Government

Birmingham Council OK’s Agreement With ICE, Disturbing Advocacy Groups

The Birmingham City Council has approved an agreement between the city’s police department and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement that would deputize several BPD officers as customs officers for ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations jurisdiction. The agreement was approved unanimously despite tense opposition from several advocacy groups worried that it could lead to more deportations in the city and give ICE too much power. The agreement — a continuation of a previous 3-year deal — went before the council Nov. 2 but was delayed due to councilors’ concerns that it would require the police officers involved to participate in the deportation and removal of undocumented Birmingham residents. Read more.

Blanchard to Announce Candidacy for Governor Tuesday

MONTGOMERY — Lynda Blanchard, the former U.S. ambassador and current candidate for the U.S. Senate, will officially switch races and announce her candidacy for governor Tuesday, she confirmed to Alabama Daily News. Blanchard is planning an announcement in Wetumpka, the small town north of Montgomery where she was born and raised, according to an event invitation. Read more.

Tim James Running for Alabama Governor

Running for governor in Alabama is a full-contact sport, two-time candidate Tim James says, and he’s ready to play again. James, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2002 and 2010, filed paperwork with the Secretary of State's office to run for a third time in 2022. And it’s not just the sitting governor he wants to take on. “The Republican leadership in Alabama are not Republicans as we know it,” James, son of former Gov. Fob James, said in an interview with Alabama Daily News. “The Republican leadership in large part are what we call RINOS (Republicans In Name Only) or Democrats disguised as Republicans.” Read more.

State Leaders: Focused Plan Needed for ARPA Money Allocations

The money is coming. But how it will be spent is still an open question. Alabama leaders have a rare chance to use federal money to make significant improvements to the state’s broadband networks and other infrastructure systems, but leaders need to plan carefully for its spending in order to stay competitive with states that have the same opportunities, Alabama Finance Director Bill Poole told a panel of lawmakers Thursday. “Every state in this country is going to spend an enormous amount of federal funds on broadband, on water and sewer infrastructure, on health care …,” Poole said during an update on the Alabama Rescue Plan Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, two federal laws that will infuse billions into the state. Poole said the state’s objective “should recognize that we’re in a competition with other states and we have to take this opportunity of a lifetime to advance further than those other states do in their investments so that, when the dust settles, we’ve improved our competitive position. Read more.

Not Us: JeffCo Commissioners Not Responsible for JCCEO

Jefferson County Commission talked about media reports that said the commission was taking action regarding the nonprofit Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity. Commission President Jimmie Stephens made it clear that is not the case. “The commission has no purview over any nonprofit organizations in the county, much less the JCCEO,” Stephens said following the meeting. Read more.

Birmingham Loosens Rules on Taxis to ‘Modernize’ Service

The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to “modernize” the city’s taxicab ordinance, loosening restrictions on the appearance of taxis and allowing them to use third-party GPS technology to calculate fares. The change comes as traditional taxi companies compete against ride-sharing operations that aren’t under the same rules as cabs. “The goal of this is updating, modernizing some of the (ordinance) to the way the industry operates now,” Assistant City Attorney Julie Barnard told the council. “There’s a lot of changes. The primary thing is, this opens the city up to more modern operations and taxis, and that’s the goal here.” Read more.

JeffCo Commission Discusses Rescue Spending

The Jefferson County Commission is considering how to spend money coming in as part of Phase 1 of the American Rescue Plan Act funds. The commission began that discussion Tuesday, although the federal government has not yet issued the final guidelines for spending under that act. County staff devised the current plan using the preliminary guidelines, Justin Smith, an assistant to the county manager, told commissioners. “We're trying to get some money out immediately pending the receipt of that final guidance using the interim guidance that has been provided by the Treasury,” Smith said. “We don't want to put all our eggs into one basket this time because things are going to change once that final guidance comes out. Read more. Also in the Jefferson County Commission:

Not Us: JeffCo Commissioners Not Responsible for JCCEO

Application Period for Library Board Closed Tuesday

Applications to become a member of the Birmingham Public Library’s board of trustees are due today at 5 p.m. Three slots on the board are open now and terms for another three members expire at the end of the year. The board has been controversial for more than a year as employees became discontent, the executive director was fired and, most recently, the board discussed closing several library branches. Read more.

New Law to Infuse Billions for Alabama Infrastructure

Alabama could get more than $6.8 billion in road and transportation funding in the recently approved $1.2 trillion Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act. While broad outlines of how that money will be allocated are available, more federal direction is needed before specific projects are identified. “We’re still waiting on the federal guidance on what exactly we can do with this money,” Tom Layfield, executive director of the Alabama Road Builders Association, told Alabama Daily News. To see approximately what Alabama should expect from the infrastructure law over five years, read more.

Now or Later? What Will Happen With Remaining Rescue Funds?

Alabama lawmakers, particularly those on the General Fund budget committees, will have a larger task in the legislative session that begins in January. But it’s still unclear how much of the remaining about $1.6 billion American Rescue Plan Act will be allocated in the Legislature’s spring meeting. “We’ve got a lot more to figure out than just the Education Trust Fund and General Fund,” Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, said about lawmakers’ normal annual budgeting process. The state’s more than $2 billion in ARPA money comes in two tranches, about half this year and half likely in June 2022, according to the Department of Finance. By May, lawmakers have will already ended their 2022 session. Whether they’ll allocate all the money in the spring session or wait to distribute the 2022 share is still being discussed. Read more.