Big 10 Mayors urge Alabama voters to vote Yes for Aniah’s Law – Amendment One
Aniah’s Law – Amendment One – will be on the November 8 general election ballot. If ratified by Alabama voters, it would allow judges to deny bail to dangerous criminals likely to re-offend. The Alabama Big 10 Mayors held a press conference in Auburn on Monday to express their support for the Aniah’s Law constitutional amendment. The mayors urged Alabama voters to support it on Election Day. “As governments, public safety is our number one responsibility,” said Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson. “Collectively, we have been working since 2019 on legislation to change our state constitution and give judges the option of denying pre-trial bail to the most violent offenders who are likely to re-offend. We know this will save lives in every community across the state.” Aniah Blanchard was a Southern Union student who was kidnapped off of the streets of Auburn at a gas station by a known violent kidnapper who was out on bond. She was brutalized, raped, and murdered by her attacker. Her parents were instrumental in Aniah’s law being passed by the Alabama Legislature. “Fall is an exciting time in Auburn, with new students, football, relationships, and classes,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “It has been a great fall here in Auburn, but it should have included Aniah Blanchard. On November 8, the citizens of Alabama have something they can do about this. By voting for amendment one, you will allow judges to keep violent offenders in jail, so in the future, we will not have other stories like Aniah Blanchard’s to remember.” “When Aniah was taken from us, it was extremely unsettling,” said Anders. “It was unnerving. It rocked our world.” “The thing is, when you talk to our men and women in the police department, they do great work – they do a lot of hard work. One of the most dispiriting things that happen is that when they arrest someone, especially for a violent offense is when that person is back out before the community even settles down,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed. “We want to make sure that when people do wrong, when they commit a violent offense, that they have to pay for it.” Angela Harris – the mother of Aniah Blanchard – said, “Aniah’s Law will be on the ballot on November 8, and I encourage everyone to get out to vote for Amendment One. No family should have to go through such a tragedy. If this could happen to Aniah, it could happen to anyone. Please keep your family, your friends, and your community safe, and honor Aniah’s memory on November 8.” “This bill would change so that other parents would not have to go through the same tragedy that we have had to go through,” said Elijah Blanchard – Aniah’s father. “On November 8, vote yes for Amendment One because we are going to make a change.” Alabama judges have limited authority to deny bail to violent offenders unless the suspect is charged with a capital offense or poses a flight risk. This allows known dangerous criminals to be released back onto the streets, even when it’s likely they will commit more violent crimes as soon as they make bail. At one point, there were 300 accused murderers out on the streets of Mobile alone awaiting trial. If the voters ratify Aniah’s Law, judges will be able to deny bail to dangerous offenders who are likely to re-offend when they are charged with serious felonies like attempted murder, kidnapping, rape, sexual torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson, robbery, terrorism, or aggravated child abuse. This law passed both Houses of the Alabama Legislature unanimously in April 2021. Representing the largest cities in Alabama, the Alabama Big 10 Mayors include Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. These mayors meet quarterly to address the state’s most critical issues and to make Alabama a safer, better place for all of its residents. Voters will get to vote on Amendment one in the general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Congressional delegation reelected in November
Our Alabama Congressional delegation will all be reelected next month, as usual. We are no different than any other state when it comes to the incumbency advantage of being a congressperson. When someone is elected to the U.S. Congress, they are usually there for life unless they run for higher office. They probably would not be defeated unless they killed someone, and that probably would not be enough. It would probably depend on who they killed. The Congress is so divided and acrimonious along party lines that if they killed another member of Congress from a different party, it would probably help them and enshrine them in their seat for life. The reelection rate for members of the U.S. Congress is over 93%. That is similar to the Communist Russian Politburo. Our Congress is more akin to the British parliament, where they quasi-own their seat. Our delegation will have one new member. Dale Strong will take the Republican seat of Mo Brooks in the 5th District, Huntsville-Tennessee Valley area. He started early and stayed late. He began the campaign as the favorite and remained the frontrunner throughout the two-year campaign to capture the open seat. Strong has been a popular chairman of the Madison County Commission. He is a native Huntsvillian and was even educated grade school through college in the Madison County area. He was backed strongly by the Huntsville/Madison business community. They realize the importance of having a pragmatic, pro-business conservative who will be a GOP team player in Washington. It is imperative for the Redstone Arsenal to have a workhorse in that seat. They will miss Richard Shelby, who has done all the heavy lifting for federal growth. They are glad and fortunate to swap Mo Brooks for Dale Strong. Strong is relatively young and will probably be a long-termer. Jerry Carl will be reelected to his first district Mobile/Baldwin GOP Seat next month. He has taken to Congress like a duck to water. He also has long-term workhorse written all over him. Barry Moore will be reelected to his second term as the congressman from the 2nd District, which encompasses the Wiregrass and east Montgomery. It is a very Republican district. Mike Rogers of Anniston will be reelected to his eleventh term in November. He is gaining seniority and power. If the GOP takes over control of the U.S. House, as is expected next month, he is in line to possibly be chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Robert Aderholt of the 4th District is the dean of the delegation, thus under the entrenched seniority system, he is our most powerful Congressman. Aderholt got to Congress at a very early age. He will be reelected to his 14th two-year term. He serves on the important and prestigious Appropriations Committee. Gary Palmer will begin his fourth term representing the Jefferson/Hoover/Shelby GOP district. Gary is a policy and issues guy. The GOP leadership recognized this early, and he has advanced as a policy leader in the House. The lone Democrat in our delegation is Congresswoman Terri Sewell of Birmingham. She will be reelected to her seventh term in the U.S. House in a few weeks. She has emerged as a leader within the Democratic House Caucus. She is very well respected in Washington. She is a native of Selma and holds Ivy League undergraduate and law degrees. Hopefully, for Alabama, she is a long-timer. She has a large, sprawling district that covers most of Birmingham, Montgomery, and all of the Black Belt, including her hometown of Selma. Sewell, being the only African American Democrat in our seven-member Congressional district, is the subject of a case pending in the U.S. Supreme Court. Democratic leaders contend that Alabama could and should have two majority-minority districts in the state rather than one. The argument is that Sewell’s 7th District contains only 14% of the Black voters in the state. Alabama’s African American population is 27%. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, then our delegation may go from six Republicans and one Democrat to five Republicans and two Democrats. The two prominent, powerful, young African American mayors of Birmingham and Montgomery, Randall Woodfin and Steven Reed, would both be eyeing the new Democratic Congressional Seat. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at: www.steveflowers.us.
Manna Beverage to bring over 170 jobs to Montgomery
Gov. Kay Ivey announced today that Manna Beverages & Ventures was going to site a new multi-million dollar facility in the City of Montgomery. Manna is owned by Manna Capital Partners, which was started by NBA legend Ulysses Lee “Junior” Bridgeman. “It is an exciting day for both the State of Alabama and the City of Montgomery,” said Gov. Ivey. “If you are willing to work hard, we are here to help you all the way.” “Announcements like this are a solid sign that in the state of Alabama, we are doing things right,” Ivey continued. “Manna Beverages & Ventures represents a $600 million investment and more than 280 jobs for the state of Alabama and the City of Montgomery. It takes a lot of teamwork to achieve an announcement like this today. In my time as Governor, I have been fortunate to have an all-star team to work with Chambers of Commerce like this and the team at the Alabama Department of Commerce.” “My goal in the next four years is to lean more on public-private partnerships to bring more announcements like this,” Ivey said. “Junior, thank you for bringing your business to the state of Alabama. You will not regret it.” Bridgeman said the $600 million investment will “start with 170 jobs” and “hopefully will get up to 280 jobs.” He said that the company would emphasize working with minority and women-owned businesses. “Thank you to the great State of Alabama and the City of Montgomery,” stated Junior Bridgeman. “Thank you to welcoming me and my team to the beautiful and historic City of Montgomery. We are very excited to be here.” Bridgeman announced that Manna Beverages & Ventures “Will build our first facility in Montgomery to produce beverages for world-class brand owners.” Bridgeman said that the 1.7 million square foot facility would be located at a 180-acre site off of I-65. Bridgeman noted that the facility should open in early 2025. “It is special for me to be here in this special and historic place – the City of Montgomery,” Bridgeman said. “The truth is that the people here in Montgomery are genuine.” “I want to thank Governor Ivey for her leadership and support for jobs and economic development not just for Montgomery and this region; but for the entire state,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed. “Manna Capital Partners launching their $600 million Manna Beverages investment does not just happen overnight. It takes a lot of work. This is another great performance by the city, the county, and the state.” Reed praised Bridgeman and Manna Beverages & Ventures for their commitment to working with Black and women-owned businesses. “That means a lot,” said Reed. “They have already asked about opportunities to partner with our schools and grow the economic ecosystems that are here.” Bridgeman is a retired NBA and college basketball star who invested in dining franchises and later became a Coca-Cola bottler after his retirement. Reed praised Bridgeman for his career with the Milwaukee Bucks. “He has shown the ability to manage the toughest areas of business – the restaurant and hospitality business. He is one of the top ten wealthiest retired athletes in the world. He was number four in 2016. Let’s help him to get to number one,” said Reed. “It is a great day today to be here and celebrate with them coming to Montgomery County,” said Montgomery County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton. “When you are out there recruiting, most of the time, the prospect wants to know what you are going to do for them, but meeting with Manna, they were all about what they would do for our community.” “We are honored this morning to welcome a new business to our community,” said Montgomery Chamber of Commerce Director Cedric Campbell. “ Since first being elevated to Governor in 2017, Ivey has focused on economic development issues to raise employment rates and Alabama household incomes. Ivey is seeking a second term as governor. She faces Democratic party nominee Yolanda Flowers and Libertarian nominee Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake in the November 8 general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama NAACP honors difference makers at annual gala
The Alabama NAACP recently held its annual Bridge Crossing Gala. The event, in its 57th year, was at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Montgomery. Speakers included U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Darlena Battle, Corporate Relations specialist for Alabama Power, emceed the event. As part of the festivities, several people and organizations were honored for their commitment to diversity and building a better Alabama. Students and NAACP members made up the honorees, who included: Outstanding Leadership: Benard Simelton, Alabama NAACP president. Foot Soldiers Scholarship Contributor: Regions Bank. Shining Star Award: Carlos King, creator and executive producer of the “Love & Marriage Huntsville” reality show. Foot Soldiers Scholarship Award: Alyssa Miles, Andrea Wainwright. Gamechanger: Jasmine Washington Cook, Raven Perry-Beach. Trailblazer: Patricia A. Haley. Foot Soldier: Bobby Diggs. Humanitarian: Alec Barnett. Living History: Les Brown. Unsung Hero: Brenda Debose. The NAACP was founded in 1909 with a vision to “ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination,” according to the association’s website. It is the nation’s largest civil rights organization, with “over 2 million activists fighting for change and for justice.” For more information about the NAACP and its programs, please visit www.alnaacp.org. Republished with the permission of the Alabama News Center.
New Orleans police executive named chief in Montgomery
A longtime police executive from New Orleans will take over as police chief in Alabama’s capital city, Mayor Steven Reed’s office said Monday. Darryl Albert, who has spent more than 30 years in law enforcement and held several key roles in the New Orleans Police Department, was selected following a search to succeed Ernest Finley, who resigned in June. New Orleans police announced in January that Albert, who held the rank of captain, was moving from his leadership position with the department’s Special Operations Division to oversee the agency’s training academy. He also held positions in New Orleans, including deputy chief of field operations, commander of the homicide division and the crime laboratory, and deputy superintendent. Albert is a member of organizations including the Fraternal Order of Police and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. Montgomery, the third-largest city in the state, said it considered almost 100 candidates before selecting Albert as chief, and the hiring process included a committee of community leaders that evaluated finalists. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Steven Reed and Jeremy Gray: To increase housing equity, renters need choices
As Alabama continues recovering from the economic shocks caused by this unprecedented and seemingly endless pandemic, our leaders must work tirelessly to not only rebuild our economy, but to bring everyone up along with it and make sure our economy works for all Alabamians. Over the last two years, COVID-19 has upended our entire way of life, affecting everyone regardless of race, gender, or creed. Yet, due to decades of inequitable policies, Black Alabamians suffered the most with higher unemployment rates, higher COVID mortality rates, and even higher eviction rates. This has to change now, and the first place to start is by dramatically rethinking our approach to housing. Every day, thousands of Alabama renters fear eviction. Thousands of families face the dire prospect of unemployment. Thousands of children could be put on the streets. This is especially true for our communities of color, which face eviction at a rate nearly double that of their white neighbors. And the disparities don’t just end there. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 50% of Black and Brown renters were cost-burdened—meaning more than 30% of their income goes to paying for housing. Black renters fared even worse, spending 50% of their monthly income on average on housing costs. Across Alabama, thousands of folks are facing economic hardship and housing instability, with few ways to overcome these challenges to get access to affordable, safe housing. To combat these seemingly overwhelming adversities, so much needs to be done. One simple area where we can start is by upending the onerous cash security deposit. Traditionally, the way we rent apartments is simple and well-known: find a place, apply, get approved, then pay exorbitant upfront sums just to move in. The practice of requiring a security deposit prior to moving in essentially doubles the upfront cost of renting. This means that a working family living paycheck-to-paycheck will be priced out of most apartments, even if they can afford the monthly rent. According to a study conducted by the Federal Reserve, 40% of Americans do not have enough money set aside for a $400 emergency expense, all while the average cost of a security deposit in Alabama is over $1,000. The answer is simple: renters need more options when it comes to covering the cost of a security deposit. This will make housing more accessible, meaning that thousands—if not millions—of Alabamians can equitably access safe, secure housing and thrive in this economy. A little over a year ago, Atlanta, GA’s City Council passed a “Renter’s Choice” policy giving all renters the option to pay their security deposit through a lower-cost insurance policy offered by a company like Rhino. These alternatives are already available in Alabama today, and we would urge renters and property owners alike to encourage their use to help address our community’s ongoing economic challenges. Moreover, across the country, there is more than $45 billion in security deposits sitting dormant in escrow accounts. Landlords can’t touch it; renters can’t touch it. This money could be used to pay down debts, invest in our local economy, get access to better healthcare, and more. There is a better way. In 2022, accessing affordable, safe housing has never been more difficult. In Alabama, affordable housing remains scarce, while the existing units are often plagued by segregation and blight. It is time to challenge the way we rent in Alabama. Instead of being forced to pay typically exorbitant sums upfront, renters should have the choice to take out an affordable insurance policy, costing no more than a few dollars a month. This would allow renters to have more mobility, access to better jobs, and access to better schools for their children, all while having more money to contribute to the economy. Giving all renters the option to access security deposit insurance is one way that more Alabamians can take advantage of all of the opportunities this great state has to offer. To be frank, this is just common sense: housing security benefits renters, landlords, and businesses across our state. More opportunities means more equity, which means our economy will be stronger. Across America, leaders in government and housing are embracing options like these because they see the benefits that extend far beyond the ability for a family to move from one apartment to another. To combat the inequities we see across this state and this nation, we must act quickly. While Renter’s Choice is not the end, it is a beginning that we can get started on almost immediately. As members of this community, we must acknowledge the need for change. Renter’s Choice is an example of much-needed change, and it is time we roll our sleeves up and get this done. Steven L. Reed is the Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama, and Jeremy Gray is the representative for District 83 of the Alabama House of Representatives.
Montgomery mayor Steven Reed and state superintendent Eric Mackey positive for COVID-19
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said he is quarantining after testing positive for the coronavirus and developing a mild case of COVID-19. Reed sent a message on social media on Sunday saying he will be fine and encouraging others to get tested, vaccinated, and boosted. He announced the diagnosis a day earlier, saying he tested positive after returning home from a business trip despite being fully vaccinated. “I’ll be in isolation for the next week while staying engaged in city matters,” Reed said. Eric Mackey, Alabama’s state school superintendent, announced on Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19. Mackey said he was vaccinated and had received a booster shot and was experiencing “cold-like symptoms.” State statistics show more than 2,700 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. That means Alabama is nearing its all-time high for pandemic hospitalizations, 3,084 in January 2021, according to the Alabama Hospital Association. More than 16,800 people have died of COVID-19 in Alabama, giving the state the nation’s fourth-highest death rate, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Montgomery faces fine, lawsuit for dropping Confederate name
Alabama’s capital city last month removed the Confederate president’s name from an avenue and renamed it after a lawyer known for his work during the civil rights movement. Now the state attorney general says the city must pay a fine or face a lawsuit for violating a state law protecting Confederate monuments and other longstanding memorials. Montgomery last month changed the name of Jeff Davis Avenue to Fred D. Gray Avenue. Gray, who grew up on that same street, represented Rosa Parks and others in cases that fought Deep South segregation practices and was dubbed by Martin Luther King Jr. as “the chief counsel for the protest movement.” The Alabama attorney general’s office sent a Nov. 5 letter to Montgomery officials saying the city must pay a $25,000 fine by Dec. 8, “otherwise, the attorney general will file suit on behalf of the state.” Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said changing the name was the right thing to do. “It was important that we show, not only our residents here, but people from afar that this is a new Montgomery,” Reed, the city’s first Black mayor said in a telephone interview. It was Reed’s suggestion to rename the street after Gray. “We want to honor those heroes that have fought to make this union as perfect as it can be. When I see a lot of the Confederate symbols that we have in the city, it sends a message that we are focused on the lost cause as opposed to those things that bring us together under the Stars and Stripes.” The Alabama Memorial Preservation Act forbids the removal or alteration of monuments and memorials — including a memorial street or memorial building — that have stood for more than 40 years. While the law does not specifically mention memorials to the Confederacy, lawmakers approved the measure in 2017 as some cities began taking down Confederate monuments. Violations carry a $25,000 fine. Mike Lewis, a spokesman for Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, declined to comment on the letter to the city. This is the first time the law is being used regarding a street name change, he said. The all-Republican Alabama Supreme Court in 2019 reversed a circuit judge’s ruling that declared the law an unconstitutional violation of the free speech rights of local communities. Reed said they knew this was a possibility when the city renamed the street. Donors from across the country have offered to pay the fine for the city. He said they are also considering taking the matter to court. “The other question we have to answer is: Should we pay the fine when we see it as an unjust law?” Reed said. “We’re certainly considering taking the matter to court because it takes away home rule for municipalities.” Alabama’s capital city is sometimes referred to as the “Cradle of the Confederacy” because it is where representatives of states met in 1861 to form the Confederacy, and the city served as the first Confederate capital. The city also played a key role in the civil rights movement — including the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The Montgomery County school system has voted to rename high schools named for Davis and Confederate General Robert E. Lee — although the names have not yet been changed. Several cities have just opted to take down Confederate monuments and pay the $25,000 fine. The state recently collected a $25,000 fine after suing officials in Huntsville, where the county removed a Confederate memorial outside the county courthouse last year. Marshall last year issued a video message chiding local officials that they are breaking the law with monument removals. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Club for Growth launches long-anticipated opposition of Katie Britt
Club for Growth has finally joined the fight for the Alabama U.S. Senate seat. The 2022 election, still months away, is looking to be a long and hard-fought battle, with major players vying to take the seat now held by long-time senator Richard Shelby. Club for Growth Action, the federal super PAC, has endorsed U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks. Now the group is taking aim at Katie Britt. A Club for Growth spokesman told Yellowhammer News that it has a new ad that will run after the Iron Bowl in the Montgomery media market. The 30-second ad targets Britt for her association with Democrat Mayor Steven Reed and for her supporting the 2019 Rebuild Alabama Act, which included a fuel tax increase. The ad states, “Wouldn’t it be nice if politics had clear lines like football? Look at Katie Britt. Whose side is she on? Britt worked for Democrat mayor Steve Reed’s transition team when he took over in Montgomery that pushed a ton of liberal policies, including massive tax increases. And Britt backed a $300 million, 10-cent-a-gallon gas tax hike. Katie Britt: If you’re a Trump conservative, she’s not on your team.”
Steven Reed blames low bail for murder rates surpassing last year’s total and crime rate going up
Gun-related crime is rising in Montgomery, and leaders are asking the courts to help solve the problem. From Sunday to Tuesday this week, there have been five homicides in the city, and three of those murders took place on Sunday reported WSFA News. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed spoke at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. “We are still continuing to see far too many shootings in our city. Far too many of them are perpetrated by people who know one another.” On Sunday, law enforcement responded to four separate shootings that resulted in the death of four people. The city’s homicide total for this year is 69. Last year’s total was 68. “One life lost is certainly one too many,” Reed said. During his speech at the council meeting, Reed said the Montgomery Police Department is not to blame for the rise in crime, but he did blame the judicial system. Reed argued that criminals are being bailed out of jail and are ending up back on the streets. “We got to make sure we got the full participation and the full partnership of our Judicial Branch in this community, and that’s not happening right now. When the men and women of the Montgomery Police Department are re-arresting the same people over and over again, that’s a problem,” Reed commented. “When a bond for murder is set at $150,000, but someone arrested for drugs has a bond set at $200,000, that’s a problem to me,” Reed continued. Police Chief Romana Harris agreed with Reed and other city leaders. They all say they need help from the judicial system to make sure repeat offenders aren’t being released back into the community. “We would like to see them being released less,” Harris stated. “$150,000 I don’t think is a suitable amount, even with due process, because we’ve had situations where we’ve seen those that are out on bond for murder that are now committing new murders while they’re out on bond.” “We need the judges to make sure that they’re following through, and if you have people who are repeat offenders you cannot let them out with these low bails. You have got to send a message,” Reed said.
Steve Flowers: Huntsville is Alabama’s largest city
Huntsville has rocketed past Birmingham as Alabama’s largest city. It is not named the Rocket City for nothing. The Census Bureau had been predicting this amazing boom in population in the Madison (Huntsville)/Limestone area, but the actual figures recently released reveal a bigger growth than expected. Huntsville grew by 20% or 35,000 people and is now a little over 215,000. On the other hand, Birmingham shrank by 12,000 or 5% to 201,000 people. Montgomery held its own, and Montgomery and Birmingham are actually in a virtual tie for second at around 200,000. Mobile shrank to 187,000 and is now the smallest of the “big four” cities in the state. Our big four cities of Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile are all led by sterling mayors. Birmingham’s mayor, Randall Woodfin, and Mobile’s mayor, Sandy Stimpson, both won overwhelming reelection victories in late August elections. Mayor Woodfin won a very impressive reelection landslide victory on August 24. Woodfin garnered an amazing 65% of the vote against seven opponents. He won his first race for mayor four years ago, the old-fashioned way. He went door-to-door and knocked on an estimated 50,000 doors. He followed up this year by running one of the most picture-perfect campaigns in modern times. He again had a stellar grassroots campaign with a host of volunteers that knocked on an estimated 80,000 doors. Mayor Woodfin and his team are brilliantly adapting to the modern politics of using social media, yet he adroitly employs the old-school politics of mainstream television, traditional media, and getting out the vote. The initial polling on the mayoral race indicated that Woodfin could probably win reelection without a runoff, but nobody saw the 65% final result figure. I am convinced that the ad firm that designed his televisions ads garnered him a 12% boost from 53% to 65% with an ad using his mother. The ad featured Mama Woodfin asking her friends and neighbors in Birmingham to vote for her boy. She was a superstar. Mobile Mayor Stimpson also won an impressive 63% reelection victory on August 24. He was elected to his third term. Stimpson is a successful businessman from an old silk stocking Mobile family. He is doing the job as a civic duty. Mobilians must think he is doing a good job. Stimpson ran a positive campaign and spent a lot of money. Stimpson will be entering his third four-year term as mayor of the Port City. On election night, he indicated that this may be his last hurrah, noting that he will be 73 in 2025 and may be ready to hand over the reins. Huntsville’s mayor, Tommy Battle, won an impressive reelection last year. Montgomery mayor Steven Reed also won a very impressive first term election in 2020. The mayors of our four major cities are indeed popular. There is another dynamic developing in our state. The Morehouse College Degree and experience has become the standard of success among the new African American leaders in the state. It seems that this traditional historic college in Atlanta is where our elite leaders are spawned. The leadership of Montgomery are all products of this proud institution of higher learning. It is truly a powerfully bonded fraternity. Mayor Steven Reed, State Senator Kirk Hatcher, Probate Judge J.C. Love, and Circuit Judge Greg Griffin all have the same pedigree. They were born and raised in the Capitol City, went off to Morehouse for their education and national political networking, then came home to lead their city and Montgomery County. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is a Morehouse man. In his first race, his Morehouse friends and fraternity brothers from throughout the country, many of whom are professionals, doctors, lawyers, and businessmen, came to the Magic City to campaign and knock on doors for Woodfin. There was a room full of Morehouse men at Woodfin’s victory celebration on August 24 as he won his second term. By the same token, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson are products of the old school, 100-year-old University of Alabama fraternity called “The Machine.” Battle was a member of Kappa Sigma, and Stimpson was a Delta Kappa Epsilon. In closing, even though Huntsville is the largest city, folks in the Rocket City should not get too big of a head. The Birmingham/Hoover metro area is still by far the largest metropolitan area of the state by a 2-to-1 margin. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at: www.steveflowers.us.
Montgomery City Council votes against discrimination ordinance
On Tuesday, the Montgomery City Council voted against an ordinance that would have prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Since Mayor Steven Reed announced his intention to introduce this ordinance, opponents like the Alabama Center for Law and Liberty (ACLL) urged the city council to reject it, warning that it would violate the First Amendment as applied to churches and people of faith and that it would risk exposing women and children to sexual predators. In July, ACLL sent a letter joined by six other conservative organizations to the city council opposing the ordinance. Reed introduced the ordinance, reading it aloud instead of providing the public a copy in advance or putting it on the public agenda. Before the vote, Mayor Reed threatened to send businesses that were interested in doing business in Montgomery to Birmingham if the city council voted against the ordinance. Despite the threat, the council voted 5-4 to reject the ordinance. Councilors Charles Jinright, Audrey Graham, Brantley Lyons, Ed Grimes, and Glen Pruitt voted against it. Councilors Clay McInnis, Oronde Mitchell, Cornelius Calhoun, and Marche Johnson voted for it. In a recent op-ed, ACLL’s president Matt Clark wrote, “Because it defines gender identity as “the actual or perceived gender-related identity, expression, appearance, or mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual,” an establishment cannot question whether an individual is actually transgender if that person merely expresses, appears, or acts that way. Consequently, to gain access to women’s restrooms, locker rooms, or showers, a sexual predator will merely have to act like he is transgender. For all its claims about wanting to protect the weak, liberalism is alarmingly willing to subject women and children to severe trauma.” After the vote, Clark commented, “We commend Councilors Jinright, Graham, Lyons, Grimes, and Pruitt for voting to protect religious liberty and the safety of Montgomery’s women and children. By voting against religious persecution and sexual assault, these councilors stopped the Capital of Dreams from becoming the Capital of Nightmares. We thank these councilors for voting to keep Montgomery safe and free.”
