3 months ago
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That commission is made up of several business leaders, community members and criminal justice leaders across Birmingham. Its focus is reducing gun violence with strategy. The city gave a list of short and long term recommendations to improve police operations, refocus resources and improve community relations.The commission is made up of several business leaders, community members and criminal justice leaders across Birmingham. Its focus is reducing gun violence with strategy. Some big names include former Birmingham Police chief A.C. Roper and Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr.This initiative is similar to one spearheaded by former mayor Richard Arrington, Jr. who appointed a commission when he noticed a spike in crime. The city believes that plan was successful.“This is real work,” Mayor Randall Woodfin said. “This is hard work. Nothing about is easy. but we trust General Roper—who will take a lead role in this effort—pulling these folks together. The beauty of this is it won’t be me or the mayor’s office or the council getting in their way, and so they’ll take the lead on what their time looks like.”The new plan is being met with some criticism from community leaders. Ensley Highlands Neighborhood Association president Antwon Womack lost one of his community members in a shooting on Frida. He said he recognizes the mayor is in a tough position and appreciates him being proactive in solving the problem. He also feels it doesn’t matter how many commissions the city creates, there will always be gun violence, but he is happy to see an opportunity for great minds to come to the table. He just wishes more neighborhood presidents and social justice organizations would’ve been invited for a seat.“We can change things at the drop of a dime in our household, but government doesn’t work like that,” Womack said. We do have to give the mayor the benefit of the doubt. We do have to give him the opportunity to present something. To him—like anybody else—I’m willing to work with them, but I do believe that whatever the recommendations are and whatever will come out of this that they stick to that. They make sure that every move and partner that’s a part of this is held accountable for meeting those recommendations.”The city said it plans to give the public an update in the next 60 days to see what strategies they plan to use. The commission is funded by the Birmingham Police Foundation.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
That commission is made up of several business leaders, community members and criminal justice leaders across Birmingham. Its focus is reducing gun violence with strategy. The city gave a list of short and long term recommendations to improve police operations, refocus resources and improve community relations.
The commission is made up of several business leaders, community members and criminal justice leaders across Birmingham. Its focus is reducing gun violence with strategy. Some big names include former Birmingham Police chief A.C. Roper and Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr.
This initiative is similar to one spearheaded by former mayor Richard Arrington, Jr. who appointed a commission when he noticed a spike in crime. The city believes that plan was successful.
“This is real work,” Mayor Randall Woodfin said. “This is hard work. Nothing about is easy. but we trust General Roper—who will take a lead role in this effort—pulling these folks together. The beauty of this is it won’t be me or the mayor’s office or the council getting in their way, and so they’ll take the lead on what their time looks like.”
The new plan is being met with some criticism from community leaders. Ensley Highlands Neighborhood Association president Antwon Womack lost one of his community members in a shooting on Frida. He said he recognizes the mayor is in a tough position and appreciates him being proactive in solving the problem. He also feels it doesn’t matter how many commissions the city creates, there will always be gun violence, but he is happy to see an opportunity for great minds to come to the table. He just wishes more neighborhood presidents and social justice organizations would’ve been invited for a seat.
“We can change things at the drop of a dime in our household, but government doesn’t work like that,” Womack said. We do have to give the mayor the benefit of the doubt. We do have to give him the opportunity to present something. To him—like anybody else—I’m willing to work with them, but I do believe that whatever the recommendations are and whatever will come out of this that they stick to that. They make sure that every move and partner that’s a part of this is held accountable for meeting those recommendations.”
The city said it plans to give the public an update in the next 60 days to see what strategies they plan to use. The commission is funded by the Birmingham Police Foundation.
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