[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6093916,"mediaKeyId","2845251-73bbf87bf989fb5b0cc3666827575a10","parentId",2845251,"title","Montgomery mayor hails accelerated blight removals, pledges follow-up redevelopment","audioSeconds",108,"startMs",1483140,"endMs",1591305,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845251-73bbf87bf989fb5b0cc3666827575a10&start=1483&end=1591","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845251-73bbf87bf989fb5b0cc3666827575a10/thumbnail_1483140.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6093916/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Montgomery-mayor-hails-accelerated-blight-removals-pledges-follow-up-redevelopment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093916-23285824c17a6fb780bf7f740632fc55/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189199&Signature=cx2hb6171zjyQ~2tinAPY86pcKLczvx4sh9uQCM-4a3C51p9ng~DZyMNqrh-VvYGejiSfrCGq0BKNADlDnSW6JB~xLcVh30Gn1xigSQNIMkOhwfBkq8EiDfn74no5ZWHJQy1q-evhfI05nvUHwVyvHBiutr1J68yu17sN07I54wjbSkmXpIesYWTkiy9rtQFu3yZ6vGRQ~w2uPsqeikzKg9LvGkHEkVMo8AkKXGhD2ynC9qmVM0u~aAkaKULyQxpwLpeZeg0AFaYs6WjDswyi8TdzdenSg7xjJ0ToCEJjJgvEhMiTTXD1LvVs99WS4IfNcGs6PWEK57ty5gO12xfcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery City, AL","date","2025-04-02T11:52:23.727Z","article","The mayor said recent months have seen increased progress on removing blighted properties across Montgomery, citing recent demolitions on West South Boulevard, Carmichael Road and Southern Boulevard.

He thanked planning and inspections staff and named chief of staff Jerry Reed and planning/inspection/permitting/engineering director Kippy Tate for work to streamline processes and respond to citizen tips. “We've got some more right downtown that we're going to be getting to next,” he said.

The mayor said the city has been working with the local legislative delegation to secure cooperation to further streamline state-level rules that affect demolition and redevelopment, and emphasized the intention to not simply clear lots but to return parcels to productive use through infill housing or commercial development.

Ending: The mayor framed the effort as both a response to citizen concerns about blight and a strategy to grow the tax base and spur economic development, saying the city will list cleared parcels for redevelopment rather than leaving vacant lots.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mayor Reed Media Briefing (April 1, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The mayor credited city planning and inspections staff for recent demolitions of blighted properties and said the city is coordinating with state legislators to streamline demolition and redevelopment processes.","taxTitle","Montgomery City, Montgomery County, Alabama","taxId",3930,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6093921,"Montgomery to reopen renovated community centers, relaunch open-data portal and expand place-based partnerships",418,528040,946515,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845251-73bbf87bf989fb5b0cc3666827575a10&start=528&end=946","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845251-73bbf87bf989fb5b0cc3666827575a10/thumbnail_528040.jpg","/articles/6093921/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Montgomery-to-reopen-renovated-community-centers-relaunch-open-data-portal-and-expand-place-based-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093921-ef967604ceaa95297ba4caa5fe4d8802/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189199&Signature=dWXJYnNzBk9OUvlC-kW7T70qxirALo4lbh3mxzBvTKDWqQGtPKGL206EgzSb3pzzdUUxkOQVpYErGaTP1-H8kJ5Fuo0Zu6poelkqJGkhRAnXXXz7fV2zLgvKRC6Espixf4rXCVMmXWM3KfUdFbpsQZv6nueu8nCtS8xpbkckxGYJ0h47gtWznQaecsQzHpx0L7gb7QO6TG98t3DuhUR~pGqvEJqNBSJMCwtKh928nKlIJ73aHXjGnkA~zU0oCY4qKJuQ6rt508EEXvPdnM1JIBmE-2hTOd-osN1SnG4Rq6gJjUshpbth~qWhCVPb6e8LP9EK5DDPGAyChImrLE6RKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The mayor of Montgomery said the city will soon reopen the renovated Crump and Chisholm Community Centers and will continue investing in programming — from job training to after-school services — funded in part by a voter-approved bond.

“These aren't just new buildings, but they are part of our overall investment in our city and in our community,” the mayor said, describing the centers as places for youth programs, senior activities, job training and family services. He said ribbon cuttings will be scheduled once final work is complete.

The mayor also announced Montgomery’s participation in a cohort connected to the Harlem Children's Zone and the National League of Cities, saying local leaders recently attended the Mayor's Neighborhood Academy in New York and will host HCZ founder Jeff Canada to discuss adapting cradle-to-career, place-based strategies in Montgomery.

On transparency and data, the mayor said the city relaunched an open data portal in partnership with the Bloomberg City Data Alliance and the Harvard City Leadership Initiative. The portal, he said, provides real-time city data on permitting, paving, policing and project delivery and is powered by a cross-departmental team of more than 20 departments.

Economic mobility and housing: The mayor said the city hosted the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility’s regional summit, bringing more than 100 stakeholders to discuss economic mobility, housing and small-business growth. He said Montgomery is adding new “missing middle” housing for working families for the first time in well over 12 years, aiming to broaden housing options and support economic growth.

Ending: The mayor framed these efforts as part of a larger strategy to choose “action over apathy” and “equity over excuses,” saying expanded programming, data transparency and place-based partnerships are central to improving outcomes for residents.","The mayor announced imminent ribbon cuttings for renovated Crump and Chisholm community centers, a relaunch of the city's open data portal and new place-based partnerships including work with the Harlem Children's Zone and national partners to support cradle-to-career initiatives.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6093926,"Mayor cites falling crime rates, 600-plus illegal firearms seized and urges tougher bail for repeat offenders",1807,295665,2103435,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845251-73bbf87bf989fb5b0cc3666827575a10&start=295&end=2103","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845251-73bbf87bf989fb5b0cc3666827575a10/thumbnail_295665.jpg","/articles/6093926/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Mayor-cites-falling-crime-rates-600-plus-illegal-firearms-seized-and-urges-tougher-bail-for-repeat-offenders","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093926-8942f7fcf0723541fef8749f016ff04a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189199&Signature=Eq2Zc7LfBcoJb952yU4fsqK-k3QjuDtZ~a6SvDCq5HBldVXGDevxdVfTi6aYTZEjYSPtBBWAq2cKHMdwPdJaFHv1QPR6thScUzIQhnw7tSeERD0MEJ-3iU4eR84XoDrGfkMb0LP8~Njt3eBk4svSFsk19zweHquqZy0JGtw5aOGj~0VLGJW9lYH2--~NQhB4K2RpuXjOHzA5eWt0EU-Wl3wZp~2d3r9aoT8Cj3nYPdTiNEKJAzQUTnyeBGwpzoyPSZjPRmfZ3gi4P~14gGekZxX3cn1g7W5kqctS7V9rChWZgD4Q7ksk0cmoGWPj6BYoIF3NgwWUZiZfjwONM1fTPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The mayor of Montgomery said overall crime is down nearly 16% year over year and credited police, investigators, community partners and faith leaders with improvements while urging further action on accountability and judicial policy.

Speaking at a press conference, the mayor gave detailed year-over-year figures: “overall crime is down, almost 16%. Violent crime is down nearly 25%. Non violent crime is down nearly 14%.” He added that homicides are down “about 7 and a half percent” and nonfatal shootings are down “around 27%.”

The mayor also said law enforcement has seized more than 600 illegal firearms, including 12 “Glock switches,” and thanked the Alabama Legislature and Gov. Kay Ivey for a new state law that made possession of those devices a state crime with harsher penalties. “I wanna thank state representative Phil Lindsler. I wanna thank state senator Will Barfoot,” he said, and also thanked the Alabama Big 10 Mayors Association and the Alabama League of Municipalities for supporting the effort.

On accountability and courts, the mayor urged discussions with the judicial branch and the legislative delegation about bail and bond laws for repeat violent offenders. “We have to make sure that people who are repeat offenders... are not allowed to get back out just by putting up a small percentage of the bail,” he said, adding he plans to initiate conversations with the judiciary and lawmakers.

911 operations and dispatch: The mayor said the city has brought in third-party call takers, is increasing pay and improving work conditions for 911 staff, and is investing in technology and AI to divert nonemergency calls to 311. He emphasized the need for call-takers with the right temperament and said the city is “monitoring that whole time” to reduce dropped calls.

Ending: The mayor framed the improvements as ongoing, credited multiple partner agencies and promised further work with state lawmakers and the judiciary to close legal loopholes that he said let repeat offenders return to the street too soon.","The mayor reported year-over-year drops in crime and more than 600 illegal firearms seized, credited partnerships for progress and called for state-level changes to bail and bond laws to keep repeat offenders off the streets.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6093931,"Montgomery mayor urges pause in superintendent search, citing lack of transparency and narrow candidate pool",1372,399,1372955,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845251-73bbf87bf989fb5b0cc3666827575a10&start=0&end=1372","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845251-73bbf87bf989fb5b0cc3666827575a10/thumbnail_399.jpg","/articles/6093931/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Montgomery-mayor-urges-pause-in-superintendent-search-citing-lack-of-transparency-and-narrow-candidate-pool","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093931-1b09cc7b4d8c75056e1bda0b1d5a45fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189199&Signature=ChDdHQWwpu1vJzuUokj-g6bD~T-cueDGfLPO6xb6tI~kt8eSv~sVmFw-LlySSeLYDdqsVbt~3sid8mKJVoXwa5FHpfh9QsSdk7zEh1Jowd6K3gkLM74jKt0Wh1H1AAAMnSS2pbuNgTiocVzqzBgrwVGT38UkWTT1kROJ3TbZR1np5RbJbFHpb6lCXX2LIY1sFdrnZdE7ISbEXwpEOO7YmNcmnOlaJVifN6njpjdmSFhkTOaNDtgCGaS8qtDuQmCNGtNV8OVrbFHy-9171brzp4EXcj6pYxMeNnvqxWXe3IdTPzTiRfCYnIwJ-Sy-Qgl8oVZ7MxyBKkQaKu1Yz1buxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The mayor of Montgomery urged the Montgomery Public Schools board on Tuesday to pause its superintendent search, saying the process has lacked transparency and produced a limited pool of candidates that has reduced confidence among parents, teachers and community partners.

The mayor said the problem is not necessarily the finalists themselves but “how the search has been conducted and a lack of transparency which has led to the distrust in this process.” He called for the board to “press pause on this search, not act out of emotion or not act out of politics, but act out of a sense of responsibility to this community.”

Why it matters: The mayor said stable, consensus-backed leadership in the superintendent’s office and on the school board is essential to protect investments in education and preserve partnerships with local government, business, faith and military stakeholders. “When you're bringing in someone like that, you want them to have a consensus,” he said, adding that a “slim majority” on the board appears ready to move forward without broader buy-in.

Details from the remarks: The mayor said the public — including elected officials — has not received a “fair shake” from the current process and urged engagement with state education officials and local leaders, naming State Superintendent Dr. Mackey, state Sen. Kirk Hatcher, County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton, City Council President Calhoun and other community partners as potential participants in a renewed, more transparent process. He said the goal should be to “get it right as opposed to get it done.”

The mayor also framed the issue as a matter of consequence for families and the local economy, noting his role as a parent of two schoolchildren in Montgomery Public Schools and saying the city needs “leadership and the stability, both from the superintendent to the board level” to sustain recent investments in local education.

Questions from reporters during the session probed whether local candidates could apply; the mayor said the current process would not allow that without changes and reiterated the call for the board to reconsider the search procedures.

Ending: The mayor urged the board to reconvene with community partners and state officials to rebuild trust and reconsider the search process before selecting a superintendent. He said doing so would better protect students, teachers and the broader community from the consequences of what he called “erroneous choices.”","The mayor of Montgomery urged the Montgomery Public Schools board to pause its superintendent search, saying the process and limited candidate pool have eroded public confidence and risk long-term instability for the district.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Montgomery mayor hails accelerated blight removals, pledges follow-up redevelopment

Montgomery to reopen renovated community centers, relaunch open-data portal and expand place-based partnerships

Mayor cites falling crime rates, 600-plus illegal firearms seized and urges tougher bail for repeat offenders

Montgomery mayor urges pause in superintendent search, citing lack of transparency and narrow candidate pool