World Games officials clarified that anyone will be able to walk through and access public areas around venues like Railroad Park, Linn Park, Protective Stadium and the new City Walk, despite those sites being behind security parameters. Read more.
The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday again delayed voting on the sheriff’s request for $1.2 million to pay for expanded security duties during The World Games. Commission President Jimmie Stephens said he believed the request was premature because it wasn’t evident to him that the extra costs would run the sheriff’s budget into the red. Read more.
Learning that his department has a much bigger task than anticipated with The World Games, Sheriff Mark Pettway today sought $1.2 million from the Jefferson County Commission. “We've had some other departments to pull out, which increased our involvement within The World Games,” Pettway said. “We are here. We're local. We want to make sure that when everybody comes here, that everybody is safe. Read more.
This project has been abandoned, at least partly because of safety concerns. Services for homeless people evicted from The World Games’ secured areas still will be provided at the Faith Chapel care center, including food, showers and counseling, according to media reports. In less than a month, the World Games will take over the
UPDATED to include plans for city hall — With all the activity in downtown Birmingham scheduled during The World Games, some have wondered whether they’ll be able to get to government offices and other places they need to go. The answer for the most part is yes, but it’s going to take some planning. For instance, the Jefferson County Courthouse on Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard will be open during the Games, which takes place July 7-17. “People will be able to get to the courthouse and the courthouse will be open,” Jefferson County Public Information Officer Helen Hays said. “It's just not going to be easy. With security for the World Games, they're blocking off certain streets around downtown. There will be barriers, but pedestrians will be able to walk past those barriers,” she said. Across Linn Park, Birmingham City Hall will be open, but the city also is temporarily opening a satellite office during the games to handle some finance functions and permit applications. The downtown branch of the Birmingham Public Library, which is across Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard from the courthouse, will be open during The Games. But the Avondale branch will be closed. Read more and see maps of road closures near the venues.
Birmingham’s upcoming World Games will get the highest level of security attention from the federal government. The games has been given a level-one Special Event Assessment Rating by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a move that designates the games as a high-risk event but that will bring in federal officers to help secure the area. Nick Sellers, the games’ chief executive officer on Thursday briefed the Jefferson County Commission on the move. The level-one designation is reserved for major events with large crowds, such as the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby and Indianapolis 500 — usually about six events per year. Read more.
The World Games was originally set to come to Birmingham July 2021, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed the large event for a year. Read more.
Event organizers say they're following guidance from local health officials, who say it's impossible to predict COVID case numbers this summer. Read more.
Due to conservative budgeting and higher-than-expected sales tax revenues, a recent audit revealed that the city of Birmingham had a $53.4 million surplus for the 2021 fiscal year. On Tuesday morning, the City Council voted to spend $39.5 million of that surplus on a variety of items — most significantly a 5% across-the-board raise for all city employees. The raise will cost the city $11.6 million this fiscal year and is pending approval from the Jefferson County Personnel Board, which is slated to meet in early April. Woodfin also said he would be recommending in his budget proposal for the year beginning July 1 that city employees get merit raises of up to 5% in the next budget year, which could mean a raise of up to 10% for some city workers within the next four months. Other spending will include buying new garbage trucks and dedicated trash bins, paving streets and spending on the World Games. Read more.
WBHM Medals for the World Games, which will take place in Birmingham in July, were unveiled by city leaders and games organizers Wednesday at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Read more.
