BPD has officially charged Percy Iverson with Arson  1st Degree, Attempted Murder (6 counts)-He is currently in custody of the Jefferson County jail. Total bond-$420,000

On Tuesday morning around 130am on Antwerp Avenue, Iverson went to his common law wife’s house and through a unknown flammable object through the bedroom window causing the bedroom to catch fire. There were six people in the house (3 adults/3 juveniles) all were able to escape without injuries. Birmingham Fire and Rescue came and put out the fire. The house was badly damaged. Iverson was located two miles away on foot. Officers working on patrol spotted him walking and conducted a field interview and connected him to the incident.

Trial held at Montgomery County Courthouse – ALL SEVEN ACQUITTED

The seven Alabamians arrested for singing and praying in the State Capitol as an act of faith in support of health care and Medicaid expansion were found not guilty following their trial in Montgomery County District Court on Tuesday.  The purpose of their moral stand remains to persuade Gov. Robert Bentley to extend Medicaid coverage and save the lives of Alabamians.
In his oral ruling from the bench, Judge W. Troy Massey said that this case follows in the long history and tradition of Americans risking jail to stand up for principles greater than themselves.  He cited Americans in 1773, who trespassed onto three ships and destroyed $1 million worth of tea (in 1773 dollars) by dumping it into the Boston Harbor.  Today we know that as the Boston Tea Party.  He cited Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus in 1955 in protest of segregation, which led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and advances in desegregation of public transportation.  He cited protests in Selma in 1965, which led to the Voting Rights Act.  He cited Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s lifetime of nonviolent protests and others.
The Judge also referenced how peaceful the crowd was in the courtroom throughout the hours of trial proceedings.  Several Capitol Police Officers who were witnesses at trial also detailed how peaceful and prayerful the defendants’ demeanors were during their abbreviated prayer vigil at the State Capitol on August 28th. Not only was no damage done to property;  no voices were even raised.
One assertion by the prosecution’s witnesses, which came out in court and surprised the defense and others in the courtroom, was that state policy denies all Alabamians any right to peacefully protest, even silently, in the State Capitol at all times – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – not just after 5 p.m. on weekdays.
The Alabama statute on trespass provides that if a person has an honest belief they have a right to be in place, such as the State Capitol, sometimes called “the People’s House”, that person cannot be convicted of criminal trespass.  Civil trespass is the recourse available under such circumstances.  The Judge cited the defense of honest belief to the trespass charges as “compelling.”  He also said the justification defense of necessity, which the defense raised, was “compelling.”  Evidence demonstrated that, on the average, three people die every two days in Alabama because of the failure to extend Medicaid.  The seven defendants were arrested while they were trying to save hundreds of lives each year in Alabama alone.
The seven citizens arrested on August 28, 2014, for peacefully protesting by attempting to hold 24-hour, non-violent vigil in the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery and who were found not guilty of the charges in Montgomery County District Court include:
•  John Zippert, Newspaper Publisher and member of the Greene County Hospital and Nursing Home Board
•   Augustus (Gus) Townes, retired State Employee and Community Leader
•   Faya Rose Toure’, Civil Rights Attorney and Activist
•   Alecha Irby, College Student and Community Worker
•   Reverend Fred Hammond, Tuscaloosa Pastor and Community Leader
•   Reverend Kenneth Glasgow, Dothan Pastor and Director of The Ordinary Peoples Society (TOPS)
•   Annie Pearl Avery, Longtime Grassroots Warrior
Quotes from the individual defendants acquitted:
Faya Rose Toure’:  “I am so proud that justice reigned this day. Too often justice is not done in our courts, and it is great when justice prevails. We will keep fighting to protect the lives and the health of Alabamians.
Reverend Fred Hammond:  “This is a matter of life and death, and hope for life triumphed this day.”
John Zippert:  “We were just trying to do right, and the Judge recognized that.”
Reverend Kenneth Glasgow:  “This is the first time I’ve been arrested for doing right, and this is the first time I’ve been found innocent. It’s good to do right.”
Annie Pearl Avery:  “When you stand up for right, right will prevail. I was on the Edmund Pettus Bridge during Bloody Sunday in 1965, and I am still standing up for right today.”
Alecha Irby:  “I am proud that as a young person I stood up, and I am proud that justice was done. More young people need to stand.”

An astounding 15 homes have already sold as Phase II of construction begins
From Staff Reports

New Start Neighborhood in conjunction with the City of Birmingham has officially kicked off construction for Phase II of the Goldwire Heights subdivision in the historic Titusville neighborhood. New Start has already completed and sold 15 homes, Phase II will consist of 12 additional homes. Cardell Davis, Executive Director of New Start Neighborhood says, “We are excited about Phase II of the Goldwire Heights subdivision. We are committed to the City of Birmingham and the community of Titusville to make the vision of revitalizing Titusville a reality. This has been a collaborative effort. We would not have been able to make this happen without the help of Mayor Bell and his staff, Councilor Sheila Tyson and her staff, North Titusville Neighborhood President John C. Harris and many others. New Start Neighborhood Revitalization has teamed up with Gabriel Henderson & Co. and Keller Williams to provide marketing and real estate expertise to our project. Gabriel and her team are doing an amazing job of marketing our beautiful homes. New Start is excited about continuing  Phase II of the Goldwire Heights subdivision and we are honored to be part of helping to revitalize Titusville one block at a time.”
The new homes will be affordably priced below $80,000. The homes will have nearly 1200 square feet of living space, various flooring options, laminate easy clean countertops, energy star appliances, sidewalks, common areas and much more. For more information concerning the homes please call Gabriel Henderson at 205-422-5999 or email Gabriel@Gabriel-Henderson.com; visit www.gorldwireheights.net.

Cash For Crooks Div. of Refuge In (RITT) Trouble Times, PO Box 28083, Birmingham, Alabama 35228 gave back into the South Park Community on Saturday, October 4. Many pastors were present to pray with the people who attended. Our goal was to encourage the people to lay the guns down and pick up their Bibles; falling on their knees to pray to God.
We had lots of clothes, food, shoes and free hair cuts.  We had the Voters Registrars and insurance companies there signing up people.
RITT’s fight is to connect people with what they need to fill their needs. We spotlighted this story because of the needs of the people.   If at any time you might see a case file in our Cash For Crooks please call 205-254-7777 or text CRIMES 7777.  NO NICK NAMES PLEASE when calling.  If you have a case that needs spotlighting you may e-mail at odussasplace@yahoo.com or call Minister Ward at 205-240-9910.  Let us not allow crimes like these homicides remain in our community, let’s take our communities back, making it safer for others to live.

MONTGOMERY—Attorney General Luther Strange praised the United States Supreme Court’s denial of certiorari recently in Lynch v. Alabama, a lawsuit challenging Alabama’s property-tax system.
“The Supreme Court’s decision not to intervene confirms our consistent position that Alabama’s property tax structure does not violate the United States Constitution, and equally as important, that the citizens of Alabama have a right to structure their own tax system. The Office of Attorney General remains committed to defending and vindicating this important right whenever necessary.”
The denial of Supreme Court review leaves intact a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in January of this year.
The 11th Circuit agreed with the State that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge Alabama’s property tax millage caps because removing the caps would not result in relief of the harm claimed by the plaintiffs. The appeals court stated that “removal of the millage caps found in Sections 214, 215, and 216 of Article XI and Section 269 of Article XIV—the remedy the plaintiffs seek—would not redress the asserted injury, which at bottom is the inability of the plaintiffs and their elected officials to raise state and local revenue for public education.” The Court noted particularly that “voters in Lawrence and Sumter counties, where the plaintiffs reside, have rejected various proposals to increase property taxes.”
The 11th Circuit also considered the issue of property classifications in Alabama’s tax system, and ruled on the merits to find it constitutional.  “To prevail on their constitutional challenge to Amendment 373, the plaintiffs were required to prove not only discriminatory impact, but also racially discriminatory intent or purpose,” the Court stated.  In the 11th Circuit’s view, there was no basis for rejecting the District Court’s well-supported finding that racial motivation played no substantial or motivating factor in enacting the State’s property classification system.
Attorney General Strange commended Solicitor General Andrew Brasher and Assistant Attorney General Will Parker for their efforts at this stage of the case.

The Alabama Power Foundation is celebrating 25 years of serving the state. To commemorate the milestone, Alabama Power employees and their families have launched a special campaign to support 25 community projects this fall.
“It’s fitting that volunteers from the Alabama Power family celebrate the foundation’s 25 years of service by lending their support to 25 community projects,” said Mark Crosswhite, Alabama Power chairman, president and CEO. “Serving our communities is what the foundation is all about.”
The Alabama Power Foundation was created on Oct. 31, 1989, with an investment from Alabama Power shareholders. The investment provided the seed money that ensures foundation grants always come from non-ratepayer dollars.
Over the past quarter century, the foundation has invested $150 million to support Alabama communities and nonprofits, with a focus on improving education, health and human services, arts and culture, the environment and Alabamians’ quality of life. The foundation typically supports more than 700 community organizations annually.
In recognition of the 25th anniversary, the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) is leading the effort to support the 25 community projects. APSO has 10 chapters with more than 5,500 volunteers devoted to serving communities across the state. APSO members donate more than 50,000 volunteer hours each year to more than 200 nonprofit organizations.
Learn more about APSO at www.powerofgood.com.
The Alabama Power Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the state, with non-ratepayer assets of more than $140 million. Since its inception 25 years ago, the foundation has awarded more than 20,000 grants and scholarships to Alabama nonprofits, educational institutions and community organizations.

Here’s the list of the 25 community service projects taking place across the state in honor of the foundation’s 25th anniversary:

·         American Red Cross – Blood drive at Plant Barry, north of Mobile.
·         Birmingham Botanical Gardens Fall Plant Sale – Volunteers will assist with setup and volunteer the day of the sale.
·         Central Alabama Community Food Bank – APSO is sponsoring the 10th annual “Let’s Can Hunger” food drive.
·         Child Advocacy Center / Foster Love – Care Kits for Kids – APSO members put together care packages for underprivileged children.
·         Children’s of Alabama – APSO volunteers will participate in the Birmingham hospital’s annual Playtime Extravaganza.
·         Elmore County Humane Society – APSO is helping raise funds for the shelter and assisting in caring for the animals.
·         Habitat for Humanity – APSO volunteers are participating in Habitat builds in several locations.
·         Harvest Festival – APSO members are serving as volunteers for the event at Dothan’s town square.
·         Interfaith Ministries – APSO is volunteering with the Meals on Wheels program, serving disabled and homebound residents in Calhoun County.
·         KaBOOM playground build – APSO supported construction of a new playground at the Kiwanis Branch of the Boys and Girls Club, Mobile.
·         Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (Alabama/ Gulf Coast) – APSO volunteers will participate and support the Light the Night Walk by helping with administrative tasks and raising funds.
·         LifeSouth – Blood drive sponsored by Southern Division APSO Chapter, South Central Alabama.
·         Make a Wish Foundation – APSO volunteers are supporting wishes for sick children.
·         Mission of Hope – APSO members will collect clothes and food for the Mobile area mission, as well as provide a monetary donation.
·         National Down Syndrome Society – APSO chapters in the Dothan and Mobile areas are holding events to support Buddy Walks that promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome.
·         Oak Hill School – APSO volunteers are supporting the Tuscaloosa school for children with special abilities at multiple events and monthly birthday celebrations.
·         Presbyterian Children’s Home – APSO volunteers are supporting the Talladega school by painting and decorating children’s rooms.
·         Renew Our Rivers – APSO volunteers are supporting several river cleanups taking place across the state this fall.
·         Ronald McDonald House – APSO volunteers are supporting Ronald McDonald Houses in several Alabama locations, including cooking meals for guests.
·         Safe-T-Opolis – APSO volunteers are presenting electrical safety programs in multiple communities.
·         Salvation Army – APSO’s Plant Miller Chapter in Jefferson County held a cornhole tournament to benefit the Adopt-A-Child program.
·         Spina Bifida Association – APSO volunteers in Southeast Alabama will participate in the “Walk N Roll” and help with registration before the event.
·         St. Mary’s Home – APSO volunteers in the Mobile area are sponsoring monthly birthday celebrations for young residents.
·         Support Our Troops – APSO volunteers in Southeast Alabama area are assembling care packages for soldiers.
·         Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure – APSO members in the Birmingham area will participate in the walk/run to support fundraising for breast cancer research.

 During the Birmingham City Council Meeting on October 7, 2014 Council:

Approved an Ordinance “TO FURTHER AMEND THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET” for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, by transferring $3,000.00 from Non Departmental – District #1 Discretionary Projects, $1,000.00 from Non Departmental – District #3 Discretionary Projects and appropriating $4,000.00 to Non Departmental – Transfer to Fund 031 Neighborhood Allocations; and “TO FURTHER AMEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALLOCATIONS FUND BUDGET” by appropriating $500.00 to Bridlewood Neighborhood Association, $500.00 to Sun Valley Neighborhood Association, $500.00 to Echo Highlands Neighborhood Association, $500.00 to Huffman Neighborhood Association, $500.00 to Killough Springs Neighborhood Association, $500.00 to Springlake Neighborhood Association, and $1,000.00 to Forest Park Neighborhood Association. For more information please contact the Office of the Mayor at 205.254.2771.

Other items approved by the Council at today’s meeting include the following:

1. Approved a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a Project Agreement with Hop City II, Inc. under which, in the event Hop City generates at least $48,000.00 in sales tax revenue to the City, the City will provide financial incentives in the amount of $45,000.00 payable in three (3) annual payments of $15,000.00 per year from new sales tax revenue for Hop City’s expansion of its business facility and for the retention of its business operations at Pepper Place in the Lakeview Business District. For more information please contact the Office of the Mayor at 205.254.2771.

2. Approved a Resolution for the agreement with Analytical Testing Group (ATG), Birmingham, in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 per year for two (2) years, subject to the availability of funds, to provide drug and alcohol collection and testing services, and authorizing the Mayor to execute the agreement. [Appropriated in the FY2015 Budget; GL Account: 001_042_02300.507-003] For more information please contact the Office of the Mayor at 205.254.2771.

3. Approved a Resolution determining that the Magic City Classic Scholarship Breakfast to be held October 24, 2014 at the Harbert Center serves a public purpose that promotes goodwill and serves a public interest, and requesting that City funds be administered to pay for this event in accordance with Section 3-1-7 of the General Code of the City of Birmingham. For more information please contact the Office of Councilor Marcus Lundy, Jr. at 205.254.2302.

4. Approved a Resolution accepting the lump sum bid of The Pennington Group, Inc., Homewood, Alabama, in the amount of $187,719.00, for Birmingham Museum of Art Steiner Auditorium Renovation, this being the lowest and best bid submitted, and authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with The Pennington Group, Inc. in substantially the form contained within the bid documents and in accordance with said bid, providing that the total compensation payable under the contract not exceed the appropriation. [Project Code: PEP 135CP 003799; G/L Account: 135_342.652-041] For more information please contact the Office of the Mayor at 205.254.2771.

5. Approved a Resolution determining that the reception to acknowledge the recipients of the Humanitarian Award during Empowerment Week, to be held October 14, 2014, serves a public purpose that promotes goodwill and serves a public interest, and requesting that City funds be administered to pay for this event in accordance with Section 3-1-7 of the General Code of the City of Birmingham. For more information please contact the Office of Council President Johnathan Austin at 205.254.2679.

6. Approved a Resolution for an agreement with the Alabama High School Athletic Association, the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, Birmingham, AL, to host the Alabama High School Athletic Association Final 56 Basketball Championships for a term of five (5) years (2016 through 2020), in the amount of $175,000.00/year, subject to the availability of funds and to authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the City. (Submitted by the Mayor) (Recommended by the Purchasing Agent and the Budget and Finance Committee)

Announcements and Reminders

1. The Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting will be held Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in Conference Rooms “D&E.”
2. There will be an E.P.A. meeting Thursday, October 9, 2014 at Trinity C.M.E. Church – North Birmingham at 4:00 p.m.
3. There will be a Special Called Public Improvements Committee meeting Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
4. There will be a Special Called Public Safety Committee meeting Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
5. Council President Pro Tempore James “Jay” Roberson and the young people of Birmingham will celebrate the 5th Anniversary of 100 Days of Non-violence beginning next Friday, October 10, 2014 at the McWane Science Center from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
6. The Joint Budget and Finance Committee and Economic Development Committee meeting will be held Monday, October 13, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
7. The Park and Recreation Board meeting is Wednesday, October 14 ,2014 at Legion Field at 10:00 am.
8. The Joint Budget and Finance Committee and Economic Committee Meeting will be held Monday, October 13, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. in Conference Rooms “D&E.”
9. The District 5 Fun Day will be held October 19, 2014 at Railroad Park from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
10. There are vacancies on both the Birmingham Parking Authority and the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority. All resumes must be submitted to Councilor Kimberly Rafferty’s Office by October 31, 2014.
11. The District 1 Town Hall Meeting will be held October 27, 2014 at Huffman High School at 6:00 p.m.

Are you unable to attend the Birmingham City Council meetings? Watch Council Meetings on demand. From anywhere in the world you can log on to www.birminghamalcitycouncil.org and click on the tab Watch Council Meetings; or from the comfort of your home, tune to Bright House Cable Channel 340. The Birmingham City Council meetings are free and on demand.
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