Philemon Hill: Birmingham Needs Economic Development and Strong Schools
Philemon Hill is a sports marketer. He’s promoted sporting events from baseball to golf around the Southeast. But he’s also become a fixture at Birmingham City Council and school board meetings. Now, he’d like to make the leap from gadfly to mayor.
Hill says he decided to run after he discovered inefficiencies in city government and in the school system as he faced hurdles trying to bring events to Birmingham.
“I had to make a decision because once again, I am passionate about my community, passionate about my city,” he says. “I want to have a positive effect and make sure that the foundation is laid for our kids and our citizens to have an equitable opportunity of quality of life here.”
Hill says the mayor’s office can help improve public schools in Birmingham.
“I think that the mayor’s office can set the tone creating equitable opportunities through education in the school system. We are dealing with low record numbers of reading and other tests,” he says. “ They’re dropping out at higher rates, and so we need to have someone who’s willing to walk across the street, walk across Linn Park and attend school board meetings to demand that the board, the superintendent, the administration, and the teachers are only focused on making sure that these kids are well-educated and prepared to become productive citizens within the community.”
A quality education system can help enhance the city’s economic development, Hill says. He remembers growing up in west Birmingham when the inner city had vibrant businesses.
“Neighborhoods like Ensley were just as vibrant as downtown is now – north and south,” he says. “But if Birmingham wants to become a city that is attractive for economic development, the city must present and create opportunities economic opportunities outside of those two (council) districts around downtown.”
Economic development can also be a deterrent to crime, Hill says.
“Research has shown that providing economic opportunity and education, whether that be through traditional education or job training that leads to employment, drastically has a direct effect on lowering crime,” he says. “We have to make sure that whatever comprehensive plan we have to eliminate crime or cure us from this violence that we’ve been experiencing is to get buy-in from our citizens.”
He wants to a see the mayor’s office work collaboratively with the city council to construct a plan that includes community policing. “That way, you’re also promoting safe community and safe neighborhoods. These individuals work with the community police,” he says. “That’s something they can put on their resume.”
In an emotional hearing, Texas lawmakers hear from flood survivors, local officials
The Texas Legislature is in a special session and discussing proposals to improve disaster preparedness after floods killed more than 130 people early this month.
The manhunt for Eric Rudolph was the largest in US history: How it began. How it finally ended
Eric Rudolph planted a bomb in 1998 at a Birmingham clinic that performed abortions. A new podcast explores the massive manhunt assembled to find him, and how his words and actions are possibly more accepted now, than they were then.
Trump’s dream of building a ballroom at the White House is becoming a reality
After at least 15 years of talking about it, President Trump is building a ballroom at the White House. Work will begin this September, with a price tag of $200 million, the White House says.
An MMA fighter Trump hosted at the White House loses appeal in his rape case
Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor used to be the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. President Trump, a UFC fan, hosted him at the White House for St. Patrick's Day this year.
What Leikeli47 hid behind her mask
On the heels of her new, independent album, Lei Keli ft. 47 / For Promotional Use Only, the artist speaks candidly about the mask that once gave her freedom and the fight for creative autonomy.
In reversal, Defense Department will continue providing crucial satellite weather data
About a month after announcing that it would stop sharing data that hurricane forecasters and scientists rely on, the Navy now says it will continue distributing it.
