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Most interesting items: Monday: Transportation & Infrastructure Committee - BJCTA Report Budget & Finance: ACIPCO Tax Abatement - $2,500/FTE, $200k Max DPW Maintenance Work Order System - Brightly Software Inc. - Up to $350,618.10 (Also on City Council Agenda) Tuesday: Council: Sale of lot at 926 37th Pl N for $13,785.70 $160k for Create Birmingham Inc. $2m Loan Credit Agreement with RPG Birmingham LLC to support development at 2300 Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard Apply for $35

This week’s agenda’s were sent out this morning, so excuse any errors in summarizing the 117 page agenda expeditiously. This week’s City Council Agenda contains two Public Hearing items, Items 63 and 64 on Page 91, both first readings. Item 64 is the more interesting of the two, amending the city’s zoning code with the following: Amend the current height requirements in the D-5 District (Multi-family) to 35ft for all uses Add single-family detached residential as a Permitted

Making the Magic City more walkable will require thinking differently about transportation and land use while ignoring disingenuous critics

When the City of Birmingham announced $1 million in emergency funding  to fill the gap left by reduced SNAP benefits, it did more than provide temporary relief. It modeled what people-first urbanism looks like in action. This decision shows a growing awareness among city leaders that equitable access to essentials such as food is a foundational part of urban infrastructure. Food, like transportation or housing, determines how people live, move, and thrive within a city. The L

In October 2025, Birmingham celebrated a major step forward in equity and community design with the opening of its first all-inclusive playground at Bessie Estell Park. This project represents far more than new play equipment. It is a clear example of how accessible, people-first public spaces can strengthen neighborhoods, promote belonging, and redefine what mobility and inclusion look like in our city. Why It Matters At its heart, the new playground at Bessie Estell Park re

Animal control is more than a public health concern. It is a matter of equity, accessibility, and safety. In neighborhoods where stray and loose dogs roam freely, people are less likely to walk to the bus stop, take their children to the park, or ride a bike to work. The result is isolation, lower quality of life, and streets that feel unsafe or neglected. When people avoid public space out of fear, the fabric of a city designed for connection begins to fray. Responsible, hum

A few months ago I settled into a seat in the Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s classroom for a “Cottage Food” class. After receiving praise...

When you step outside your front door in Birmingham, what do you see? For most of us, the answer is clear: streets designed almost...