[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6164948,"mediaKeyId","5426531-e4a8e353f31876d3db9de4711d51a1eb","parentId",5426531,"title","Montgomery to pilot downtown attraction during HBCU weekend; hotels and corporate tenants coming, mayor says","audioSeconds",327,"startMs",1184000,"endMs",1511000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5426531-e4a8e353f31876d3db9de4711d51a1eb&start=1184&end=1511","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5426531-e4a8e353f31876d3db9de4711d51a1eb/thumbnail_1184000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6164948/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Montgomery-to-pilot-downtown-attraction-during-HBCU-weekend-hotels-and-corporate-tenants-coming-mayor-says","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164948-c81c877f3ba388cb449969fe203f4020/orig.mp4?Expires=1770522829&Signature=afIgAJ70RY9uBfMrW5Ygqd39qvW2eMBDQ3X-rnc09bm9RVNWPrTjrOa8vW6w-9XqUsZgfey6i9xPDgFcEeuqd50C7aYzmxxERLNaIwgPGn8ZYGMFF~bT99~-Rm7D7D70LOX2ewUaWIpXmonPfP0z4xu4otSIpA22rB6gXpyOBFSDYpE4DxAAr3os6-DuWO3xFjXxODKyF5-4vZe4H2zHmJkajYT8vOIiF1n2Onf3Fp3OCWV4dUNKoewszFICwQOP5dgs4VAo5a4MG4Kp7VvRnlA7p5jCF6hrAQcag4HoV~uMPmpat7yRMcjsjCh0J1mwffFctHMPovBudanyrfZPOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery City, AL","date","2025-07-18T20:01:10.35Z","article","Mayor Steven L. Reed said on the Season 2 podcast that the city plans a trial run of a downtown riverfront attraction this summer and that other private and corporate investments are coming to Montgomery's downtown.

\"It's a little test run. It's not the only thing that we're talking about doing, but it is something that we're gonna try out, see how popular it is, see whether or not people like it,\" Reed said of the attraction, which he described as similar to installations seen in other cities. He said the trial is timed to coincide with HBCU weekend, when dozens of alumni and visitors attend college events downtown.

Reed described recent downtown development: corporate jobs in the RSA building on High Street, two new hotels adjacent to the Equal Justice Initiative Legacy Museum and another hotel on Goldthwaite (Goldway) Street, and renewed interest from live-music venues and restaurant entrepreneurs. He said those developments respond to feedback that downtown needs more evening and weekend destinations.

Reed encouraged residents to support local restaurants and venues and urged operators to maintain consistent quality: \"Y'all better keep that good quality of service from the time y'all open to the time you close,\" he said.

Nut graf: The mayor framed the pilot attraction and private investment as part of a broader downtown strategy to capture tourist visits (including visitors from out of state) while creating local jobs and more evening activity.

The mayor did not announce formal city incentives, zoning changes or binding contracts during the podcast. He described private interest and early-stage conversations and said the city will rely on residents'response to the pilot when deciding whether to extend or make the attraction permanent.

Ending: Reed said the pilot and the coming HBCU weekend will be an early test of downtown demand and that details about timing and operations will be announced by the mayor's office and partner organizations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","The Mayor's Take: Episode 8","oneSentenceSummary","On his podcast, Mayor Steven L. Reed said the city will test a riverfront attraction (a Ferris-wheel-style installation) during HBCU weekend and described new hotels, corporate jobs at the RSA building and interest from live-music and dining entrepreneurs.","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},6164953,"Mayor: summer community centers, pool upgrades drew heavy use; city planning phase 2 and 3",121,818000,939000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5426531-e4a8e353f31876d3db9de4711d51a1eb&start=818&end=939","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5426531-e4a8e353f31876d3db9de4711d51a1eb/thumbnail_818000.jpg","/articles/6164953/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Mayor-summer-community-centers-pool-upgrades-drew-heavy-use-city-planning-phase-2-and-3","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164953-eeeee55958d4895740d0be582ffce5c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770522829&Signature=ouG0ZcZZnHZnEIRCI3aEErFuggZ-KdMWgjwTR9jytcGVPoxuJ~qjwNHTAKqxcjeKnqplZN6Vi5QluNVhoYLXCu4JoJaO61UuyyQROSa0N5ezJPzxdtt1vIqQxqcs2o-9o8AkNQNgastZIn0CvzEVaURk99ymKeRybZh2MvoQNDpTqxSJbZxcWKI2VFHAI-VXjVU0IXtxy9T~YtgpaM~WwCPVT9zbBO1vibaXqYQsUb2kI96QkBm6jRmSOtEwZ0H6uWpr1UVLY8Ek3QZnkUjeIrQcQRj6Nf23msi417ber4OVIpUI5Z35YU8FqTx17WVAeGW-wlZRAB3NFC0LRhjMag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Steven L. Reed said on his podcast that Montgomery's summer programming at community centers and public pools has seen strong participation and that the city is planning further investments to expand programming.

\"We are proud of so many people who helped us do that, who are helping us have a successful summer programming,\" Reed said, describing full and crowded sessions at centers that offered arts and crafts, field trips, swimming and supervised activities.

Nut graf: Reed tied the summer programs to a broader approach to youth engagement and violence prevention, saying recreational and educational opportunities help provide alternatives to street activity.

Reed said the city has poured \"millions of dollars\" into the centers (amount cited by the mayor on the episode) and is already talking about \"phase 2 and phase 3\" to build new centers and add programming for both youth and adults, including financial literacy, health and wellness and faith-based courses.

He described why pool access matters for equity: many residents lack a backyard or private-club pool. \"We have to do a better job of providing some of those opportunities for recreation,\" Reed said.

On implementation, Reed said some summer programs were ending this week or next and that the city will expand offerings based on community feedback. He did not announce specific new center locations or a funding appropriation during the podcast.

Ending: Reed said the city will continue investing in centers and programming and noted that further phases will be planned and announced through the mayor's office and relevant city departments.","Mayor Steven L. Reed said Montgomery's summer community-center programming and public-pool improvements were well attended and that the city is planning additional phases of investment to expand youth and adult programming.",{"_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},6164957,"Montgomery mayor: crime rates falling but city to expand prevention, policing partnerships",357,213000,570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5426531-e4a8e353f31876d3db9de4711d51a1eb&start=213&end=570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5426531-e4a8e353f31876d3db9de4711d51a1eb/thumbnail_213000.jpg","/articles/6164957/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Montgomery-mayor-crime-rates-falling-but-city-to-expand-prevention-policing-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164957-3dfb97ac81a32f69503ee0c49ce3d2a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770522829&Signature=eqKCRf8tmu305IE9J75qx-O9V7AFrbR-p9d2oIE1fnF~QvVKnNKVwqQc1saCx7Ui984HkN9ouJuBGLaJKOOv94soiFgDi41FiHumW3~Myk0Pr9niP6L1DiYS1msae6vmMBgic52jusd6XMTMp53sdNeJzt1cXlpOVaywI9~Q1kn~DTV8wg00UrEReCUdR8Vq9H5CkRxbKXrUguHbrHqyoIagBAglC-S5CtBaWhO7UUkB8FoNr9-xXUJvtF7ouFVbtl~ahhOrHAqYEkMSnZQzQnr77w919kRWxI1B0f1~smyafG13uFu54oPOpRc6DZweLsABxWk~2c49LdKNr~Iung__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Steven L. Reed said on his podcast Season 2 debut that overall crime in Montgomery has fallen and that the city plans to expand proactive, prevention-focused investments alongside continued law-enforcement partnerships. \"Overall, in the city of Montgomery, our crime is down 28% the first 6 months of this year. I'll take those numbers any day,\" Reed said.

Reed framed the numbers against what he called a social-media-driven perception problem, saying sensational incidents often dominate online attention. \"I think social media gets caught in the moment,\" he said, arguing that negative items surface to the top of algorithms while many positive efforts do not.

Why it matters: public-safety statistics shape residents' sense of safety and inform where officials deploy officers and services. Reed tied the city's recent decline in several crime categories to both policing and community initiatives and urged a shift toward more preventive services. \"The cities that are seeing the best gains ... have been investing in proactive measures, mental health, social services,\" he said.

Key figures Reed gave on the podcast include a 28% drop in overall crime in the first half of the year, robberies down 41%, nonfatal shootings down about 21'22%, and homicides down roughly 17'19% (figures cited by Reed on the episode). He credited the Montgomery Police Department and a range of partners, naming the Office of Violence Prevention, the Montgomery County sheriff, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, the ATF and the district attorney's office.

Reed said the city will increase emphasis on prevention programs that focus on youth, mental health, placemaking and partnerships with schools, juvenile court and youth services. \"We have been investing in reactive services. ... We have been getting in the preventive and proactive measures of what we can do to stop people from acting out,\" he said, describing conversations with mayors and change agents in other cities about \"place making\" and long-term resource commitments from federal, state and philanthropic sources.

He acknowledged community concern when violent incidents occur locally: \"If it happened in your neighborhood ... it's up a 100%.\" Reed said officials must both point to the overall downward trend and work with residents on targeted prevention and policing strategies. He also urged residents and organizations to partner with the city on long-range efforts.

No formal policy votes were taken during the podcast; the mayor described ongoing and planned activities and encouraged community involvement.

Reed closed by stressing the need for long-term commitment: \"We're gonna have to do this together and we're gonna have to do this and be committed to the long haul.\"","Mayor Steven L. Reed told listeners on his podcast that Montgomery's overall crime rate has fallen and said the city will increase proactive violence-prevention programs and continue partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement and community groups.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Montgomery to pilot downtown attraction during HBCU weekend; hotels and corporate tenants coming, mayor says

Mayor: summer community centers, pool upgrades drew heavy use; city planning phase 2 and 3

Montgomery mayor: crime rates falling but city to expand prevention, policing partnerships