Mayor Cheragaddis previews task forces, housing ribbon cutting and Mardi Gras barricade hiring fair

Mayor Spiro Cheragaddis outlined several priorities and community events during opening remarks at the Mobile City Council meeting on Nov. 4, saying his administration will form task forces on gun violence, public transportation, economic and workforce development and waterfront activation.

"We've got some important items on today's agenda, but we've also got some exciting events coming up," Cheragaddis said. He said the administration will announce more task forces after meeting with council members.

The mayor announced a seasonal application fair to hire up to 30 Mardi Gras barricade crew workers at a starting wage of $15.60 per hour. The fair is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Traffic Engineering facility on Gale Street.

Cheragaddis also said he and Councilwoman Ingram will attend a ribbon cutting the next morning for the first house built under the city's Housing Improvement Program, a program described in the meeting as aiming to build 30 new homes across 30 blocks in the Campground neighborhood. He said the first home, built by Heritage Homes, will be purchased by a Mobile police officer.

The mayor invited residents to the city's tree-lighting on Friday, Nov. 21, in Mardi Gras Park, and issued a proclamation recognizing Goodwill Gulf Coast's 2025 "Christmas on the Coast" ornament as the city's official ornament. The proclamation noted Goodwill Gulf Coast serves 10 counties along the Gulf Coast and that the ornament recognizes the Jan. 21, 2025 Gulf Coast weather event described in the proclamation as historically notable.

The announcements were delivered as general remarks; no formal council action was taken on the task forces or hiring fair during the meeting.