BW Listening: What were residents thinking about before Tuesday’s election?

Antidote to Birmingham Crime? Community Investment, Not More Police, Some Residents Say

What’s the way to prevent and reduce crime in Birmingham? The prescription suggested by Birmingham residents at a BW Listening session is community involvement and investment – from city government, churches, individual residents and families, and communities as a whole. It’s not primarily about police, they said. “The absence of police means safety to me,” said Carmen, a West End resident. “Police can’t prevent crime.” A half-dozen residents of East Lake and West End and other city neighborhoods gathered for a BW Listening conversation this week at the headquarters of Urban Ministry, a social services organization in southwest Birmingham. BirminghamWatch is asking what’s on the minds of Birmingham voters as they approach elections of a mayor, members of the City Council and school board members. Read more.

by Carol Nunnelley

BW Listening: Young Voters Seek Transformative Leadership With a New Vision in Birmingham Elections

Gentrification, inequity, urban blight. Disenchantment, nothing, renaissance. Ignorance, opportunity, room to grow. Those were quick descriptions of Birmingham offered by young city voters asked for a picture of their town. The group included professionals and entrepreneurs, an educator and a college student, an AmeriCorps member and community workers. Most were in their 20s and 30s, and they came from voting districts across the city. BW Listening hosted the session Monday to hear what is important to them in the upcoming mayor and council elections. Read more.

by Carol Nunnelley, BirminghamWatch

Parents Criticize Birmingham Public Schools. Still, ‘Somebody in Every School is Fighting for Something,’ They Say.

“Why are parents having to create battle strategies?” The question was from Nicholas – a new parent, a teacher, a volunteer supporting Birmingham public schools – and addressed to Birmingham parents of school-age children. It came in a BW Listening conversation focused on education issues Thursday at Woodlawn United Methodist Church. BirminghamWatch is asking what’s on the minds of Birmingham voters as they approach elections of a mayor, members of the City Council and members of the school board. Read more.

by Carol Nunnelley

Quality of Life Issues Dominate Discussion in Forest Park-South Avondale Neighborhood

Heavy trucks are breaking storm sewer covers. UAB is working on an affordable, sturdier design. New street lights will soon be installed; you can ask for shades if they’re too bright. What’s going on with the missing trash pickup? Why won’t Birmingham allow speed bumps to slow traffic? Crime is down a bit this month, and offenses reported are mostly property crimes. Everyday quality of life items dominated discussion at Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Forest Park-South Avondale Neighborhood Association. The mellow tone was notable as an election season cranks up in Birmingham. Read more

by Carol Nunnelley, BirminghamWatch

Birmingham Election Voter Guide

More than a quarter of Birmingham voters turned out Tuesday for the first round of polling to select a mayor, city councilors and members for the city Board of Education. Runoffs in nine of those races will be Oct. 3.