Montgomery City Council unanimously passes 2019 budget, raises garbage pick-up fee
The Montgomery City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange‘s proposed budget for fiscal year 2019 Tuesday evening. The slightly more than $252 million budget was approved only after several amendments were added, including a 3 cent per gallon gas tax increase, a reduction of the garbage pick-up from two days a week to just one, as well as $3 increase to garbage fees. The garbage fee increase will save the city about $2.2 million. “Charlie Jinright (the City Council president) gets a lot of credit,” Strange said according to the Montgomery Advertiser. The council president proposed all of the ordinances Tuesday that successfully bridged the gap between individual council member’s desires and the mayor’s original budget.
MGMWERX officially launches operations in Montgomery
Innovation and expertise that can benefit the U.S. Air Force and other armed services now have a new place to take flight in Montgomery. MGMWERX, an innovation hub of DEFENSEWERX, hosted “Mission Launch 2018” in downtown Montgomery Aug. 28 as an introduction to regional leaders. Established under an agreement with theAir Force Research Laboratory, MGMWERX augments ongoing Air University programs at Maxwell Air Force Base to enhance production of high-quality, innovative research and ideas that address issues of importance to the Air Force while also benefiting the private sector. “MGMWERX will enable Air University as the intellectual epicenter of the Air Force, to work with industry, civilian academia and others,” said Lt. Gen. Anthony Cotton, Air University president. The collaboration is all about “taking thought pieces from our institution’s students and faculty and then incubate them through an innovation hub like MGMWERX to solve difficult Air Force and Department of Defense issues. This is a direct link to the Secretary of Defense’s National Defense Strategy developing a lethal force though evolving innovative operational concepts. That critical thinking happens right up the street at Maxwell Air Force Base and will blossom right here.” Bill Martin, MGMWERX director, said the team of five, which is expected to expand this year, will integrate concepts and technology “from the public sector with the broad spectrum of Air Force proposals brought forward by some of the brightest minds in the service.” MGMWERX will be a conduit between the Air Force and the private sector in the River Region. “The success of the WERX model as a super connector understanding our customer needs and linking the right expertise to create positive results is happening at a rapid rate,” said Laurie Moncrieff, DEFENSEWERX executive director. “The WERX organizations have fielded hundreds of ideas innovating and commercializing technologies that support the warfighter. MGMWERX will continue that charge by taking the ideas generated from Air University and accelerating viable technologies to solve real-world problems faced by those defending our nation.” Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson recently visited MGMWERX to see firsthand the examples of projects the team will undertake to enable the service to “move faster and smarter.” MGMWERX will depend and rely on a robust private sector and industry to offer suggestions on issues than could benefit the private sector and the Air Force, Martin said. The MGMWERX collaborative office space is in Montgomery’s innovation district. Martin acknowledged the team will be better able to leverage “outside the gate” thinking to accelerate experimentation with emerging technologies. “Collaborating with Air University and the surrounding local area – to include the city of Montgomery, Montgomery County and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce – we’ll inspire new thinking, optimize talent and become a breeding ground for innovative thought,” Martin said. “Montgomery has been the epicenter of world-changing history for decades, and now the city is making history again – but this time through technology and innovation,” said Anna Buckalew, executive vice president of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. “This unprecedented public-private collaboration with the Air Force will be a model for communities around the world, fueling innovation and collaboration that creates solutions for some of the most critical issues the Air Force and our nation faces today.” As part of the DEFENSEWERX ecosystem, MGMWERX connects to a national network that shares and leverages derived solutions for the mutual benefit of the Air Force and the external community. Joining the MGMWERX ecosystem affords individuals and organizations an opportunity to get involved in creating tangible solutions through innovation and collaboration, workforce development, tech transfer and rapid prototyping activities. Republished with permission from the Alabama NewsCenter.
Montgomery Board of Education member Durden Dean resigns
After serving nearly six years on the Montgomery County Board of Education, school board member Durden Dean resigned from his position on Monday. He was first elected to the District 2 seat in 2012. Dean, a former mayor of Union Springs, Ala., notified Superintendent Ann Roy Moore and along with board members via email Monday morning explaining he was planning to move to North Carolina with his wife. Dr. Moore & MPS Board: It is with mixed emotions that I am notifying you and my fellow board members of my resignation immediately from the MPS Board. I have already notified board President Robert Porterfield. My wife and I have been planning for some time to move to North Caroline to be near our daughter and grandchildren and that has come about sooner than originally anticipated. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve the children of Montgomery and I know I am leaving the MPS family in VERY capable hands under your leadership! I mean that very sincerely! Thank you so much for your dedication and wishing you and the board much success for our children going forward! With kindest regards, Durden The school board will pick Dean’s successor, but must first wait 48 hours following his resignation.
Checking in: What has Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange been up to?
Ever wonder what your mayor been up to each month? Sure you may have helped elect them, but what happens after that? Alabama Today has you covered. Each month we’ll highlight what the Yellowhammer State’s Big 5 mayors have been doing in an effort to hold them accountable and keep things more transparent. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange has been busy this month, keeping up with his constituents and attending events across the city. July 13 Strange attended the Montgomery Education Foundation‘s Brain Forest 2018, “This program benefits both our students and our teachers as a learning laboratory where both walk away with new ideas, better methods and a sense of achievement during the summer months,” Strange posted on his Facebook page. “Thanks to the City and County host Parks & Recreation programs to complement the learning environment, during which children can go horseback riding, learn archery and kayaking or even just run around and be a kid! Not to mention, this partnership has served more than 650,000 meals, engaged nearly 45,000 students and cultivated relationships with more than 50 youth-oriented agencies in the River Region since 2014.” July 17 Strange has his own way of communicating with his constituents: hosting a YouTube series called “Tuesdays with Todd.” Every week on the City of Montgomery Alabama YouTube channel Strange talks about different events, and happenings within the city. This week, Strange welcomes the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s All Star week to Montgomery, an event which he says will add an $8 to $10 million economic boost to the city. July 24 This week on Tuesday’s with Todd; Strange is in the newly renovated Morgan Library, to talk about the MCCPL Book Sale, and updates to the library. August 7 On this episode of his show, Strange meets with the Chef of Central, a restaurant in Montgomery, to talk about Eat MGM, Montgomery’s restaurant week. August 14 Last week, on Strange’s YouTube show he meets with Montgomery Finance Director Barry Crabb to discuss the 2019 budget, and budget increases within the city in an effort to provide transparency to the city’s governance.
Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange proposes $250 budget for FY19
During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange asked for a budget increase in the upcoming fiscal year. Strange proposed a $250 million budget — an $8 million increase from FY18 — that would fund public safety, merit-based raises as well as a one-time payment for retirees. The mayor’s proposed budget includes: $3 million for health care for those active and retirees called an “internal service fund” $1.7 million increases to the Montgomery Police Department and $1.3 million for the Montgomery Fire Department, including a merit increase for “deserving employees.” $1.2 million for public safety $500k for a one-time payment to retirees $1.5 million in additional neighborhood paving, intersection upgrades and striping (nearly $225k per district) Strange proffered several ways the city will pay for the increase: The city would raise $3 million with a 2-cent gas tax: from $0.04 to $0.06 $3 million from a general increase in sales and lodging taxes $2 million of those dollars by reducing city sanitation costs by limiting the trash pick up days from three days a week down to two.
Martha Roby: Spreading the word on constituent services
As your representative in Congress, one of my top priorities is assisting the people of Alabama’s Second District with various issues that may arise with the federal government in addition to offering numerous other resources. My offices offer a number of constituent services, and I’d like to take a moment to share a few of them with you so that you can take full advantage of the assistance my offices can provide. Perhaps most importantly, my district offices in Montgomery, Dothan, and Andalusia help our constituents with casework. This means if you’ve placed an inquiry with a federal agency like the VA or Social Security Administration and haven’t received an answer in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, my district offices might be able to help resolve the problem or provide information you need. If you’re currently experiencing issues with one of the federal agencies, I encourage you to contact one of my offices as soon as possible so we can do our best to get the issue resolved. Secondly, if you are planning a trip to Washington, D.C., my staff is available to help you obtain tickets for tours of the U.S. Capitol building and other attractions, such as the White House, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and more. Of course, please be advised that advance notice is often necessary, especially when requesting to tour the White House. If you are planning to visit our nation’s Capital, I hope you’ll contact my Washington office as early as possible. We want to help you have a wonderful experience. Third, did you know that you can purchase an American flag through my office? You also have the option to request that your flag be flown over the Capitol building before it is sent to you. I believe this is a really unique, special way to commemorate any important occasion for yourself or a loved one. If you’re interested in taking advantage of this particular service, make sure you contact my office in Washington, and we would be happy to make it happen. There are many other services available through my office, including service academy nominations, congressional commendations, presidential greetings, assistance with federal grant applications, and more. I am glad to offer these services, and I hope you will pass this information along to your friends and family so they are aware of what’s available to them, too. Below you will find the contact information for all of my offices, and of course, all of this information can be found on my website – just visit roby.house.gov/constituent-services. My staff and I work for you, and we look forward to assisting you in the future. Washington office: 442 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-2901 Montgomery office: 401 Adams Avenue, Suite 160 Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 262-7718 Dothan office: 217 Graceland Drive, Suite 5 Dothan, AL 36305 (334) 794-9680 Andalusia office: City Hall 505 E. Three Notch Street, Suite 322 Andalusia, AL 36420 (334) 428-1129 ••• Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband Riley and their two children.
Mobile, Montgomery among top 40 US cities Americans are abandoning fastest
24/7 Wall Street, a financial news and commentary Web site, released a new report on Thursday identifying the 50 cities Americans are abandoning the fastest. In the “Population migration patterns” report, two Alabama cities made the top 40; Montgomery ranked #27 and Mobile ranked #39. According to the report, “Each year, roughly 40 million Americans, or about 14% of the U.S. population, move at least once. Much of that movement includes younger people relocating within cities, but it is trends of Americans moving to warmer climates, more affordable areas, and better job opportunities that have largely determined migration patterns in recent decades.” The study used migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau from 2010 to 2017 to come up with the list. During those years Montgomery’s population decreased 10,317 to migrating residents, meanwhile Mobile lost 8,517. However, despite its migration loss, Mobile set a net 0.2 percent population gain during those years. Montgomery however, lost 0.2. percent of its overall population. A look at the stats Montgomery, Ala. Population decrease due to migration, 2010-2017: -10,317 Population change, 2010-2017: -0.2% (374,541 to 373,903) Natural growth, 2010-2017: 35,032 births, 25,380 deaths Median home value: $135,700 Mobile, Ala. Population decrease due to migration, 2010-2017: -8,517 Population change, 2010-2017: +0.2% (413,143 to 413,955) Natural growth, 2010-2017: 40,422 births, 30,886 deaths Median home value: $126,800
Montgomery looks to increase accessibility
When Taylor Wilkins came to Montgomery for his son’s school field trip, what he saw upset him. Several popular tour destinations were difficult or near impossible to access by wheelchair for one of his son’s classmates. At one point, the student was forced to watch the tour through a door when he couldn’t get inside a building in Old Alabama Town. The city of Montgomery has said it wants to address disability access issues and put together a comprehensive plan to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. By shifting the focus of the city on issues that have been brought up by advocates and residents with disabilities, the city hopes that it can influence infrastructure plans to create a more welcoming place. “I thought Montgomery, with its history of civil rights, good and bad, the ADA compliance should be there,” Wilkins said. He compared his advocacy for accessibility to some of the civil rights issues that have already been fought over in Montgomery, highlighting the fact that people with disabilities are a protected class under federal laws and regulations. “I told him how upset I was,” he said about his son’s classmate’s experience. “It was heartbreaking.” Because Montgomery is so heavily reliant on tourism, Wilkins said he was shocked to see a lack of accessibility for people with disabilities in destinations where hundreds of classes of students come each year. Patrick Dunson, city engineer and head of ADA compliance efforts in the city, said that the new efforts by Montgomery, which started a few months ago, are meant to create a long-term plan that will fix problems areas while creating a reference for future infrastructure. To better reach citizens and create their plan, Montgomery has partnered with Kimley-Horn, a development company that specializes in these projects. Dunson said the process isn’t short, simple or cheap and it will take many years, even a few decades, for the city to be completely overhauled. Resident Gene Gunter attended a session on Thursday where citizens could raise concerns about what accessibility issues they see the most and point out problem areas. Turnout was light, similar to the response to online survey on the issue. Gunter, who has spinal issues, said curb cuts, ramps and a lack of sidewalks are some of the most frequent issues he sees in the city. The meeting was a positive for him though, he said, and he was noticeably excited about the opportunities to share ways that he felt the city could improve. Geron Gadd, legal director for Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, said that at its essence, any type of disability access pushes are to make sure that all citizens have equal abilities to enjoy the different parts of their city. The accessibility that is required can come in many forms, she said, like streets, sidewalks, public transit and housing. As the city continues to revitalize, Gadd said, it needs to focus on making all areas of the city available to all. “There are large portions of the city where there are no sidewalks. How do you navigate from sidewalk to street when there are no curb cuts?” she said. “These are some of the issues that have been advocated for in the past. Those are things that can impair people from accessing parts of the community.” After visiting the city, Wilkins said he has talked to several officials about the issues that he saw, and he plans to continue his advocacy. “Montgomery, I’ve been in and out for 10 years, the downtown is looking a lot better, but someone should be paying this some attention,” he said, pushing back against the idea that the fixes have to be expensive and take several years to complete. “We’re talking about a thousand-dollar ramp here. It doesn’t need to be a big thing.” Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Direct flights underway from Montgomery Regional Airport to Washington, DC
Flights are now underway from the Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) to Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) outside of the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, MGM launched its first direct flight to DC through American Airlines with 32 passengers onboard the 50-seat passenger jet. For now, there is only one flight a day going back and forth between the two cities – a daily morning flight arriving in Montgomery and another flight departing back to DC later in the afternoon. In October, airport officials made the announcement of the new direct flight. “The Montgomery Airport Authority continues to work with our airline partners to expand service for passengers,” said, Tammy Knight Fleming, Board Chair. “This new, nonstop service connecting Alabama’s capital to the nation’s capital, one of the top destinations in our market, will be a tremendous asset for business travelers, government officials and the community at large.”
Three of Alabama’s Big 5 cities rank in top 4% of cities with the most student debt
College graduates owe around $1.521 trillion in student loans — a depressing figure for the many graduates who leave school with debt that exceeds their income. Among those American cities with most student loan debt are three of Alabama’s Big 5 cities. According to a new study by personal finance website WalletHub, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Montgomery rank among the top four percent of American cities with the most student loan debt. Taking the top spot of the most student debt in the Yellowhammer State is Tuscaloosa. Ranked in the 98th percentile of cities studied (99th percentile is the highest). Following closely behind each in the 96th percentile are Birmingham and Montgomery. To determine the cities where Americans are most over-leveraged on their college-related debts, WalletHub analysts divided the median student-loan balance in 2017 by the median earnings of adults age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree in 2,515 U.S. cities. Here’s what they found in Alabama: Student debt in Tuscaloosa (99th percentile = highest): Median student-loan balance: $25,993 Median earnings of Bachelor’s degree holders: $41,257 Ratio of student debt to median earnings of Bachelor’s degree holders: 63.00% (98th percentile) Student debt in Montgomery (99th percentile = highest): Median student-loan balance: $25,490 Median earnings of Bachelor’s degree holders: $42,964 Ratio of student debt to median earnings of Bachelor’s degree holders: 59.33% (96th percentile) Student debt in Birmingham (99th percentile = highest): Median student-loan balance: $24,514 Median earnings of Bachelor’s degree holders: $41,335 Ratio of student debt to median earnings of Bachelor’s degree holders: 59.30% (96th percentile) Other key findings 42% of students say credit card debt worries them more than student loan debt. 63% of college students say their school is not doing enough to educate them about personal finance. 1 in 3 college students think they’ll be worse off financially than their parents. 1 in 4 students say excellent credit is worth more than a college degree.
Judge rules against Montgomery’s first charter school; won’t open in 2018
Montgomery’s first charter school is no longer on track to open in 2018. On Tuesday, Circuit Judge J.R. Gaines ruled the Alabama Public Charter School Commission’s 5-1 vote to approve the LEAD Academy’s application for a charter school missed the mark by one vote that it legally needed for approval. Alabama law requires at least six votes for the charter school’s approval to be valid. The judge’s decision follows a March lawsuit made against the school by the Alabama Education Association, which alleged the state charter commission’s approval of Montgomery’s first-approved charter school was “invalid” or “arbitrary,” calling into question the legitimacy its approval of LEAD Academy. It named both LEAD Academy and state commission members as defendants. The AEA applauded Judge Gaine’s decision, which they believe stops “the unlawful granting of a charter school to out-of-state investors.” “The Commission’s own national experts said this application was deficient in all three core areas it reviewed and should be denied,” explained AEA President Sherry Tucker. “Thus, it was no surprise that its backers could not get enough votes in favor of it. AEA will continue to be the strongest supporter of all students in all of Alabama’s public schools.” Theron Stokes, AEA Associate Executive Director, added, “AEA will remain vigilant and fight all attempts to illegally divert public school dollars from Alabama classrooms to out-of-state, for-profit, charter school corporations and those operators should know that before trying to take public money from our public schools. We celebrate this victory for the students in the Montgomery Public Schools and the taxpaying citizens of Montgomery County.” But the school’s spokeswoman said they’re not giving up. The school’s chairwoman Charlotte Meadows told the AP, “it’s a sad day for our students” but “this is not the end of a charter school in Montgomery.” Meadows said she’s looking into legal options, but the start date may be delayed to 2019. Last month the school secured a facility for its learning center, after their initial plans to renovate the building that houses the Small Business Resource Center in downtown Montgomery fell through in February. When it opens, LEAD Academy will be located at the former Algernon Blair Building, which previously served as a bank headquarters, at 2897 Eastern Boulevard.
National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery open to the public
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, a six-acre site overlooking the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery opened to the public on Thursday. Dedicated to 4,075 blacks that research by the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) shows were killed by lynching in the U.S. from 1877 to 1950, the memorial features their names engraved on 800 steel rectangles, one for each U.S. county where lynchings occurred. The site will also feature a museum, From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration, that will be situated within 150 yards of one of the South’s most prominent slave auction sites and the Alabama River dock and rail station where tens of thousands of enslaved black people were trafficked. The museum will contain high-tech exhibits, artifacts, recordings, and films, as well as comprehensive data and information on lynching and racial segregation. It will also connect the history of racial inequality with contemporary issues of mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and police violence. An official opening ceremony for memorial will take place at the Montgomery Convention Center in downtown Montgomery Thursday evening. it will be accompanied by the two-day EJI Peace and Justice Summit at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center. Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, who will be in attendance for the opening ceremony of the unveiling on Thursday, said the memorial “puts on display the unspeakable brutality and the human cost of lynching.” “The National Memorial for Peace and Justice puts on display the unspeakable brutality and the human cost of lynching and racial terror in America,” explained Sewell. “No matter how painful, these are memories which our nation must confront. We cannot appreciate how far we have come without acknowledging where we have been.” “It is especially powerful that this Memorial finds its home in Alabama, where more than 300 African Americans were killed by lynching and millions more were terrorized by white supremacy. In Montgomery, where dozens of markers still commemorate the confederacy, a remembrance of racial violence and its victims is long overdue. Along with the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, the Rosa Parks Museum, and other historic sites in Montgomery, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice uses the lessons learned from our past as a model for healing and sustainable economic growth that will give visitors from around the world a truer understanding of our history.”
