Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism/BirminghamWatch

This week's BW Recommends includes a new incentive proposal for the Ramsay McCormack Development in Ensley and DOGE cuts hitting Social Security workers in Birmingham.

In most zoning districts besides single-family residential, the latest version of proposed regulations would permit them, though with various restrictions. Those include limiting the number of short-term rentals to 1% of residential units and setting a minimum 1,000 feet spacing requirement between them.

The new manager, Mac Underwood, left the Water Works’ general manager role in December 2018 under unclear circumstances. In a public comment portion of the meeting, William Muhammad, who had served on the Water Works board until a new member took his place at the first of the year, spoke in opposition to Underwood’s selection. Chairwoman Tereshia Huffman interrupted his comments and then asked security personnel to escort him from the building.

Gunn, a member of Birmingham’s Planning Commission, is seeking the council seat currently held by J.T. Moore.

“If you kill 11 people and you shoot 29 so you’re almost at shooting 40 people, to me, you are a terrorist, and I hope that wherever court this goes to that they seek the death penalty, because it is completely unacceptable that there are almost 40 families that have dealt with one individual shooting (their loved ones),” Councilor Hunter Williams said.

The Birmingham Preservation Authority recently selected shop owners Naimah Alicia Elmore and Rashad “Roc” Harrell to operate at the motel that decades ago was the primary meeting place of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as he led the struggle for civil rights. https://lnkd.in/eW8r_azF

The next step is for the plan to go to the Zoning Advisory Committee of the Planning Commission. Notices will go out to all property owners in the Pratt and Ensley communities before that consideration.

The 105th edition of the championships begins Monday with 56 boys and girls teams coming to the Magic City for a chance to realize the dream of winning a state championship.

Here’s a recap of news stories you might have missed over the past week. It's this week's edition of BW Recommends:

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin officially launched his campaign for a third term at an event Saturday morning at Iron City. He said the city has come too far to turn back.