Meeting Over Changes to Mayor-Council Act Incites More Debate
At a public meeting Monday night, more than a hundred people huddled into a tight room in the Jefferson County courthouse. Residents poured out into the hallway. They gathered to discuss proposed changes to the Mayor-Council Act, legislation that divides powers between the mayor and city council.
Jefferson County Legislative Delegation also discussed what other changes could be in store. Rep. Oliver Robinson is Vice Chairman of the Jefferson County Legislative Delegation and sponsor of the controversial bill that could change the Mayor-Council Act and seriously shake Birmingham’s balance of power.
The proposed changes would strengthen the mayor’s power. It’d require that the city council get approval from the mayor for any budget changes and that the council must elect a new president every two years. Another bill has already been filed that would give the mayor additional appointments to the Birmingham Water Works Board.
The debate between officials was loud and unruly. Residents pleaded for their legislators to get along. The room was divided over the changes; even legislators were split.
At the end of the meeting, City Council President Jonathan Austin asked that the council be consulted about any new power-restructuring legislation.
“I think that the way to do it is to sit down and have a conversation collectively and decide what we, both the council and the [Jefferson County] Legislature Delegation, see what’s best for the citizens that we are all elected to serve,” Austin explained.
Rep. Robinson says he could propose the bill as early as Wednesday morning. Councillors Austin and Valerie Abbott questioned whether legislators from Jefferson County would support the bill after this meeting.
Senators question Trump plan to kill federal funds for PBS, NPR and some foreign aid
Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee pushed back against the Trump administration's bid to rescind federal funding for public broadcasting and international aid programs.
Judge orders Trump administration to resume distributing money for EV chargers
Congress designated money for building new EV chargers, but the Trump administration put a freeze on those funds. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering the program to resume.
Judge sees no reason to keep holding Abrego Garcia pending criminal trial
Despite the court order, if released from prison, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is likely to be immediately taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Expert panel picked by RFK Jr. will scrutinize the vaccine schedule for kids
The advisory committee makes recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the nation's vaccine schedule. Any changes could affect vaccinations for millions of children.
Trump’s signature policy bill is facing trouble on multiple fronts in the Senate
While Senate leaders have made several significant changes to the bill in recent days, the issue of funding for rural hospitals has emerged as a major roadblock.
Hold the yelling: Ebon Moss-Bachrach says ‘The Bear’ set is ‘very loving’
Moss-Bachrach has won two Emmys for his portrayal of an abrasive and ornery cook/maître d on the FX series The Bear. The show is known for kitchen chaos, but he says the set is calm and well run.