Birmingham City Council
Woodfin Shocked the Old Guard. Now What?
In about three weeks, Randall Woodfin takes office as Birmingham’s next mayor. Woodfin worked for years as an attorney at City Hall. During his year-long campaign for mayor, Woodfin shined a light on the city’s problems and sold most Birmingham voters on his ability to fix them. Recently he spoke with WBHM’s Sherrel Wheeler Stewart about what’s next and how he won.
New Birmingham Council Pledges To Work Together
Birmingham has a new city council – six returning members and three new ones. They took office this morning, pledging to do things differently --– mainly working with the new mayor and working together.
Voters Hope Woodfin Fulfills Promises For Better Birmingham
Randall Woodfin takes over as mayor of Birmingham on Nov. 28. He overwhelmingly beat incumbent Mayor William Bell in this month’s runoff. On the campaign trail, the 36-year-old Woodfin promised a better Birmingham. Now residents say they expect him to deliver on those promises.
Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin Announces Transition Leaders, Inauguration Date
Birmingham Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin began his transition into office today with a press conference at Vulcan, echoing some of the same themes from his campaign.
Birmingham Mayor, Council To Start Terms On Different Dates
Birmingham’s mayor and council were elected at the same time, but they will not take office the same day because of state law.
In Tuesday’s Mayoral Runoff, Bell Touts Experience, Woodfin Pushes Change
There’s a runoff election in Birmingham Tuesday. A few school board seats and city council places are on the line. And there’s the big race for mayor – a runoff between incumbent William Bell and Randall Woodfin, an assistant city attorney.
WBHM Politics: Mayor/Council Friction
In this episode of WBHM Politics, we discuss the fractured relationship between Birmingham Mayor William Bell and the City Council and how upcoming elections may affect that.
Low Voter Turnout So Far at Some Birmingham Polls
Turnout appears low at several Birmingham polling places as voters go to the polls to elect a mayor, city council and school board.
Has Your Birmingham Polling Place Changed?
Polls open for voting in Birmingham at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, as Birmingham voters cast their ballots for mayor, city council and school board.
Patricia Bell Wants a Better City For Future Generations
Patricia Bell, no relation to William Bell, has run for mayor several times. But she isn’t discouraged. She's one of 12 candidates vying for the office in Tuesday's election. The community activist and marketer says the city still needs good leadership.
Bell Calls Birmingham’s Revitalizing Neighborhoods the Next Challenge
Birmingham Mayor William Bell has been a Xerox marketer and a probation officer, but since 1979, he’s been somewhere in local government. Voters will decide Tuesday during municipal elections whether he'll continue to serve in his position. After almost eight years as mayor, Bell tells WBHM’s Sherrel Stewart he wants to do it again.
Crowded Field of Eight Battle For District 2 Council Seat
There’s only one seat for the Birmingham City Council in District 2, and eight people want it – including the incumbent. The district, which includes the east Birmingham communities of East Lake, Roebuck Springs, Liberty Highlands, Crestwood South, Huffman and several others, has attracted a combination of young professionals and community leaders.
Birmingham Races Draw Crowds; A Dozen Candidates in Mayor’s Race
No one gets a free pass into office this year in Birmingham. The 19 races on the ballot for the upcoming City Elections are all contested. The largest number of candidates want the job as mayor.
Marchers Urge Birmingham to Become Sanctuary City
Immigrant advocates and residents marched in downtown Birmingham Saturday from Kelly Ingram Park to City Hall. They want Birmingham to become a “sanctuary city” – one that does not use city resources to carry out federal immigration enforcement.
Birmingham Officials Spend Hundreds of Thousands on Travel Annually
A review by the weekly newspaper Weld finds one Birmingham City Council member was responsible for nearly half of the council's entire travel budget last fiscal year.
Focus on Birmingham Mayor’s Race as Election Revs Up
Between the mayor’s race, city council and school board – 19 seats in all are up for grabs in the Birmingham City Elections set for August 22.
Qualifying Begins For Birmingham City Elections
Seventeen people have already signed up for various races. All city elected jobs – mayor, council, and school board – will be on the ballot on August 22.
Humane Society Approved for New 27-acre Facility in Titusville
The Birmingham City Council Tuesday transferred ownership of the property in Titusville to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Despite overwhelming support from residents, some in the neighborhood voiced concerns about the move. Hear more from Nick Patterson of Weld.
Changes to Mayor-Council Act Deepening Rift at Birmingham City Hall
Weld investigates changes to the Mayor-Council Act and what Mayor William Bell is doing with his new authority.
Historic Monuments Bill Passes, City Council Raises Blocked
This week in the Alabama legislature, the Senate voted to block a big pay raise for the next Birmingham City Council. And after hours of heated debate Thursday, lawmakers in the Alabama House passed the controversial historic monuments bill.
BJCTA’s New Fleet Offers Cheap Downtown-to-Southside Route
The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority announced last week its new Magic City Connector fleet of buses. BJCTA says the fleet will connect Downtown with Southside and should make public transportation along the 20th St. corridor a lot smoother.
Lawsuits Abound at Birmingham City Hall
A proverbial cat was let out of a proverbial bag at this week’s Birmingham City Council meeting.
“Sanctuary City” Designation Could be Wishful Thinking for Birmingham City Officials
The Birmingham City Council and other officials want to make Birmingham a sanctuary city. At a meeting this week, the council unanimously approved a resolution granting the designation, which has strong support from residents. Not long after the council’s vote, however, Governor Robert Bentley shot the move down.
The Year Ahead in Birmingham Politics
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses the year ahead in Birmingham politics. He also remembers former Alabama Governor Albert Brewer.
Proposed Development at CrossPlex Causing Controversy
If you build it, they will come. That’s one reason the Birmingham City Council approved the $3.7 million for infrastructure improvement at the CrossPlex in Five Points West. The project includes new roads and sidewalks around the 38-acre property.
TopGolf Complex Coming Soon to Uptown
The Birmingham City Council this week cleared the way for construction of a proposed 65,000 square-foot Topgolf complex in Uptown. The council also approved a $1.5 million incentive package to be spread out over the next eight years.
Lawsuit Language Sparks Debate at Birmingham City Council Meeting
A $2.5 million lawsuit payout signed by Birmingham Mayor William Bell sparked heated debate during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Members of the Birmingham City Council questioned whether the mayor has the authority to approve expenditures that large without seeking council consent. We talk about this with Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper Weld. Patterson […]
A Moratorium on Travel by Birmingham City Officials
Birmingham city officials often travel on trips related to their jobs. When those trips are for the public's benefit, they travel on the taxpayer's dime. But travel by the Birmingham City Council and the mayor's office has been scrutinized as excessive and with unclear returns. Travel became a flashpoint at this week's city council meeting and Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says it a perfect time to institute a moratorium on travel.
Hate-Filled Heckling in the Name of Religion
The hearing Monday for suspended Chief Justice Roy Moore sparked disturbing heckles directed at members of the LGBT community. Moore supporters chanted anti-gay slurs and mocked a speaker attempting to give an emotional testimony. For more on this and other news, we turn to John Archibald, columnist for the Alabama Media Group.
The Junction: We Won’t Be Next
After police shootings and racially-charged murders this month, the national conversation is once again focused on the fraught relationship between police and black communities. To address these tensions, The Birmingham City Council recently hosted a forum in Ensley called “We Won’t Be Next.” Rachel Osier Lindley brings us the latest in our series, The Junction: […]
AG Puts Foot Down on Alabama’s Open Carry Law
Attorney General Luther Strange orders removal of all "No Firearms Allowed" signs around Alabama.
Birmingham City Council Delays Approving Funds For New Kingston Fire Station
Residents from the Kingston community showed up at the Birmingham City Council meeting on July 5, to ask leaders (again) to go ahead and replace their fire station. But, again, they learned they will have to wait. The council did not approve the $3 million request for the new station, even after a lengthy, intense […]
