the appeal, along with an option email your councilor. Earlier City Council meetings scheduled to take up the pro-ridesharing rules didn’t exactly live up to expectations. Five councilors failed to show up for a meeting in November, where Uber’s favored ordinance was on the docket. Council President Johnathan Austin, Councilman Steven Hoyt, Councilwoman Sheila Tyson, Councilwoman Lashunda Scales and Councilman Marcus Lundy did not attend the meeting, requiring members to adjourn for lack of a quorum. “There was no quorum. There was no consideration. There was no class,” said one AL.com editorial. “It’s all about petty politics, about fights over contractors and lobbyists.” Austin ascribed the absences to the meeting’s close proximity to the Thanksgiving holiday. Either way, Uber state General Manager Tom Maguire said Friday he is hopeful Tuesday’s meeting will be more productive. “Since August, Birmingham City Council has been working to revise regulations so that Uber can operate in the Magic City, and there’s no reason to delay any further,” said Maguire. “With this app view, Birmingham residents and visitors can see for themselves how easy it could be to get a ride in Birmingham, and what reality could look like in just a few weeks if the City Council passes the draft regulations from the November 17 Committee of the Whole meeting,” Maguire said. See below for screenshots of the new appeal:
