Mayor Woodfin announces new programs, provides update on child shootings

Mayor Randall Woodfin held a press conference Tuesday, June 22, to update the public on several developments happening in Birmingham.

The investigations of five individual cases in which five children under the age of 10 were shot — and one was killed — between February and May are still ongoing. Woodfin urged residents to come forward with any information regarding these cases. 

“I want to remind the public that we still need your help in solving these cases,” he said. “A $25,000 reward is still available in each case.” 

The mayor urged citizens to come forward with any information that they may have. No arrests have been made in those investigations so far. 

“For quite some time, we’ve talked about a culture that lends itself to ‘no snitching,’” said Woodfin. “I don’t think that it is helpful or fruitful related to our ability to decrease and solve crime.”

He believes that the solving of the five cases are “a community issue and a community effort.” 

Woodfin also announced that the Birmingham Municipal Court will be hosting several rocket dockets throughout the summer including two that began this week. The court is holding rocket dockets for minor parking and traffic cases at Boutwell Auditorium, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m.

Another docket called “Operation Reset” also began Monday and will give Birmingham residents with outstanding warrants the chance to be given new court dates without the risk of being arrested. It will also be held at the Boutwell Auditorium, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Future rocket dockets will be held July 19-22 and August 23-25.

As part of the city’s “Built to Last” 150 year celebration, the Department of Public Works is launching its “99 for the 150th: Taking Pride Where I Reside.” This effort will focus on cleanliness in all of Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods. Public Works crews will be sweeping four Birmingham communities each week starting Monday with Tuxedo, College Hills, Five Points South and East Lake. 

“This is an aggressive effort to stage a weekly blitz in the four quadrants to focus on cleanliness, overgrown lots, trash and brush in our city,” said Woodfin. “The 99 for the 150th only works if it’s in a partnership between the city, our citizens and communities.” 

Woodfin encourages residents to cut their lawns, pick up trash in their neighborhoods, move their vehicles when city work crews are moving through their area and make sure that contractors remove debris upon completion of their jobs. 

The City of Birmingham is also expanding recycling to every first and third Wednesday of each month starting July 7 and July 21.

Keep Birmingham Beautiful has several clean-ups planned for the summer including two taking place Saturday and Sunday in Gate City and Brownville.

As a part of the Magic City Recovery Plan, supported by the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan, Premium Pay will provide city employees with one-time bonuses starting June 25 - June 30.

The Magic City Recovery Plan: Premium Pay was proposed by Mayor Woodfin and was later passed by City Council on June 1. The plan was proposed to “support our employees who continue to serve through this pandemic.”  Full-time employees will receive a payment of $5,000 and part-time employees will receive a $2,500 payment.

The American Rescue Plan is a part of the Biden administration’s effort to provide support to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.