Kay Ivey: No plans for a statewide shelter in place order
The announcement came the same day as the Birmingham city council approved a “shelter in place” ordinance.
Birmingham to vote on ‘shelter in place’ directive
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin recommended the order be voted on Tuesday by the city council.
Inside the Statehouse: Primaries next week
Steve Flowers discusses next week’s primary elections.
Birmingham Mayor criticizes Alabama law protecting Confederate monument
Woodfin made the comments the same day lawmakers debated a proposal to increase fines for violating the law.
Birmingham’s Legion Field preparing to host World Games 2021 opening ceremonies
The World Games are expected to bring $256 million to Birmingham.
Joe Biden boosts Super Tuesday case with Terri Sewell endorsement
Biden landed another high profile Alabama endorsement.
Mayor Randall Woodfin backing Joe Biden for president
The mayor of Alabama’s largest city is endorsing Joe Biden for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential nomination just weeks after the vice president met with a group of Southern black mayors representing millions of voters in key early primary states. In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said he left that Atlanta meeting in November convinced that Biden is the best choice to defeat President Donald Trump and lead the country. “I think he would view mayors as his partners in the campaign and he would view us as partners in the White House,” Woodfin said. “That’s important to me.” Woodfin’s endorsement, which he is expected to announce on Monday, is the latest amid a scramble among the 2020 candidates to shore up support with mayors. Late 2020 entry Michael Bloomberg — the former mayor of New York whose philanthropy has supported mayors across the country with training and millions of dollars in funding for city initiatives — has secured the backing of eight mayors since entering the field last month, including black mayors in Southern cities with large black populations whose voters could factor into the primary contest. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney endorsed Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren in October. Pete Buttigieg is the current mayor of South Bend, Indiana, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker is former mayor of Newark, New Jersey. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is former mayor of Burlington, and ex-Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro is former mayor of San Antonio. Woodfin said the role of mayors as candidates and proxies for candidates this cycle is notable. “As mayors as executives, we have to deal with issues every single day,” Woodfin said. “Regardless of the size of their city, it’s important to to take their candidacies seriously.” Mayors — and particularly black mayors across the South — could play a major role on the early calendar. Alabama is a Super Tuesday state and is one of four Southern states on the ballot March 3, including North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. All have significant black populations. “We can acknowledge that 72 hours after South Carolina is Super Tuesday,” Woodfin said. “Since 1992, whoever wins South Carolina wins a majority of the Southern states. Embedded in that math is people. Black women … are the base of the party, and we must respect that.” Woodfin represents a city with a metro area population of 1.3 million that is 74 percent African American. He was among four black Southern mayors who issued an open letter earlier this year to 2020 Democratic hopefuls seeking their support, calling on them to address priorities including affordable housing, climate change, health care and criminal justice. One of the letter’s signers, Mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia, South Carolina, was among Bloomberg’s early endorsers. Specifically, Woodfin pointed to Biden’s work on infrastructure under President Barack Obama and his continued support for the Affordable Care Act as reasons for his endorsement. Alabama is among the states that did not expand Medicaid, and Woodfin’s city has the country’s fourth-largest public hospital and a 29 percent poverty rate. Woodfin added that next year’s U.S. Senate race — with embattled Democrat Doug Jones fighting for reelection — and the 2020 fight in legislatures over redistricting could all be helped by a Biden candidacy. “You need somebody at the top of the ticket who can help down ballot candidates and expand the map nationwide,” Woodfin said. “From all the evidence I’ve seen, Vice President Biden gives us the best chance to do that.” Still, Woodfin said it will be important for Democratic mayors to come together after a hard-fought primary to galvanize the electorate in their respective cities to defeat their common enemy. “Speaking with one voice behind one candidate is going to be important,” Woodfin said. “When you think about the different mayors who have endorsed, we all agreed with us writing that letter, that didn’t mean all of us would endorse the same candidate. When the primary’s over, I expect all of us to come together. As mayors, we’re all still in this together. Haines has covered race and politics for The Associated Press since 2015. Follow her work on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/emarvelous. Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, “Ground Game.” Republished with the Permission of the Associated Press.
Randall Woodfin promises free college to high school graduates
The mayor of Alabama’s largest city is promising to help students there attend the state’s public colleges “tuition free,” but many details of the plan are yet to come. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin posted a video Wednesday describing his so-called “Birmingham Promise.” He created a stir Tuesday when he tweeted that in 2020, Birmingham high school graduates could attend in-state public colleges “tuition free.” Woodfin says the program is aimed at covering funding gaps after students apply for financial aid. He adds Birmingham will contribute $10 million over five years and private donors would provide additional funds. Woodfin likened the program to a moon shot, adding “fundraising won’t be easy.” The mayor says he’ll announce more details later. The Birmingham City Schools have 23,000 students from pre-K through 12th grade. Information from: The Birmingham News. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Birmingham councilman Steven Hoyt suggest bringing in National Guard to address crime
Birmingham city councilman Steven Hoyt raised some eyebrows at the June 18 council meeting saying crime, specifically in Belview Heights and Ensley, was getting so bad that maybe the National Guard needed to be called in. “Growing up, my mother told me if you don’t know how to do something, ask somebody. Get some help. If the governor can’t get things in order, she calls the president. Maybe we need to call the National Guard in here to help us control this city,” Hoyt said. He went on to clarify in an interview with CBS 42 that his remarks were intended to bring attention to the dire circumstances that a number of residents find themselves in, living in areas of the city where violent crime is rampant. Hoyt who has first hand experience with violence having been held up at gun point with his own family. Watch his exchange with Mayor Woodfin here beginning at 1:54. Woodfin’s response was, “We will not be calling the National Guard. I want to speak directly to the residents of Belview Heights who were not able to be here this morning but can hear my voice or are watching. Your neighborhood is very safe. These are not random killings. These are not random murders. These are interaction between people who know each other,” Woodfin said. “There is no terror in Belview Heights. Based on the definition of terrorism, these things that are happening are very personal in nature.”
Aerospace, automotive summits heading to Birmingham this week
Birmingham is hosting a pair of business summits this week that showcase Alabama’s growing automotive and manufacturing industries, providing participants with high-level networking opportunities and one-on-one meetings. The conferences are the Aerospace Innovative Technology Summit (AITS), held May 7-9, and the Automotive Advanced Technology Summit (AATS), held May 8-9. Both events are taking place at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, with 200 companies expected to participate. The Alabama Department of Commerce is among the sponsors of the summits, which feature workshops, presentations and business-to-business meetings. “The automotive and aerospace industries are major drivers of economic growth in Alabama, and these business conventions in Birmingham offer a pathway for companies from across the country and around the world to seek new opportunities and understand how their peers are utilizing and advancing the latest technologies,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Besides companies from Alabama and multiple U.S. states, an international presence representing 11 different countries is here to participate,” he said. “These summits bring a focus on innovation, which is critical to growing and sustaining these manufacturing sectors and placing Alabama in a leading role for the latest technologies.” Focusing on innovation The Aerospace Innovative Technology Summit targets the aerospace, space and defense industries, all with a significant presence in Alabama. With a focus on new technologies being deployed in the sector such as 3D metal printing, digitalization of manufacturing and cyber security, the event aims to connect leading companies and participants in the sharing of ideas in the application and development of these innovations in their businesses. To kick off the aerospace conference, Canfield will provide an overview of the industry sector in the state. Other scheduled speakers include R.G. “Corky” Clinton Jr. of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Nick Bowman of GKN Aerospace and Jeff Chang of Lockheed Martin. The Automotive Advanced Technology Summit will focus on advanced manufacturing and new technologies at use within an industry growing rapidly in Alabama. Scheduled speakers include Mark Brazeal of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA, Tom Shoupe of Honda of America Manufacturing, and Brad Newman of ZF Chassis Systems in Tuscaloosa. Also speaking is Chuck Ernst, a former Honda Alabama executive who now serves as manager of the Alabama Robotics Technology Park, a unique training facility in Decatur. “It is an honor to have Birmingham chosen as the site for both of these conventions,” said Brian Jennings, vice president of economic development for the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA). “It speaks to Alabama’s prominence in both the aerospace and automotive industries, and we look forward to bringing so many people together to foster continued growth of both industries.” Joining the BBA and the Department of Commerce in supporting the business conferences are the City of Birmingham, Jefferson County, the Birmingham Airport Authority, the Alabama Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Alabama Community College System. Mayor Randall Woodfin said Birmingham is the ideal location for the events. “Now, more than ever, Birmingham is focused on bringing high-quality technology jobs to our city. The summit gives a great chance to identify innovative partners that share our commitment to the next generation of manufacturing in the aerospace and automotive industries,” Woodfin said. This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.
Plan to honor Larry Langford, former Birmingham mayor convicted of bribery, sparks disagreement
A plan to honor a former Alabama mayor who went to prison for bribery is sparking disagreement in Birmingham. Birmingham’s current mayor, Randall Woodfin, has proposed renaming a city recreational facility for Larry Langford, an ex-mayor convicted in a bribery scheme a decade ago. Langford died in January after being released from federal prison because of poor health. Woodfin told the City Council recently that Langford made contributions and deserves to be honored. But al.com reports that council member Hunter Williams wrote Woodfin saying the city would send the wrong message by honoring a convicted felon. Langford was convicted of taking about $235,000 in bribes in return for directing lucrative bond work to an ally while he was head of the Jefferson County Commission. Those deals helped bankrupt Alabama’s most populous county. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Game on for the mayors: Randall Woodfin bets on Birmingham Iron in wager with Memphis mayor
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is publicly announcing his support of the Magic City’s new Alliance of American Football (AAF) team, the Birmingham Iron. Woodfin took to Twitter on Friday in support of the team ahead of their first game against the Memphis Express on Sunday while simultaneously proposing a friendly wager with Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. “Hey @MayorMemphis. Up for a challenge? If the @aafiron picks up a W this Sunday, the @aafexpress gets lunch for the A.G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club. Y’all win and the Iron donates to the @MSouthFoodBank. #ForgeOn #BeatMemphis,” Woodfin tweeted. Hey @MayorMemphis. Up for a challenge? If the @aafiron picks up a W this Sunday, the @aafexpress gets lunch for the A.G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club. Y’all win and the Iron donates to the @MSouthFoodBank. #ForgeOn #BeatMemphis — Randall Woodfin (@randallwoodfin) February 8, 2019 “Challenge accepted, @randallwoodfin! Hope the @aafiron bring their A-game against the @aafexpress because in Memphis—we don’t bluff. #memphishasmomentum #wedontbluff,” Strickland responded. Challenge accepted, @randallwoodfin! Hope the @aafiron bring their A-game against the @aafexpress because in Memphis—we don’t bluff. #memphishasmomentum #wedontbluff — Mayor Jim Strickland (@MayorMemphis) February 8, 2019 “See y’all on the field Sunday 😎 #ForgeOn,” Woodfin said wrapping up the back-and-forth with a final Iron-related pun. See y’all on the field Sunday 😎 #ForgeOn https://t.co/hFBOoTWSWW — Randall Woodfin (@randallwoodfin) February 8, 2019 If you would like to support Woodfin or Strickland’s charities of choice, you can donate to them below: The A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club The Mid-South Food Bank
