Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin Wins Another Term
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin was elected to another term Tuesday evening, taking in roughly 64% of the vote.
Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales trailed behind with around 21% of the vote and former Birmingham Mayor William Bell behind her with 9% of the vote.
But voter turnout remained low in this year’s election, with only 25% of active voters casting a ballot.
Woodfin took the stage to chants of “four more years” at an election night watch party with supporters.
“You told us to invest in your neighborhoods, and we did. You told us to pave more streets and we did. You told is to tear down this blight and we did. You told us to invest in our younger generation and we did with the Birmingham Promise,” Woodfin said. “I also want you to know, that my commitment and sense of urgency will be the same over the next four years. Thank you for this opportunity to continue to represent you. Thank you for this opportunity to continue to lead our city. And thank you for this opportunity to be in the trenches with you to make the city of Birmingham better.”
Woodfin plans to accomplish a variety of things as part of his ‘Vision 2025 Plan.’ Some of these include:
- Further expanding the Birmingham Promise Scholarship Initiative
- Expanding COVID-19 vaccination sites
- Implementing the City’s PEACE Strategy, a public health-based approach to preventing gun violence in Birmingham
- Launching “Operation Second Chance,” a program for Birmingham residents to expunge misdemeanors and select felonies from their criminal records
- Expand the city’s Pardons for Progress program
- Continuing the Birmingham Police Department’s policy of de-emphasizing marijuana possession cases so that minor marijuana possession cases no longer go before our municipal courts
- Working to clear any remaining backlog of untested rape kits in Birmingham
- Continuing efforts to revitalize Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods.
Woodfin was first elected in 2017 after beating incumbent Mayor William Bell.
TONIGHT: I’m at Mayor Woodfin’s Election Night Celebration at The Fennec pic.twitter.com/t8o4SyblkZ
— Cody D. (@codydonair) August 25, 2021
International students in Alabama fearful after researcher with no political ties is detained
Alireza Doroudi has been detained in an immigration facility in Louisiana for nearly six weeks. Doroudi’s detention has instilled fear in the small Iranian community in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he and his fiancee are doctoral students
Why midwives are worried
In Chad, they're a key force in addressing the country's high rate of maternal mortality. But U.S. aid cuts have affected their salaries.
Times have changed — but the Rockettes keep kicking
Nearly 1,000 women from around the country flew to New York City to audition for the dance troupe on its 100th anniversary. What's helped it last so long?
Talk therapy is up, and use of psych meds without therapy is down, a study finds
A study from the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that psychotherapy is becoming more accessible to people. The study looks at trends in mental health treatment from 2018 to 2021.
With disability rights under attack, history offers hope and a possible playbook
Harvard researcher Ari Ne'eman says the policy shifts underway under the Trump administration pose a unique threat to people with disabilities, but that they've fought for rights before and won.
Why Israel plans to limit life-saving aid into Gaza. And, Diddy’s trial begins today
Israel's cabinet approved a plan to limit the way life-saving aid is distributed in Gaza. And, Diddy's trial begins today wth jury selection.
