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Birmingham Public Safety Task Force to release report in November

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA — Oct. 8, 2020 —  The Birmingham Public Safety Task Force, which was formed in July to review public safety issues in the Magic City, will release its findings in November.

“We have been working diligently to provide Mayor Randall L. Woodfin and Councilor Hunter Williams with thoughtful and workable recommendations to improve public safety in the city. We have been meeting on a consistent basis, examining critical issues, including policing and non-policing solutions,’’  said the Birmingham Public Safety Task Force. “We have determined that we need more time for discussions and research before we release a final report. That report will be made in November.”

As part of their research, the task force has made hearing from the community a priority. With the support of the Mayor’s Office of Peace & Policy, they have already conducted nine listening sessions; asked for feedback in a community survey, which was open for several weeks and closed on Oct. 5; and joined Mayor Woodfin in attending an Oct. 1 public hearing that was held by the Public Safety Committee, which is chaired by Councilor Hunter Williams.

Two more virtual listening sessions are planned for October.

They include:

Friday, Oct. 9 at 11 a.m.  with the Birmingham Business Alliance 

Visit this link to register: https://bhambusinessalliancelisteningsession.eventbrite.com

 Monday, Oct. 12 at 12 p.m. with Community Activists

 Visit this link to register: https://activistlisteningsession.eventbrite.com/

Due to the number of community stakeholder meetings that have been held and are planned in the coming days, the task force set November as a release time for the report so they will have adequate time to hear all stakeholders’ feedback and incorporate any additional information into the final report.

Mayor Woodfin announced the task force this summer following a national movement known as 8 Can’t Wait. The Birmingham Police Department is in alignment with the standards of 8 Can’t Wait, which highlights eight issues. However, there is room for improvement. A task force was appointed to take a deeper look at public safety matters.

The task force members are:

  • Jaselle Houghtlin, a recent UAB graduate and co-founder of the advocacy group, Listen
  • Cara McClure, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Birmingham
  • Victor Revill, a Birmingham attorney with Revill Law Firm
  • Ed Watkins, a former Birmingham police detective
  • Joyce Vance, former U.S. Attorney of the Northern District of Alabama

Councilor Williams and Mayor Woodfin serve as co-chairs of the task force.