Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin Announces Transition Leaders, Inauguration Date
Birmingham Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin began his transition into office today, echoing some of the same themes from his campaign.
The 36-year-old Woodfin defeated Mayor William Bell in a runoff on October 3rd.
“Priority one will be restoring trust in City Hall,” Woodfin said speaking at a press conference at Vulcan Park and Museum. “We will eliminate nepotism and cronyism and make sure that taxpayers dollars are spent wisely and that taxpayers can actually see how their money is spent.”
Woodfin also announced leaders for his transition team.
Former Birmingham-Southern College President General Charles Krulak, and retired Alabama Power Company executive Bobbie Knight will co-chair the transition. Ed Fields, Woodfin’s campaign manager, will be transition coordinator.
Knight, grew up in Birmingham’s Zion City community on the east side. She attended Birmingham Schools and went on to the University of Alabama and the Birmingham School of Law.
She says Birmingham is on the cusp of becoming a great American city, however, “We must first address real issues that face all of our citizens, from neighborhood revitalization to education, to reducing crime to eliminating red tape from city government, so that Birmingham is truly open for business investment.”
Krulak, a retired Marine Corps general, who moved to Birmingham several years ago to lead Birmingham-Southern College, says the city has made great strides since the 1960’s.
“It’s gone from a beacon of civil rights to a beacon of human rights, to a revitalization of our downtown that we see today. At the same time, we can’t turn a blind eye to the problems that occur and continue to exist.”
Woodfin says he looks forward to working with Knight and Krulak and that additional announcements will be made as his team develops.
Woodfin’s inauguration is November 28th and the Birmingham City Council’s inauguration is October 24th. Both dates are set by state law.
‘Love Island USA’ might decenter whiteness — but the show still won’t face reality
The finale of Love Island USA airs Sunday night. Critic Aisha Harris says it's impossible to separate the season's racial and ethnic diversity from the show's mealy-mouthed handling of behind-the-scenes drama.
Folklife stars: Maya artist, Bolivian rappers, Dolly Parton’s guitar restorer
They all showed off their talents at this year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The theme: How youth keep cultural traditions alive.
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 19, hospitals say, as ceasefire talks drag on
Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 19 people on Sunday, including six children at a water collection point, local health officials said.
‘Panicking’: Why recent college grads are struggling to find jobs
Recent college graduates are facing one of the most challenging job markets in years — with the exception of the pandemic period — even as the overall unemployment rate remains low.
The biggest piece of Mars on Earth is going up for auction in New York
Sotheby's in New York will be auctioning the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth.
Camp Mystic asked to remove buildings from government flood maps despite risk
The data also highlights critical risks in other areas along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, and nationwide as many Americans have a flood risk they are not aware of.
