Civilian board formed to review Birmingham police actions
A five-member board of civilians is being established to review complaints of police misconduct in Alabama’s largest city, Mayor Randall Woodfin said Monday. The Civilian Review Board, which was recommended by a task force that reviewed public safety following the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and nationwide protests last year, will have subpoena power as it investigates matters not otherwise referred to prosecutors or the Birmingham Police Department’s internal affairs office. Members will include former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance, former Birmingham Police Chief Annetta Nunn, attorney Victor Revill; the Rev. Lawrence Conoway; and activist and speaker T. Marie King, said Woodfin, who created the board with an executive order. “This is an opportunity to build bridges, to cultivate trust, to create more checks and balances, and for ensuring justice,” Woodfin said during a news briefing. “We’re putting reform in the hands of the people.” In announcing the board, Woodfin invoked the name of Bonita Carter, a Black woman whose shooting death by a Birmingham police officer in 1979 led to protests and political change in the city, including the election of the city’s first Black mayor. A cousin of Carter, J.D. Jackson, said her death helped ensure “that our city became truly the Magic City so it would stop being the tragic city.” Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Kay Ivey lifts mask rules, urges common sense
Gov. Kay Ivey said Wednesday that Alabama is shifting to personal responsibility in the fight against COVID-19, keeping her promise to let a statewide face mask order expire Friday. Ivey said she’s issuing a “greatly slimmed down” health order that has few restrictions. It encourages people to keep taking precautions such as voluntarily wearing masks, but no longer includes a statewide mask order. Alabama opened vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 and older two days ago, and state health officials said virus hospitalizations, percentage of positive tests, and daily case numbers are hitting some of the lowest numbers in a year. “We are finally rounding the corner. While we haven’t whipped this deadly disease just yet, it appears that, thank the good Lord we are in the home stretch. Please, please continue to use good common sense and we will see the end of COVID-19 soon,” Ivey said. The Republican governor said she’ll keep wearing a mask around others after Friday, and urged other Alabamians to do the same. She also urged people to respect businesses that require customers to wear masks. The lifting of restrictions comes despite Alabama ranking last in the country for the percentage of people who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only 25% of Alabama’s population has received at least one dose, far short of the 70% or more that many experts say is necessary to achieve herd immunity, which would protect people who don’t protect themselves. Ivey’s latest order also goes against a request from President Joe Biden for states to maintain mask orders to stave off a fourth surge of the virus. Birmingham and Montgomery will keep mask mandates in place beyond Friday. Mayor Randall Woodfin said Birmingham’s mask ordinance is needed because COVID-19 continues to be a health threat and most people in the city and the state have not been fully vaccinated. “We will continue to make decisions that we believe will save lives. They may not be popular,” Woodfin said Tuesday. The governor’s new health order — illustrated in state materials with a stoplight showing the green light illuminated, reflecting improving conditions and fewest restrictions — keeps restrictions for quarantined individuals and limits on hospital and nursing home visitations, but has few other restrictions. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins, the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Alabama did not increase over the past two weeks, going from 438.86 new cases per day on March 22 to 304.86 new cases per day on April 5. “We are not out of woods yet, but we do feel better about where we are now,” State Health Officer Scott Harris said. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama begins expanded COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday
Alabama on Monday will expand who is eligible to receive immunizations against COVID-19 but health officials cautioned there’s still not enough vaccine for everyone who qualifies for a shot. Beginning Monday, everyone 65 and older; educators; grocery store workers; some manufacturing workers; public transit workers; agriculture employees; state legislators, and constitutional officers will be eligible to get vaccinations. Previously only health care workers, first responders, nursing home residents, and people 75 and older were eligible. “If you are eligible for a vaccine, then we will get you one if want to take it. But it is not going to happen immediately for everyone. There is still going to be a while before we have enough,” Dr. Scott Harris, the state health officer, told reporters Friday. Harris said an estimated 1.5 million people will be eligible for the vaccinations. The Alabama Department of Public Health site has a map of providers providing shots. The state is opening large, drive-thru clinics in eight cities: Anniston, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Selma, and Tuscaloosa. Harris said it will require 3 million doses to give the 1.5 million people the two shots required for maximum protection. The state has so far received 923,750 doses and is receiving about 70,000 per week. So far, 436,962 doses have been given. Harris said the remaining doses have someone’s name on it through appointments and clinics for a first or second shot. The University of Alabama at Birmingham announced it is opening an a third clinic, this one at Parker High School, for vaccinations. People do not have to be UAB patients but must fall in the statewide eligibility group. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin urged people in the city to get vaccinated. “We are not out of the woods yet. So I really want to encourage the citizens of Birmingham to take advantage of this site,” Woodfin said. More than 8,500 people in Alabama have died of COVID-19, including confirmed and probable cases. More than 472,000 have tested positive. While the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms for most people, it can be deadly for the elderly and people with serious health problems including diabetes, cardiovascular disease. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Randall Woodfin picks up 2 challengers: Lashunda Scales and Chris Woods
Mayor Randall Woodfin now has two candidates running against him this August. During an event to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales threw her hat in the ring and is the second person to announce their intention to run for mayor of Birmingham. Chris Woods is the other mayoral candidate. Al.com reported Scales wants to reduce crime, improve education, and support Birmingham workers. Scales stated, “I’m not into being in a fight with anyone because that doesn’t serve the City of Birmingham well. But I will tell you this: If you give me the opportunity to serve as your mayor, not just the first woman mayor, but to serve as your mayor, you will have a seat at the table. That is what I can guarantee.” Scales was a Birmingham City Council member from 2009-2018 when she was unseated by George Bowman. Scales emphasized that the commission is not about just one person. “That’s one of the things I learned about service when I first got there as a city council member in 2009,” she said. “It’s all about everyone that is a stakeholder being at the table, having the necessary conversations, be willing to put aside our differences to recognize that we’re there to serve people and not our own interest. So today I offer myself as a solution.” Scales didn’t answer questions after her announcement but directed people to her campaign website. Mayor Randall Woodfin is expected to run for re-election. Woods announced his campaign earlier in January at The Clubhouse on Highland, WVTM reported. He is running his campaign on education, crime, and neighborhood revitalization. Woods stated, “I want to transform this city so that people are coming here, not fleeing here. I want Birmingham to be a place where all people come to live, work, and learn. “At one time, Birmingham was the conscience of the Movement, and we can make it that way again. We can make Birmingham the conscience of the Nation. It’s time to join together and turn the tragic back to magic. Together, we can bring the magic back to the Magic City.” The filing deadline for candidates to run for mayor is July 10. The election is Aug. 24, with a runoff on Oct. 5 if needed.
Birmingham mayor released after COVID-19 treatment
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin was released from a hospital Wednesday after being treated for COVID-19 and planned to continue recovering from the illness and quarantining at home. Woodfin, 39, was admitted to Princeton Baptist Medical Center on Monday with pneumonia in his left lung caused by COVID-19. He said a grandmother who died of the illness caused by the new coronavirus was being laid to rest as he was being discharged. “That pains me. I can’t be there, and I miss her. She was 87 years old and she died of COVID-19,” he said in a statement. “If you don’t have to be out, don’t be out. Wash your hands. Wear your masks and practice social distancing.” Woodfin received Remdesivir and convalescent plasma therapy during his stay in the hospital. Woodfin fell ill at the same time three other Alabama mayors from Auburn, Decatur and Florence were fighting the illness. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Birmingham’s Randall Woodfin among 4 Alabama mayors with COVID-19
The mayors of at least four Alabama cities, including heavily populated Birmingham, have been diagnosed with COVID-19 as the illness spreads rapidly across the state following the holidays. The city of Birmingham said Mayor Randall Woodfin was admitted to a hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia Monday, five days after announcing he tested positive for the new coronavirus. Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling said he was quarantining at home after testing positive for the virus, and the city of Auburn said Mayor Ron Anders was in quarantine after testing positive. Florence Mayor Andy Betterton also was infected. Woodfin, 39, was “in good spirits and thanks everyone for the well wishes, the City of Birmingham tweeted. Bowling, 62, told the Decatur Daily he and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus and each received an infusion of monoclonal antibodies Sunday. Bowling, who has held regular news conferences to provide updates on the pandemic in the Tennessee Valley city, said felt guilty about participating in holiday family gatherings with his adult children and their families over the holidays. “I made a mistake and spent time with our family. We had Christmas together. We had meals together and sat around the table and we were not practicing the guidelines,” he said. “With that, now we have sickness. I believe that (family members outside our household) were the last to get it, so quite likely they received it from us. I certainly hope they’ll be OK.” The city of Auburn said Anders tested positive for the coronavirus over the holiday weekend. “I look forward to getting back to work for Auburn in person in the very near future, once I have tested clear,” Anders said in a statement. “I just want to remind everyone to keep your masks on, keep up your social distancing and keep those hands washed, because anyone can be exposed to this virus.” Betterton told the TimesDaily his father, Andrew Jack Betterton, died of COVID-19 before Christmas. “He had been in the nursing home, and I didn’t even get to see him,” Betterton said. Alabama on Tuesday for the second straight day hit a new high for the number of COVID-19 patients in state hospitals with 3,080 being treated. The new peak came as health officials feared a new surge of cases in the wake of the winter holidays. Since the pandemic began, the state health department has reported more than 379,000 confirmed and probable virus cases and at least 4,886 confirmed and probable virus deaths in Alabama. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed wants to honor Civil Rights lawyer Fred Gray
Fred Gray has long been a part of the Civil Rights movement. At just 24 years old, he helped defend Rosa Parks after her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus sparked the bus boycott and the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. He also is known for his work with school desegregation after Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 and for the Gomillion v. Lightfoot ruling that declared gerrymandering as a means of disenfranchising African Americans unconstitutional. Mayor Steven L. Reed of Montgomery now wants to find ways to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the city’s bus boycott, and he wants one of those to be to rename the street Gray grew up on. Gray grew up in Montgomery and moved to Jeff Davis Avenue, a street named for the president of the Confederacy, at 6 years old. As a boy, the significance of the name was lost on him. “I never thought about who Jeff Davis was, probably didn’t know anything about him until I got in high school,” he stated in a New York Times article. But as a young man, he became determined “to destroy everything segregated.” Mayor Reed’s call to change the street name has a caveat. A law Governor Kay Ivey signed into law in 2017 prohibits a change to the street. The Alabama Memorial Preservation Act states, “No architecturally significant building, memorial building, memorial street, or monument which is located on public property and has been so situated for 40 or more years may be relocated, removed, altered, renamed, or otherwise disturbed.” Those between 20 and 40 years old may only be disturbed in certain circumstances. In 2019, the law was ruled an unconstitutional violation of the right to free speech, and the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that it couldn’t be enforced. The penalty for violating the law was fixed at a $25,000 fine. Cities have been paying the $25,000 fine and have been taking down statues at a record pace since the controversial killing of George Floyd in May. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin ordered the removal of a monument in Linn Park, stating the fine was less costly than continued civil unrest. A confederate monument in Huntsville was also removed in October and was reassembled in the Confederate burial section of a city-owned cemetery. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has pledged to uphold the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act, stating in a video, “I urge my fellow Alabamians to take note of those casting votes and spending their tax dollars to violate a law of this state. It is now a question of when not if these same leaders will cast aside yet another law—being guided only by the political winds of the moment.” Despite the threat of a $25,000 fine, Mayor Reed is moving forward with the plan. He wants Gray to be present to see name change. “I don’t believe you should wait for people to die before you give them their flowers,” Reed stated. At 90 years old, the name change would help solidify Gray’s name in history and honor his life’s work. “This is about honoring those people who deserve to be honored,” Reed said in an interview. “And maybe confronting some of those who were honored at a previous time who never should have been.”
Mayor Randall Woodfin tweets positive COVID result
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has been diagnosed with coronavirus. Woodfin posted on his Twitter page, “Covid-19 has made its way to my doorstep. I’ve tested positive but my symptoms are currently mild. Remember everyone- covid is real. Please be safe and protect yourselves and your loved ones this holiday weekend.” COVID-19 has made its way to my doorstep. I’ve tested positive but my symptoms are currently mild. Remember, everyone – COVID is real. Please be safe and protect yourselves and your loved ones this holiday weekend. — Randall Woodfin (@randallwoodfin) December 31, 2020 Alabama is currently under a “Safer at Home” order, which has been extended until January 22 by Gov. Kay Ivey. According to the Alabama Public Health Dashboard, there are over 350,000 coronavirus cases in the state, with over 4,700 deaths. Some of Alabama’s hospitals are quickly filling up with coronavirus patients. The first round of vaccinations has already begun in Alabama, with over 20,000 vaccinations already administered. Mayor Woodfin has been a leader in covid precautions and an early supporter of mask mandates. According to ABC3340, Woodfin proposed an ordinance in April that would require people to wear face coverings while in public because of COVID-19. Alabama State Rep. Kirk Hatcher also tested positive for covid recently. He posted on Twitter, “Today Representative Kirk Hatcher tested positive for COVID-19. This is just another reminder of the seriousness of this pandemic and the need to ensure that we do everything we can to protect our family and friends until we can distribute a vaccine to everyone.” http:// Today Representative Kirk Hatcher tested positive for COVID-19. This is just another reminder of the seriousness of this pandemic and the need to ensure that we do everything we can to protect our family and friends until we can distribute a vaccine to everyone. — Kirk Hatcher (@kirkhatcherAl) December 31, 2020
Groups want water board members who will stop shutoffs
A group of civic organizations is asking Birmingham-area leaders to appoint new board members to the city’s water utility who will stop shutting off water for customers behind on their bills. The organizations are asking for Birmingham Water Works Board members who will resume a moratorium on shutoffs for overdue bills and set up 12-month income-driven repayment plans instead of shorter repayment plans over three to six months. The board resumed water shutoffs in October after an earlier pause because of the coronavirus pandemic. There were more 12,000 overdue accounts owing more than $7 million at that time, WBMA-TV reports, although some customers have since caught up. Rob Burton, executive director of SWEET Alabama, said charity groups can’t afford to cover the overdue bills. The group promotes sustainable use of energy, land, and water. “A lot of our children are taking school virtually and people are working at home so cutting off service to water in our home while our children do not have access to their public spaces and their schools, it’s going to further negatively impact our children,” Burton said. All nine board members’ terms expire at the end of the year, according to the board’s website. The Birmingham City Council appoints four members and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin appoints two members. The Jefferson County Mayor’s Association, the Shelby County Commission, and the Blount County Commission each appoint one member. The utility provides drinking water to more than 600,000 customers in five counties. Burton said a short-term repayment plan can be like paying three water bills in a month for a resident. Burton said the board has not acted despite multiple meetings. In November, the board of directors voted to approve budgets that will not result in an increase in customers’ water rates for 2021. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Floyd Council resigns as executive director of Birmingham Public Library
Birmingham Public Library executive director Floyd Council has resigned from his position effective immediately. Floyd announced his resignation on Facebook, stating, “After much prayer and consideration, I wanted you all to be the first to know that I will be announcing my resignation this week from my position as Executive Director of the Birmingham Public Library with plans to start the new year with other blessings and use of my gifts and talents to the Glory of God. Health, wellness, and peace all come from God, not jobs, big salaries, and people.” While the announcement didn’t state any reasons, Council had been suspended without pay in October and November for undisclosed reasons, according to Birmingham Watch. According to Al.com, Council wrote a letter to Birmingham officials, including Mayor Randall Woodfin, stating, “It has been my honor to lead as the first African American man to serve as Director of the Birmingham Public Library in the 134-year history of the library system. Please be informed that in consultation with my doctor, my pastor, and my attorney, I am officially announcing my resignation from my position as Executive Director of the Birmingham Public Library to the City of Birmingham, the City Council, the Library Board of Trustees, the Library staff, and the community. My resignation is effective at close of business today, December 15, 2020.” “I am exceptionally thankful to the City leadership and Mayor Randall Woodfin for his passionate support of the library system, especially to repair Central East Library and the new Wylam Branch Library,” Council continued. “I offer no comments about the culture at the library or strategic future of BPL, but pray that the City and City Council will make viable plans to support the library system for the next 100 years.” The Birmingham Public Library board has scheduled an emergency meeting for Dec. 16 at noon in response to Council’s resignation.
Steve Marshall warns cities/counties and pledges to residents to uphold the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has pledged to uphold the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act, in light of the five recent fines that have been placed on cities or counties for removing confederate memorials. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill into law in 2017. It states, “No architecturally significant building, memorial building, memorial street, or monument which is located on public property and has been so situated for 40 or more years may be relocated, removed, altered, renamed, or otherwise disturbed.” Those between 20 and 40 years old may only be disturbed in certain circumstances (waiver). In 2019, the law was ruled an unconstitutional violation of the right to free speech, and the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that it couldn’t be enforced. The penalty for violating the law was fixed at a $25,000 fine. In June Birmingham officials removed a 115-year-old Confederate Soldiers and Sailors monument in the city’s Linn Park when Mayor Randall Woodfin ordered it removed after it was vandalized. In response, Marshall filed a lawsuit, seeking a $25,000 fine against the city of Birmingham Tuesday for removing a Confederate monument in Linn Park. Marshall’s statements come after the most recent lawsuit against Madison County when they removed a confederate monument in downtown Huntsville. Marshall commented, “In recent months, we have witnessed a number of elected officials take it upon themselves to tear down monuments and statues protected under Alabama law. I want to speak directly to the people of Alabama, as the chief law enforcement officer of our state, to make a few things clear about the actions of these elected officials: “First, any elected official who removes a historic monument or statue in violation of Alabama law has broken the law. He has not simply decided to ‘pay a fee’ so that he can lawfully have the monument or statue removed. He has committed an illegal act. “Second, any elected official sworn into office by taking an oath to uphold the law, who then breaks a duly enacted and constitutional law, has violated that oath. “Third, despite what some newspapers might have you believe, any elected official who disregards the duties of his office in this manner has done so not out of courage, but has done so out of fear. This should not be celebrated, for disregarding the law subverts our democratic system. “Our government vests the power to make laws in the legislature alone. If an elected official disagrees with a law, he can work through his legislators to see that law changed. That is how our system works. “I urge my fellow Alabamians to take note of those casting votes and spending their tax dollars to violate a law of this state. It is now a question of when not if these same leaders will cast aside yet another law—being guided only by the political winds of the moment. “Around the country, we have seen what happens when city and county officials allow the mob to take over. It all starts with subtle non-enforcement of laws and ordinances, and quickly devolves into utter lawlessness. As a state, we must remain vigilant that those elected to govern our localities do not lead us slowly down the same road.”
Randall Woodfin declares Election Day a city holiday in Birmingham
Mayor Randall Woodfin today declared Election day, November 3rd, is now a city holiday. Woodfin has been mayor since 2017. Woodfin, who has been active in working to ensure all citizens are registered to vote, took this commitment to a new level when he declared Election day a city holiday for Birmingham. On his Facebook post, he stated, “It’s always been my belief that a goal of every elected official should be to make voting easier, not harder. Over the past few years, we have seen different tactics used to attempt to erode and make more difficult our ability to vote in this country. To me, that’s just plain unacceptable. That’s why I’m officially making Election Day a city holiday in Birmingham. Making Election Day a day that is free from work should help those who are normally unable to take time off to go vote, particularly employees who work long shifts, have more than one job, and often must balance all of that with childcare. A US Census Bureau survey found that about 14% of respondents, about 2.7 million people, said the main reason they did not vote was because they were too busy to do so. So that’s it. We’re making Election Day a city holiday and instead of a day worrying about trying to carve out time to go vote, we’re turning Election Day into a celebration of our democracy. And if for some reason you still aren’t able to make it out to vote on Election Day, you can vote right now at your county courthouse by in-person absentee ballot. This year more than ever, we need to be breaking down the barriers that prevent our residents from having their voices heard. VOTE.” Other cities and states have worked to make Election day a holiday as well. In April, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed a series of laws to expand access to voting. States including Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, and New York have also proposed similar laws. State offices typically close, though it depends on the state whether employees are entitled to paid time off to vote. Supporters of these types of laws argue that making it a national holiday would improve voter turnout. “Voting is a fundamental right, and these new laws strengthen our democracy by making it easier to cast a ballot, not harder,” Northam stated. Around 240 million citizens are eligible to vote this year, according to Michael McDonald, who runs the U.S. Elections Project. With one week left before election day, more than 66 million people have already voted – nearly half of the total votes counted in the 2016 general election. That means the total voter turnout could be higher than 62% this year, an increase from the 2016 election.
