Mayoral election in Birmingham, Alabama (2017)
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| 2017 Birmingham mayoral elections |
|---|
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| Election dates |
| Filing deadline: July 7, 2017 |
| General election: August 22, 2017 Runoff election: October 3, 2017 |
| Election stats |
| Offices up: Mayor and city council |
| Total seats up: 10 (click here for other city elections) |
| Election type: Nonpartisan |
| Other municipal elections |
| U.S. municipal elections, 2017 |
Randall Woodfin defeated incumbent William Bell in the runoff election for mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, on October 3, 2017. Bell, who was first elected in 2009, took second in the general election on August 22, 2017. Woodfin, a city attorney and member of the Birmingham City School Board, received the most votes in the August election, which included 10 other candidates. The race went to a runoff because no candidate received over 50 percent of the vote in the general election. Bell highlighted achievements during his tenure, such as downtown redevelopment. Woodfin accused Bell of failing to address poverty, crime, and gentrification.
Although the election was officially nonpartisan, both candidates were considered Democrats. Woodfin was endorsed by Our Revolution, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the policies of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Chris Woods, the candidate who came in third in the general election, also endorsed Woodfin. Bell received political endorsements from U.S. Representative Terri Sewell (D-Al.) and former Birmingham Mayors Richard Arrington and Bernard Kincaid.[1]
Birmingham also held an election for nine city council seats; click here for more information about those races. Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day. The winner of this election was sworn in on October 24, 2017.[2]Elections
Runoff election
Candidates
☐ Mayor William A. Bell Sr. (i)
☑ Randall L. Woodfin
Results
Randall L. Woodfin defeated incumbent William A. Bell Sr. in the Mayor of Birmingham runoff election.[3]
| Mayor of Birmingham, Runoff Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Randall L. Woodfin |
58.95% | 24,922 |
| William A. Bell Incumbent | 41.05% | 17,357 |
| Total Votes | 42,279 | |
| Source: City of Birmingham, "General Municipal Runoff Results," October 10, 2017 | ||
General election
Candidates
This symbol, 
☐ Patricia Bell
☐ Randy Davis
☐ Philemon Hill
☐ Trudy Hunter
☐ Carl Jackson
☐ Lanny Jackson
☐ Donald Lomax
☐ Frank Matthews
☐ Fernandez Sims
☐ Chris Woods
Results
The following candidates ran in the Mayor of Birmingham general election.[4]
| Mayor of Birmingham, General Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Randall L. Woodfin |
40.84% | 15,668 |
| William A. Bell Incumbent |
36.56% | 14,025 |
| Chris Woods | 18.14% | 6,961 |
| Frank Matthews | 1.39% | 532 |
| Patricia Bell | 0.69% | 264 |
| Randy Davis | 0.67% | 256 |
| Philemon Hill | 0.53% | 205 |
| Fernandez Sims | 0.44% | 170 |
| Trudy Hunter | 0.43% | 165 |
| Carl Jackson | 0.13% | 50 |
| Lanny Jackson | 0.11% | 41 |
| Donald Lomax | 0.08% | 29 |
| Total Votes | 38,366 | |
| Source: City of Birmingham, "General Election Results," August 29, 2017 | ||
Polling
| 2017 Birmingham Mayoral Election | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | William A. Bell Sr. | Chris Woods | Randall L. Woodfin | Patricia Bell | Randy Davis | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||
| WBRC FOX6 News (July 28-31, 2017) | 54% | 17% | 14% | 6% | 4% | +/-5-7 | 214 | ||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
Additional elections on the ballot
- See also: Alabama elections, 2017
The general election for mayor of Birmingham shared the ballot with elections for nine seats on the Birmingham City Council and nine seats on the Birmingham City Schools Board of Education.
Issues
General election
Mayor William A. Bell Sr. and Randall L. Woodfin participated in a televised debate on September 21, 2017.
Bell highlighted his achievements as mayor, including revitalization efforts in the downtown area. "I’ve often said that our downtown community is our living room and we took that opportunity to rebuild our downtown area to bring businesses back into the area, to bring individuals back to downtown," he said. Woodfin said the city needed greater changes. "Despite what William Bell has just shared, there are real problems in this city that the current administration has failed to address in the last seven years," he said, mentioning poverty and crime. Woodfin also criticized Bell for having a tense relationship with the city council and said the city needed a mayor who would work with the council.[1]
During the debate, the candidates discussed Bell's choice to board up a Confederate monument in Linn Park following the protests and violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee. Woodfin said Bell should not have just covered the monument up, stating, "If you are going to make a statement, remove the statute and move on." Bell defended his decision saying there had been threats of vandalism. "We felt the more prudent course to protect, not only that monument, but to protect the public safety was to board it up so that we could make a decision to whether it should be removed," Bell said.[5]
Bell and Woodfin also discussed development and gentrification. Bell pointed out the creation of a gentrification task force and said, "The city will work to maintain that all of our citizens have the right to live in their neighborhood and not be forced out by progress." Woodfin said residents in Southtown were afraid of being displaced by a proposed redevelopment. "Bottom line, this conversation about Southtown is about gentrification, and we need the mayor at the table to make sure our residents aren't displaced," said Woodfin. Bell accused Woodfin of going to the neighborhood to stir up opposition.[5]
Bell also criticized Woodfin for testifying on behalf of the former executive director of Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity and her daughter, who were on trial for stealing almost $500,000. "You, an officer of the court, went before the court to ask for leniency for those individuals who absconded with funds from the JCCEO and Head Start program, when, in fact, you had a vested interest in the program," he said. Woodfin said in response, "What they did was wrong. They pleaded guilty to what they did. A judge punished them accordingly. They have served their time. I spoke as a character witness because I know my friends. Not trying to forget what they did, but speak up for my friends. And even when they are wrong they still remain my friends."[5]
Primary election
AL.com asked the mayoral candidates their stances on gentrification and the plan to move the police headquarters, fire headquarters, and municipal court from downtown to the Ensley neighborhood. Eight of the 12 candidates responded to part 1 (published on August 1) and part 2 (published on August 8).
Gentrification
AL.com asked the following questions about gentrification:
"Do you see evidence of gentrification in Birmingham? What examples can you cite? Are they positive or negative and why? Do you see any problems, or potential problems, with gentrification? For example, do you see low-income residents having a harder time finding apartments or homes due to wealthier people pushing them out with new developments? Are there any policies you would institute to solve this issue (for example, nice low-income housing, or grant programs to fix up neighborhoods)?"[6]
| Mayor William Bell | |
|---|---|
| "As a member of the executive committee for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and former president of the African American Mayors Association, we all have been grappling with gentrification in urban cities from Mayor Landrieu in New Orleans to Mayor de Blasio in New York. That is why I proactively created a task force to study the issue.
The goal of our task force may seem paradoxical given that we are in the midst of a renaissance throughout Birmingham. We have promised to spur housing construction while keeping gentrification at bay and to improve neighborhood amenities like the LED lighting, bike paths and handicapped accessible walkways while persevering the character of our neighborhoods, making them more desirable, diverse and affordable at the same time. Critics may ask why now? That is the same question that the naysayers commented and complained about when I made the decision to bring the Birmingham Barons Baseball team back home and built them the new Regions Field and then the Negro Southern League Baseball Museum. These developments led to more housing throughout the area. Woodlawn Station, Avondale, Pratt City and now Ensley is experiencing new growth and development for affordable homes for families to live. The city has many tools at its disposal that can be utilized to require developers in rezoned areas to set aside 30 percent of new buildings for lower rent apartments, like I did when I sought and received $35 million in federal funds for the Hope VI Park Place apartment complex. This is the kind of public private partnership we would like to further explore in some of our more neglected neighborhoods while also bringing in small business, community centers, playgrounds and public WIFI internet access. These are some of the areas we will explore when the task force meets and we welcome input from all of our citizens." |
| Chris Woods | |
|---|---|
| "There are several instances in Birmingham where I have seen and are currently witnessing gentrification: Avondale, Central Cities, Lakeview, and to some extent Ensley. I view the gentrification as negative, but not because of the reasons that you might typically hear.
I believe that the city should welcome and encourage individuals to move into all areas of the city to restore properties and open businesses within the 23 communities. In my eyes, I typically view any progress is good, but in the case on gentrification I am forced to ask is it truly progress if it doesn't include everyone. The gentrification in Birmingham is negative because in almost every case the people currently living in the area are completely forced out. I do not place the blame on the people moving into the area and bettering the community thru investing capital. I place the blame on the current administration for not participating enough in the growth. If city hall participates more in the growth within the communities, then we can overcome many of the problems created through gentrification. I believe city hall should play a major role in ensuring that affordable housing is retained in up-and-coming areas throughout the city. As Mayor, I will lead the charge when it comes to coordinating with the housing authority, business community, private sector and non-profit organizations to create long-term plans and to invest in ensuring that there is affordable housing retained in areas that are experiencing growth. Whether it's through direct investment of city funds or incentivizing the private sector via tax credits, the city must participate. Partnering with effective non-profit organizations is another method where the city could realize a strong return on investment. The city also has a major tool in the Land Bank Authority, that if effectively utilized could be a big factor in lowering the cost of development for potential investors. Gentrification has a negative connotation, but does not have to necessarily be a bad thing. If the city can unite across the public, private, and non-profit sectors then we can successfully develop truly diverse and strong communities. I believe that if we can strengthen our communities then we can strengthen and grow our city." |
| Frank Matthews | |
|---|---|
| "Various areas of Birmingham are experiencing gentrification. Residents of public housing experienced its push first with the Hope VI situation, which was a debacle. The residents were moved out for this neighborhood and individuals were permanently displaced in other area public housing and Section 8 housing with the promise of being moved back to Metropolitan Garden Center City. This never happened.
Gentrification's tentacles has reached deep into Southside, Avondale, Woodlawn and North Birmingham. The greatest push now is in the Southtown public housing development where people from all different backgrounds and races are organized together to resist gentrification and the demolition of public housing. For example, this past summer Birmingham Housing Authority released a proposal that allows private companies to build new market rate developments on Southside public housing. The public outcry from residents and Southtown and surrounding areas are great. As mayor I would regulate gentrification in all the city's 99 neighborhood with a grassroots coalition. I will look to counteract gentrification when necessary and appropriate. I will look to propose new zoning plans, one regulating the construction of new buildings in older neighborhoods protecting and preserving existing housing and number of ways protecting the small business of the neighborhood offering stimulus packages. I will seek to employ state and federal government to stop the deregulating of rental housing. Stopping harassment by landlords or slumlords with heavy fines on landlords and slumlords who allow unsafe living arrangements. These practices unabated threaten the neighborhoods of Birmingham. I will encourage unification through policy, discourage bad policies and procedures with solutions that strengthen rent regulation to provide good affordable housing. I would crackdown on landlords that harassed tenants and close loopholes in inspections related to repair of buildings throughout Birmingham's 23 communities. I want to reward good landlords who provide affordable housing, and encourage owners of small buildings to rent units at below-market values that do not look like ghetto shanties. As for the current mayor's task force, I see it as just another pink elephant a Smokescreen 11th Hour politicking that will do absolutely nothing!" |
| Fernandez Sims | |
|---|---|
| "Gentrification is a problem throughout Birmingham. The Hope VI Park Place apartment development downtown displaced hundreds of low-income individuals. We can also look to the redevelopment of the Avondale community; which raised the rent of many of the properties and also displaced many low-to-modest income individuals and families. Currently, the Southtown housing community which will, due to agreements with rich and powerful developers, displace (low-income residents). Also in the Norwood community, gentrification is in full swing.
The benefits of neighborhood revitalization don't outweigh the negative consequences of the wealthy and powerful running roughshod over the most weak and vulnerable of our citizens. Those powerless citizens being removed from their longtime homes and families occurs along with schoolchildren being displaced from their community, neighbors and their schools. Birmingham has a shortage of suitable affordable housing. Birmingham has a transportation system that does not work for the poor. The poor simply do not have good transportation options. Gentrification usually exacerbates these problems because they displace poor people out of a range for using these services. Gentrification also puts the displaced into poor neighborhoods where they are not known and they become prey to others in the new neighborhood. My policy is that every neighborhood will be clean, well-kept, safe well-lit with good schools and an efficient, regional transportation system. My plan includes a Neighborhood Revitalization Program, a Community Micro-Loan Program for low-to-modest income citizens to be able to buy and rehabilitate abandoned houses in properties with the agreement to remain in them." |
| Trudy Hunter | |
|---|---|
| "Gentrification usually targets low-income areas throughout a city or metropolitan area that is supposed to transform neighborhoods into something fresh and different through an influx of new money, new populations of people and new perceptions. However, that was not the case, with respects to what happened with the Hope VI project.
The Hope VI project is the government plan that was intended to rebuild urban blight by restoring old projects with mixed-income housing. However, this policy, no matter how well-intended, had far-reaching consequences for the very residents it was designed to help. For instance, in 2004, Park Place was the first Hope VI project in Birmingham. It replaced the old Metropolitan Gardens public housing. Despite the new transformation in that area with the Park Place projects, and out of the 2,500 residents that resided there prior to the Hope VI project at the Metropolitan Garden's public housing, only 60 residents returned. Irrespective of the complete quality of life that may have materially made improvements to and around the downtown area, in the process of transforming that new neighborhood, 2,440 residents did not return to the area. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has realigned their vision and are building on existing place-based efforts such as the Promise Zones initiative. These initiatives partner with cities to help in their preparation in dealing with areas that arise with anticipated growth, addresses the impacts of climate change, and helps families to succeed. There is no single policy or program that can address the many challenges that distressed urban areas face. Instead, these communities need a comprehensive plan that ensures residents live and work in communities conducive to their success." |
| Randy Davis | |
|---|---|
| "I want to work with the council to deal with gentrification. Everyone has a different definition of it. First get everyone on board in the right direction. We want the city to grow, yes, but not price our communities out of the neighborhood. I understand new condos and apartments are being built. But letting an entity raise rent from for example $500 to $900 is not right nor should it happen. New policies can be written. Coming together with council members on a fair percentage of increase because it is understandable that property value will go up. But we won't wipe out communities.
I've talked to residents of Southtown who feel left in the dark. There is no communication. Some citizens have jobs and don't know what to do or (know) what the future holds. I believe we can treat our Birmingham residents better." |
| Patricia Bell | |
|---|---|
| "Mayor (William) Bell has allowed the lack of knowledge concerning block grants, and many opportunities for revitalizing Birmingham, slip out of the window for underserved communities across the city.
If elected, I will begin an immediate process of engaging communities that are most underserved by simply designing community outreach sessions that expose available services to citizens. My new administration will not fail again as the present administration has done with the lack of knowledge that could have been imparted to citizens. Some available services have never been articulated to those in need of the services. I promise I will not cost the tax payers more money with Mayor William Bell's task force, simply because paid workers in his administration aren't doing their jobs. The gentrification going on in Woodlawn resembles that in Harlem, N.Y. Millions allocated by the city and placed on the city's agenda item list, has placed far too many six-figured executives from without (outside) rather than within the community." |
| Randall Woodfin | |
|---|---|
| "Birmingham is a historic city full of tradition so it is natural for families to desire relocating here, but we must be mindful of the long-term residents and small businesses that have shaped the identity of our city. Far too often, rapid increases in rent and property taxes due to gentrification have displaced seniors and low-income residents from their homes, and ousted small businesses from our community.
The consequences of gentrification are deeply concerning, particularly since Mayor Bell seems incapable of striking the appropriate balance between encouraging development downtown while also ensuring that Birmingham still remains affordable for our long-term residents and businesses. While higher property values expand our tax base and benefit the city, higher property values also give rise to fear and anxiety for our seniors who live on fixed incomes and our working-class residents. Median income for Birmingham residents is just above $30,000, so when I see new high-rise developments for luxury apartments and condos, I am concerned that the new rental housing stock may be out of reach for many Birmingham residents. Birmingham must be proactive about ensuring adequate supply of affordable rental housing and protecting our seniors and working-class residents' local businesses from sharp increases in property taxes. There are common sense approaches for preserving affordability in Birmingham. In neighborhoods like Avondale that have experienced rapid increases in property values, low-income seniors on fixed incomes should be able to qualify for more generous homestead exemptions than are currently offered by Jefferson County. As mayor, I will work with the Jefferson County Commission and Jefferson County Tax Assessor's Office to grant more substantial property tax relief for our seniors in areas living in areas with rapidly increasing property values. Additionally, I will instruct the City Law Department and Department of Planning to develop an inclusionary zoning ordinance that will require developers to set aside a certain percentage of units in each new multifamily development for Birmingham residents making less than $40,000 a year. After seven years of lip service and inaction, it is not surprising that Mayor Bell decided to assemble a task force to examine gentrification less than 45 days from Election Day. Rest assured, I will make certain as mayor that access and affordability will be priorities for my Administration from day one and not just when there's an election." |
Ensley
AL.com asked the following questions about moving the police headquarters, fire headquarters, and municipal court to Ensley:
"Should the Birmingham Police Department and Fire & Rescue Service headquarters and municipal court be moved out of downtown Birmingham and in to Ensley? Why or why not? Do you see any potential problems with having the main headquarters away from the central district? If you don't believe it should be placed in Ensley, what should be done with the historic Ramsay McCormack Building? And, what's the solution for revitalizing Ensley?"[7]
| Mayor William Bell | |
|---|---|
| "The Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, the Birmingham Police Department and municipal court should be headquartered in one municipal building.
As the Ensley neighborhood president stated: "It takes time to revive something that's almost just about dead." That's where we are now, trying to make a comeback. If you travel through Ensley now, you can see areas of business growth and development. Community gardens are coming to life, mirroring Jones Valley Farms, Porter Hawkins is doing his part by painting murals celebrating Ensley Alive. REV Birmingham is exploring ways to bring in a clothing boutique where Cotton's clothing store was, promising to make Ensley just as bustling and thriving downtown. The old Birmingham Police West precinct will be turned into a cinema theater. The city of Birmingham also partnered with Ensley's residents, along with Auburn University's Urban Studio, to create a master plan for Ensley centered around agricultural growth. The goal is to revitalize Ensley, make great things happen in the community and grow a new generation of entrepreneurs. This is a change that you can actually see. The $40 million investment plan to move the municipal court, police, and fire headquarters will give Ensley a shot in the arm toward revitalization and spur residential and business growth. We expect the public safety complex to have the same kind of impact in Ensley that Regions Field did for downtown. We must seize and embrace this opportunity to continue Birmingham's Renaissance throughout our beloved city." |
| Chris Woods | |
|---|---|
| "I would not be in support of moving the Birmingham Police Department, Fire & Rescue Service nor municipal court to Ensley. In major cities, city hall and municipal court is located in the central part of the city. The central location allows all citizens better access from each district of the city. The central location (downtown) is the hub of the city.
Forty years ago, the Ensley community was a thriving city itself within the city of Birmingham. Ensley had medical providers, professional offices, grocery stores, pharmacies, great schools, shopping, entertainment and restaurants. Unfortunately, the mayor has not dedicated similar resources to Ensley, the neighborhoods or western communities as he has downtown. Additionally, I disagree that investing $40 million into the Ramsay McCormack Building is the answer. If we spread $40 million throughout the community instead of one building, it would be more impactful. My vision for Ensley would be a comprehensive plan that would include a major municipal center as the anchor of the community that would include the city councilor office, police precinct and business offices. The center would offer government services such as municipal court, finance, permits, meeting rooms, host city council meetings and entertainment room to host receptions, family reunions and dinners. With the city of Birmingham's commitment and resources as the municipal center anchor tenant, the developer would be able attract other businesses, grocery stores, restaurants and entertainment. This allows government to be closer to the people. Ensley would once again return to the city within a city and thrive within the community." |
| Frank Matthews | |
|---|---|
| "The Ramsey McCormick Public Safety complex is a debacle.
First of all, $40 million is just a drop in the bucket. It would take a minimum of a $100 million to do exactly what the mayor is purposing to do with the Ramsay McCormack Building. Personally, I would as mayor revisit the (former Carraway Methodist Medical Center) Carraway location in north Birmingham. I think it's the best site. It's in a good location that could be a good fit. I think that the Ramsay McCormack building in Ensley should concentrate more on the famed name Tuxedo Junction. I will look to make it a colossal entertainment district. I will look to make it one of the foremost entertainment districts in Alabama that superseded and captures all that Beale Street of Memphis, Tenn. and Bourbon Street of New Orleans has to offer to America and the world -- resurrecting the Ramsay McCormick building as an Ramsey McCormick/ Erskine Hawkins Opulent Hotel. The district would encapsulate the great past and early historic figure of Birmingham's Erskine Hawkins (trumpeter, bandleader, and composer during the Big Band era) and offer great opportunities to the community." |
| Fernandez Sims | |
|---|---|
| "I believe that the Birmingham Police Department and Fire & Rescue Service headquarters and municipal court should not be moved out of downtown Birmingham and in to Ensley.
I think that our public safety office and command centers should be centrally located in or very near the downtown city center. That location would make better sense and be more accessible for all citizens. It would allow our first responders to be able to engage all communities with better response times, along with greater convenience for the majority of the citizens and surrounding communities. The city center can be reached from so many different access points. As we have seen with the interstate catastrophes, where the interstate burnt to the ground by tractor-trailers on I 20/59 and the complete inability of people to navigate to that area is still fresh in the memories of many of the citizens. I believe $40 million (proposed for the project) should be repurposed to building up all of our communities, instead of being used to rehabilitate one building that is reported to be severely contaminated with asbestos. (Editor's note: Asbestos has been abated from the building, according to Birmingham planning, engineering director Andre Bittas). I believe the historical Ramsey McCormack building should have a stricter environmental, health, and best use evaluation and survey to see if it's feasible to use the building or if it would be better to demolish it as it has been on the condemnation list. The solution for the revitalization of Ensley stands with the revitalization of all of our neighborhoods. We first have to clean up all of our neighborhoods to make them livable, community and business friendly. Then we should complete a comprehensive neighborhood by neighborhood assessment to determine the best ways and processes to revitalize our neighborhoods for the enjoyment and best use according to its neighborhood and the neighborhood's character." |
| Trudy Hunter | |
|---|---|
| "A resounding no. The (Ramsay McCormack) building needs to be demolished and replaced with a HUB center for social service programs and resources.
While the challenges facing urban communities often plague specific neighborhoods in high crime areas, solutions to the challenges can come from outside the borders of a neighborhood or city. We must place greater emphasis on connections to regional opportunities. Communities operate within a broader political and economic context that is regional in nature, not just locally but outside the state too, making it a critical and necessary component for communities to engage leaders throughout surrounding regions to connect residents with more opportunities. For instance, regional partnerships have been particularly useful in areas such as employment opportunities. For example, Partners for a Competitive Workforce--a cross-sector partnership in the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana tri-state region--aligns public and nonprofit employment resources with employer needs. Since 2008, Partners for a Competitive Workforce has served more than 6,100 workers, 75 percent of whom retained employment after one year. The Promise Zones initiative place a greater emphasis on the strength of regional partnerships during the application and implementation phases. In addition to the U.S. Department of Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund can help identify intermediary organizations that serve in this technical assistance role that connects Promise Zones that are facing challenges in engaging private-sector actors with organizations that can provide technical assistance in assessing their local markets, the strengths and weaknesses of different private-sector partners, and build capacity to guide investment toward new investment opportunities." |
| Randy Davis | |
|---|---|
| "Ensley is ready to grow. We already have a fire station in Ensley that's close to where the proposed new one is. Is that one going to be closed?
We need to include the community and ask what would they like to have in their communities. We need to work with the council in that district and move forward to making it happen. This is Birmingham and we can move this city forward together. Ensley also has road issues and flooding that should be addressed immediately. We need to show our communities we care about the area and let new businesses know as well." |
| Patricia Bell | |
|---|---|
| "I am not sure Ensley is the best location for our law enforcement headquarters. When elected, I will help police officers and their administrators choose what they consider to be most comfortable and beneficial to them for the safety our city." |
| Randall Woodfin | |
|---|---|
| "There is not a city in America where the central police headquarters is not located in the core of the city. Bell's plan doesn't make logistical sense to me, or to the dozens of police officers that I have spoken with.
In addition, the proposed plan to move the headquarters to Ensley has a projected cost of $40 million. A five-minute drive around main street Ensley and anyone can see that $40 million dollars needs to be invested in the entire neighborhood, not just one building. My solution for revitalizing Ensley would be the same as it would be for many other neighborhoods in Birmingham - earmarking resources for demolishing abandoned properties, cutting overgrown lots, filling potholes, and repairing sidewalks. My neighborhood revitalization plan calls for $8 million annually in demolition and land banking abandoned properties, as well as street resurfacing and sidewalk repairs. We need to get back to the basics and then build from there." |
About the city
- See also: Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama. As of 2010, its population was 212,237.
City government
- See also: Mayor-council government
The city of Birmingham uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body while the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[8]
Demographics
The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.
| Demographic Data for Birmingham, Alabama | ||
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | Alabama | |
| Population | 212,237 | 4,779,736 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 146 | 50,646 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 25.8% | 68.1% |
| Black/African American | 69.9% | 26.6% |
| Asian | 1.1% | 1.4% |
| Native American | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% |
| Two or more | 1.5% | 1.9% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 3.9% | 4.3% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 86.7% | 86.2% |
| College graduation rate | 27.4% | 25.5% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $37,375 | $50,536 |
| Persons below poverty level | 25.9% | 16.7% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2010). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2014-2019). | ||
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Birmingham mayoral election. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| Birmingham, Alabama | Alabama | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Birmingham Times, "Birmingham Mayor's Race: William Bell and Randall Woodfin Combative in Lead-Up to Oct. 3 Runoff," August 30, 2017
- ↑ City of Birmingham, "2017 Elections Calendar," accessed December 13, 2016
- ↑ AL.com, "Meet the candidates for Birmingham City Council," July 7, 2017
- ↑ AL.com, "12 qualify to run for Birmingham mayor," July 7, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 AL.com, "Face-off: Bell and Woodfin in fiery mayoral runoff debate," September 22, 2017
- ↑ AL.com, "Birmingham issues: How would mayoral candidates deal with gentrification?" August 1, 2017
- ↑ AL.com, "Birmingham issues: Mayoral candidates on Ensley revitalization, public safety complex plans" August 8, 2017
- ↑ City of Birmingham, "Mayor-Council Act," accessed October 28, 2014
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