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‘That is Crazy:’ 17 Steps to Cutting Checks for Birmingham Neighborhood Projects 

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin addressed concerns about his proposed FY 2018 budget’s funding for neighborhoods during a press conference Thursday, arguing that his administration was actively working to address neighborhood associations’ complaints about bureaucratic red tape. Earlier this month, Woodfin announced that he would be moving the $500,000 typically allocated to neighborhood associations “to directly invest in revitalization,” saying that neighborhoods already have unspent funds “sitting here” in their accounts. “We challenge the neighborhood associations to work with us with the existing funds they have to address weed abatement, demolition and other neighborhood improvements,” he said then. But during May 14’s budget hearing, neighborhood officers argued that they had been unable to spend their money for years due to a lengthy and often interminable approval process. “[Woodfin] never asked us why we have so much money in our accounts,” Central Park Neighborhood Association President Susan Palmer told a sympathetic city council. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Getting Past Bankruptcy: Jefferson County Credit Ratings Up, Cost of Borrowing Down

Jefferson County Commissioners took their latest step away from bankruptcy Thursday as they refinanced about $138 million in debt at lower interest rates, a move that saves the county $14.24 million over the next eight years. In requesting a resolution to refinance the general obligation warrants, Chief Financial Officer John Henry said the county has raised its credit rating with national finance agencies which translates to lower debt service on money it borrows. Commissioner David Carrington said that the warrants were refinanced without extending the length or amount of the debt. Not one single day was added to the debt,” he said. “… We’re paying off the debt in 2026. There will be no more general obligation debt of the county unless a future commission decides, for instance, that they want to build a jail, which is probably coming in the next decade or two.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Alabama Pushes Back Against Child Traffickers Moving to Birmingham

Carrie Hill, a juvenile probation officer at Jefferson County Family Court, says that central Alabama may be supplanting Atlanta as a hub for child trafficking. Traffickers “are slowly starting to move to Birmingham,” Hill said. Against that backdrop, nearly 40 people gathered for the Child Trafficking Solutions Project Summit Tuesday at Family Court. “We have been trying to find solutions to the problem of human trafficking of our kids in this state,” said Hill. She said entities have come at the problem from different angles, “doing their own thing. We’re trying to get everybody together and corral everyone so we can have a single focus and mission.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

With Boost From City Council, Birmingham Students Can Chase a Coding Dream This Summer

The Birmingham City Council Tuesday approved funding for computer coding “boot camps” at Lawson State Community College this summer. The funding, which according to the resolution is not to exceed $85,000, will fund four weeks of four-day camps for Birmingham City School students, running from June 18 to July 19. Up to 100 students of the city’s school system — 50 middle schoolers and 50 high schoolers — will get to participate. Lawson State President Dr. Perry Ward said that the program would be similar to Chicago’s Apple-sponsored “Everyone Can Code” initiative, which teaches city school students an easy-to-learn coding language called Swift which can be used in developing mobile applications. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Ivey Stretches out Her Lead in Fundraising for Governor’s Race

Gov. Kay Ivey is closing in on the $4 million mark in contributions to her campaign to win the Republican nomination for governor, according to financial reports filed this week. Ivey raised $143,515 between May 12 and May 18, pushing her total for the campaign to $3.93 million, according her new weekly report. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle is a distant second in the battle for campaign cash. He reported contributions of $103,825 for the week, raising his total to $2.28 million. Ivey, Battle, state Sen. Bill Hightower of Mobile and Birmingham evangelist Scott Dawson are vying for the GOP nomination. The winner of the June 5 Republican primary will face the winner of the Democratic primary in the November general election. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

‘Just Wrong’ Campaign Talk About Sewer Rates, Commissioners Say

Jefferson County Commissioners Tuesday disputed comments about sewer rates that they said candidates in the June 5 primary election are making. Commissioner David Carrington, the lone commissioner not seeking reelection, cited the claim of a candidate that sewer rates will increase 40 percent. “Don’t confuse me with the truth when lies sound better,” he said during the commission’s committee meeting Tuesday morning.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Candidates for Governor Pitch Ideas During PARCA Roundtable Forum

Six candidates vying to be the next governor of Alabama sat down for interviews with professors and professionals from across the state Wednesday night during a forum sponsored by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama. Three Republican candidates – Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Evangelist Scott Dawson and state Sen. Bill Hightower – and three Democratic candidates – former state Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, former state Rep. James Fields and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox – participated in the forum, held at Woodrow Hall in Birmingham’s Woodlawn community. Gov. Kay Ivey, who also is seeking the Republican nomination in the June 5 primary, was invited to the forum, said PARCA director of communications Marci Smith, but the governor declined. Organized by the PARCA Roundtable group of young professionals, the forum featured 12-minute, one-on-one interviews with each candidate by interviewers who belong to or were selected by the Roundtable. After the interviews, the candidates took turns answering questions submitted by the audience. Read more.

by Jackie Romine Walburn
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