Two More Weeks Of Face Coverings Required, Birmingham Council Says
By Sam Prickett, BirminghamWatch
The Birmingham City Council has extended the city’s face covering ordinance for two more weeks. The updated order, now effective through June 12, also relaxes the original law’s controversial penalties for violation, which had drawn criticism from state and local leaders.
The council’s decision came after Mayor Randall Woodfin’s announcement earlier this week that he would allow the ordinance to expire on Friday. Woodfin had faced criticism from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who wrote a letter to Woodfin asking him to “reconsider” the ordinance’s “excessive” penalties, which were originally a fine of up to $500 and/or up to 30 days in jail.
In his letter, Marshall speculated that these penalties could spawn “unnecessary litigation.” Woodfin maintained that he had ordered the city’s police department to focus on educating, rather than punishing, violators.
The council’s extended ordinance eliminates the jail sentence entirely and provides an incremental fine structure: $25 for first offenses, $100 for second offenses and $250 for third offenses. “We don’t think it will get to that point,” said Council President William Parker.
The extension was passed unanimously. District 8 Councilor Steven Hoyt was absent from the meeting, as was District 2 Councilor Hunter Williams, who had vocally criticized what he called the original ordinance’s “overzealous, punitive measures.”
Woodfin was not present at Friday morning’s special-called council meeting and his office has not responded to requests for comment about the extension.
“What we’re doing is going to save lives,” District 9 Councilor John Hilliard said just before the extension was passed. “Just a sneeze on someone could kill them. Isn’t that incredible? And when we think about that, it’s our duty to try to protect and educate … It’s so important that we take every opportunity to warn people.”
Q&A: How harm reduction can help mitigate the opioid crisis
Maia Szalavitz discusses harm reduction's effectiveness against drug addiction, how punitive policies can hurt people who need pain medication and more.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring a Community Engagement Producer
The Gulf States Newsroom is seeking a curious, creative and collaborative professional to work with our regional team to build up engaged journalism efforts.
Gambling bills face uncertain future in the Alabama legislature
This year looked to be different for lottery and gambling legislation, which has fallen short for years in the Alabama legislature. But this week, with only a handful of meeting days left, competing House and Senate proposals were sent to a conference committee to work out differences.
Alabama’s racial, ethnic health disparities are ‘more severe’ than other states, report says
Data from the Commonwealth Fund show that the quality of care people receive and their health outcomes worsened because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What’s your favorite thing about Alabama?
That's the question we put to those at our recent News and Brews community pop-ups at Hop City and Saturn in Birmingham.
Q&A: A former New Orleans police chief says it’s time the U.S. changes its marijuana policy
Ronal Serpas is one of 32 law enforcement leaders who signed a letter sent to President Biden in support of moving marijuana to a Schedule III drug.
