Government

Birmingham Council Expresses Sympathy for Shooting Victims, Including Mayor’s Pregnant Cousin

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday passed a resolution expressing sympathies for six people killed in recent shootings. The victims included a city employee as well as the pregnant cousin of Mayor Randall Woodfin. In his comments to the council Tuesday, the mayor expressed his frustration with the lack of leads in finding suspects in the shootings. “When you have something like this happen in your community, it's important we enact justice as swiftly as possible. But it turns out BPD can’t do it themselves … it takes people with information to come forward,” Woodfin said. Read more.

by Daniel Gaddy

Democrats Name Nominee in Jefferson County Treasurer Race

After some spirited debate and two rounds of balloting, the Executive Committee of the Jefferson County Democratic Party left the Five Points West Library on Saturday with its nominee for county treasurer in the November general election. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Birmingham Council to Sell Old Scott Elementary, Nearby Community Center to Group to Establish a Community Health Center

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday voted to sell the old Scott Elementary School and a neighboring community center to a group planning a health clinic at the property. The measure passed despite some pushback from community members, particularly those already involved in operating a community center there. Read more.

by Daniel Gaddy

‘Don’t let a pandemic go to waste:’ Y Leader Says COVID Shined a Spotlight on Community Needs

Despite speaking on Super Bowl Sunday, Dan Pile chose not to say the Northeast YMCA will be a “Super Y” after a major redevelopment on that Roebuck campus. His hope, Pile said, is that the redevelopment will be the new norm, the standard for all YMCAs. “Actually, what I believe will happen is this will become a prototype of future YMCAs,” said Pile, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham. “We’re not the only provider but we’ve convened in bringing in other providers. I really believe this represents the future of the YMCA, especially here in Birmingham.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Violent Crime Down Slightly for This Year So Far but Car Thefts Soar

Crime in Birmingham is running behind last year’s rate, at least for most crimes. Auto thefts are up more than 30% year to date over last year’s numbers, 170 already this year compared to 129 this time last year, according to this week’s crime summary released by the Birmingham Police Department. On the other hand,

by BirminghamWatch

JeffCo Commission OKs $1.87M for Y With Comprehensive Community Services

The Jefferson County Commission today provided $1.87 million to fill in the gap in the YMCA’s revitalization project for its Roebuck Community facility. Inflation created the nearly $2 million shortfall in the plan to build a new, comprehensive center, to include mental health services, veteran crisis intervention services and services to address inequities in health care, early learning and housing, among others. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Ethics Commission Ruling Keeps Parker, Allen Off Ballot for Treasurer

The Alabama Ethics Commission ruled this week that persons who were removed from the ballot of the March 5 primary cannot be their party’s nominee in the general election. That ruling means the Jefferson County Democratic Party cannot nominate incumbent Eyrika Parker or challenger Mara Ruffin Allen to be the party’s candidate for Jefferson County treasurer. The party will be meeting next Saturday to select a new candidate. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Birmingham Council Approves Roundabout on Blue Lake Drive, Pavilion for Howze-Stanford Park

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved an agreement with neighboring municipalities that will see a roundabout installed on Blue Lake Drive near the Historic Cahaba Pumping Station. The roundabout will be built where Blue Lake Drive intersects with Cahaba Heights Road and Sicard Hollow Road, just northeast of the intersection of Interstate 459 and

by Daniel Gaddy

JeffCo to Consider Funding for Roebuck Y With Comprehensive Community Services

Jefferson County Commissioners on Tuesday decided to send a resolution to Thursday’s agenda that would provide ARPA funds to fill in the gap in the YMCA’s revitalization project for its Roebuck Community facility. Inflation left the Y with a $1.87 million shortfall in its efforts to build a comprehensive center to include mental health services, veteran crisis intervention services and services to address inequities in health care, early learning and housing, among others. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Birmingham Sues Jefferson County Sheriff Over City’s Jail Inmates

The city of Birmingham today filed a lawsuit against Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway for not accepting city inmates, according to a filing in Jefferson County Circuit Court. It’s an extraordinary step in a dispute between the two sides that dates back nearly two years and involves the city and county jails, money and politics. Read more.

by Barnett Wright, The Birmingham Times