Birmingham City Council Highlights 2.25.25
New business opens in A.G. Gaston Motel retail space
The following is a message shared by Council President Darrell O’Quinn celebrating the historic milestone of Alicia’s Coffee opening at the A.G Gaston Motel in District 5:
“It is an honor to stand before you today as we continue to observe Black History Month and celebrate the history that is currently being written. Congratulations to Naimah Alicia Elmore and Rashad Harrell — today’s history makers on the opening of Alicia’s Coffee. We are excited to support this business which offers locally sourced coffee, teas, and desserts from local minority-owned shops.
It’s safe to say A.G. Gaston understood that wealth isn’t measured with personal success — it is about creating lanes for future generations to thrive. And here we are today celebrating yet another generation of young entrepreneurs carving their own path on this hallowed ground that bears his name.
Birmingham has long been a city of innovation and enterprise, and today, we must continue to uplift and support Black-owned businesses as a critical pillar of our economic success.
In order for Birmingham to reach its full potential, we have to support our local entrepreneurs. It’s how we retain our homegrown talent. It keeps our dollars flowing into our local economy.
So, let us move forward with the spirit of A.G. Gaston, fostering economic growth, lifting up Black-owned businesses, and standing shoulder to shoulder as stewards of the living history that belongs to us all.”
Councilor Carol Clarke set to welcome Peer-to-Peer jazz education program to A.H. Parker High School
With support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz will bring its Peer-to-Peer jazz education program to Birmingham City Schools from February 26–28th.
Birmingham City Councilor Carol Clarke is excited to welcome this world-renown group of musicians to A.H. Parker High School on Thursday, February 27th at 10:30 a.m. Later that evening, there will be a jazz jam session sponsored in part by the Birmingham City Council at the historic Carver Theatre at 7 p.m.
These engaging “informances” will blend live performance with educational insights, featuring the Institute’s National Peer-to-Peer Jazz Sextet — an elite group of six exceptionally talented high school musicians from across the country.
Joining them will be internationally acclaimed saxophonist Don Braden, award-winning Kansas City jazz and blues vocalist Lisa Henry, a past winner of the Institute’s International Jazz Vocals Competition, and esteemed jazz educator Dr. JB Dyas.
Each school visit will include an assembly performance for all students, followed by hands-on workshops where the visiting student musicians will collaborate with Alabama jazz band and choir students, sharing knowledge and performing together.
“It’s an honor that the Birmingham City School system was one of only eight nationwide to be selected to host this prestigious tour,” Councilor Clarke said. “Music gives students a voice and enriches their educational experience. I’m grateful to be able to play a part in supporting these types of programs in Birmingham and introduce this group of talented young musicians. We have to ensure that every student has the opportunity to develop their talents and contribute to the vibrant arts community that exists here. Birmingham has played a significant role in the history of jazz, and this is another chapter in that story — one that invites a younger generation to step up and continue that tradition.”
We’re inviting our media partners to join us for the event taking place at A.H. Parker High School on February 27th at 10:30 a.m.
Councilor Clinton Woods Announces Reprint of A.G. Gaston’s Memoir, “Green Power”
Last October, Councilor Clinton Woods, alongside A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club CEO Andre McFadden, announced a project to redesign and reprint A.G. Gaston’s autobiography, “Green Power,” along with a newly developed audiobook edition.
That reprinted edition is now available at www.GreenPowerBook.com and all proceeds will benefit the A.G Gaston Boys and Girls Club.
As part of the project, the public was invited to submit original designs for the cover of the new edition, allowing artists to play a key role in honoring A.G. Gaston’s legacy through their creative vision.
The upcoming audiobook will include enriched content such as first-hand accounts from those who knew or worked with Mr. Gaston and reflections from today’s leaders on the enduring influence of his legacy. That will be available later this year.
“A.G. Gaston was one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time, and I believe his memoir is more relevant than ever, especially as we work to inspire young people to build financial literacy and set intentional goals for their futures,” Councilor Woods said. “It’s my belief that this project will bring his memoir back into focus for a new generation, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by many during the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. ‘Green Power’ remains an inspiring read for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, social justice, or the complex pursuit of the American Dream.”
Councilor Hunter Williams touts improvements to citywide code enforcement efforts
During a recent Committee of the Whole Meeting, the Council received a detailed briefing from the Mayor’s administration on code enforcement improvements.
“I wanted to thank the mayor and his team for the presentation on code enforcement that we received,” Councilor Hunter Williams said on Tuesday. “I think the amount of progress that’s been made recently with this issue is very important and I think it’s worth acknowledging today. It’s something this Council and your team have been discussing and working on for years. In the past, our frustrations have been a pass through for our residents’ frustrations. We’ve come a long way and I’m very happy that we have four APOSTC officers with BPD on the team to help with enforcement. I’ve asked for these four positions for six years, and now I’m going to ask for four more. It seems to be the most important part of all of this is having those officers being able to issue citations on the spot and drive compliance. So thank you.”
Prior to 2022, Code Enforcement was spread throughout several divisions within the City. Since the creation of the standalone division within PEP, the goal has been to increase efficiency in addressing violations, educate the public and drive compliance.
Here is a quick snapshot of the properties and code violations that were identified in 2024.
- 579 Structures identified on the list for condemnation
- 4,883 Housing inspections conducted
- 1,154 Vacant properties cut by contractor
- 613 Occupied code violations (junk/debris, overgrown lots, inoperable vehicles) including APOSTC citations issues
