City to pay fine for removing Confederate monument in Linn Park

The Birmingham City Council — at its regular meeting for Tuesday, June 30 — voted to pay the $25,000 fine that was levied against the city by the state of Alabama following the recent removal of a Confederate monument in Linn Park that had stood for 115 years, according to a Council blog post.

The Alabama Legislature passed a law in 2017 that protects historical structures, such as monuments or other statues, that have been on public property for 40 or more years.

After the city removed the monument — a 52-foot obelisk — on June 1, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall filed a lawsuit against the city for removing the monument and violating the 2017 law.

Tuesday’s vote settles that lawsuit, and the money will go towards the state’s Historic Preservation Fund.

Making it count

In an effort to increase participation in the 2020 Census, the Council voted to declare all Census-related events as having a public purpose.

This creates the opportunity to use city funds and resources to do community outreach, such as community engagement meetings, presentations and public service projects. 

In the coming weeks, Council members will increase efforts to tell the public why it is important to take part in the Census, according to the blog post.