Caroleene Dobson qualifies for Congress in Congressional District 2
On Thursday, Montgomery attorney Caroleene Dobson officially qualified with the Republican Party to run for Alabama’s Second Congressional District. Currently, Dobson is the only qualified candidate for the GOP nomination for the newly redrawn CD2. Dobson grew up on a farm in Beatrice. She has a degree from Harvard and a law degree from Baylor University Law School. She practices real estate law. “As a member of Congress, I will fight for our families, our farms, and our faith and preserve the bedrock values and moral backbone that have made our nation the greatest ever known,” Dobson said. “It is time to give Washington, D.C. a good dose of Alabama common sense and go to battle against those on the far left who want to control how we use our property and what we do, think, and say.” Dobson is a member of the Alabama Forestry Commission, the Southeast Livestock Exposition, and the Birmingham Chapter of the Federalist Society. Dobson has promised to protect property rights and free speech rights if she is elected to Congress. Dobson grew up on a cattle farm and excelled in high school rodeo. She was a National Merit finalist and a U.S. Presidential Scholar. She currently practices with Maynard Nexsen in Birmingham. Dobson and her husband, Bobby, have two daughters. State Representative Jeremy Gray (D-Opelika) and Willie Lenard have both qualified to run as Democrats for the seat. Sen. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery), Rep. Napoleon Bracy (D-Prichard), and Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson have announced that they are running but have not qualified to run yet. Congressman Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) currently represents District 2, but the court-appointed special master drew Moore and his home County (Coffee) out of the Second District and into the First. He is seeking a third term in his new home district against incumbent Congressman Jerry Carl (R-Mobile). The new District 2 spans the state from the Mississippi line to the Georgia line and includes Mobile, Montgomery, Greenville, Troy, Union Springs, Eufaula, and Phenix City, Qualifying for the Republican and Democratic candidates ends on November 10. The major party primaries are on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Protected or Prisoners Part 7: 3 steps to exploitation
The 7th of our series examining the process used to gain control of elders and their estates and the ways in which they’re exploited afterwards.
Birmingham City Councilor takes 16 students to D.C. for Black Women’s Roundtable
Every year, Birmingham City Councilor Sheila Tyson takes students to 7th Annual Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) Summit in Washington, D.C. in her quest to enrich the lives of young women through civic education. 2018 is no different, as Tyson made her way to D.C. on Wednesday with sixteen young Birmingham, Ala. ladies representing the Student Government Association from Parker and Wenonah High Schools to participate in five days of symposiums at the BWR, an intergenerational civic engagement network of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. Throughout their trip the group will learn the importance of entrepreneurship, issues of economic security and prosperity, income inequality and how they can contribute to solutions through civic engagement. Tyson and the group will join several members of Congress, and national community leaders from across the nation to voice their concerns on federal matters concerning their communities. Students will also meet with state representatives, including Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, to discuss action steps to resolving issues in their communities and learn more on what policies and proposed funding is in place to address each of them. They will also be getting a private tour of the newest Smithsonian Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Tyson expressed the importance of building and organizing young women to learn the true power of their voices as forces of change ahead of the trip. “I’m beyond thrilled to be a part of this movement and travel with our young ladies to Capitol Hill and stand strong on issues within our communities,” Tyson said. “It is a privilege to teach them the many fundamentals of civic engagement and help them realize the power they hold with making changes not only in our communities, but our nation as a whole.” Parker High Principal Darrell Hudson said he’s excited that some of his school’s “shining stars’’ are making the trip, some of whom will be flying for the first time. “I think this is going to be a great opportunity. It will be a game changer’’ for them, Hudson said. Parker students on the trip include: Tykenya Todd, Lankea Burgin, Nariah Mayo, Tamika Green, LaTammara Davis, Zariah Threatt, Janecio Andrews and Markita Phillips. Wenonah students on the trip include: Courtlyn Scott, Aniya Kinnion, Jessica Moore and Shanyia Kimbrough. Tyson said the trip was made possible thanks to donors outside of Alabama.
Alabama Councilwoman Sheila Tyson complains Holocaust memorial is racist, ‘dead is dead’
Birmingham City Councilwoman Sheila Tyson is making national headlines for going on a bizarre rant questioning why the Magic City would help fund a Holocaust memorial as it would honor people who are dead. “Dead is dead, right?” she asked, referring to the similarities between a memorial to the Holocaust and the local Shadow Lawn cemetery. “Isn’t it still for dead people,” Tyson continued . “It is for dead people. Aren’t the people they are memorializing deceased?” The proposed Holocaust memorial could go in a garden space on 19th Street at 3rd Avenue North. The city was asking council to move $45,500 from youth services to help clear the lot. The Birmingham Holocaust Education Center (BHEC) raised private funds to build the memorial. But Councilwoman Tyson had more questions. “What’s the difference?” she asked. “I hope we can come together as a city,” said Rebecca Dobrinski, the memorial center’s executive director. The memorial would honor victims of the Holocaust that had ties to Birmingham. “Our Holocaust memorial garden, while it does honor those who perished, it is also telling the stories of those who survived and came to Birmingham and Alabama their home,” Dobrinski explained. “It is meant to teach the community of the consequences of prejudice and hate,” Dobrinski continued. “That is the lesson of the Holocaust. Our goal is to teach the lessons of the Holocaust … so that we do not go down that slippery slope of hate again.” City Council decided to table the issue for another week until the project’s developer could answer questions for Tyson and other reluctant officials. In response to the council meeting, the BHEC posted the following Wednesday on Facebook: The BHEC was surprised and disappointed by the reaction of the Birmingham City Council during the meeting on Tuesday, June 21. The BHEC has been working with representatives from the City for over two years on the Holocaust Garden project. The purpose of the Holocaust Garden is not only to remember those who perished during the Holocaust, to honor those survivors who settled in Birmingham and Alabama after the war, but especially to teach the history and lessons of the Holocaust. Our goal with the Garden is for it to be a tool to educate our community on the consequences of prejudice and discrimination so that future generations do not go down that same slippery slope of hate. Watch the video of the council meeting 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:
