(From the Birmingham Times)
A group of diverse pastors on Wed., April 6 voiced strong opposition to legislation that would give Mayor William Bell additional appointments to the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB).
The Gatekeepers Association of Alabama (GAA), which includes nearly 40 influential pastors from across Jefferson County, said state lawmakers and city officials need to discuss changes before action is taken. The statement came after legislators on Tues., April 5 passed out of committee a bill that would change how BWWB members are appointed.
Currently, the Birmingham City Council appoints all five members to the board, which is expected to grow to six members next year. Under the new legislation, the council will appoint four members and the mayor will appoint two.
Also, mayor would have to approve the council’s selections and the council would have to approve of the mayor’s appointments.
Those and other proposed changes to the Mayor-Council Act, which lays the ground rules for Birmingham’s municipal government, have created a firestorm among residents who have packed hearings to voice concerns about the modifications.
“Today, it is about the city of Birmingham. Tomorrow, it will be about other issues that affect additional residents of the state,” said Bishop Jim Lowe, pastor of Guiding Light Church and member of the GAA executive board. “We must begin to take a stand so that the voices of the people may be heard.”
The GAA met with members of the Birmingham City Council and Jefferson County Democratic House delegation to discuss the proposed measures, Lowe said.
“These two elected entities have not had sufficient civil dialogue together discussing these two critical pieces of legislation that will have an impact on hundreds of thousands of current citizens … as well as the potential control of billions of taxpayer dollars,” the GAA said in a press release.
“Therefore, these two pieces of legislation should not hastily be voted upon without a thoughtful, transparent, intellectual, thorough process involving all parties from both elected entities working together for the good of all citizens affected.”
State lawmakers held a 90-minute public hearing on Monday, April 4, to discuss the legislation. Support and opposition were evenly divided during the meeting.
Lowe said he was disappointed that state Rep. Oliver Robinson (D-Birmingham), who chaired the meeting, told the overflow crowd that it didn’t matter what the people said, the bill would be passed anyway.
“This is the very thing we have been meeting about—when government leaders no longer consider themselves servants of the people but, rather, lords over the people,” Lowe said.
HEADLINE: Gatekeepers Association of Alabama recommends voting “NO” on HB399, or the Birmingham Water Works Bill, and “NO” to the current proposed amendments to the Mayor-Council Act of 1955 |
Birmingham, Alabama, April 5, 2016
The Gatekeepers Association of Alabama (GAA), a diverse group of pastors united to empower the church to influence the governmental realm, recommends our State Legislators vote “NO” to HB399, or the Birmingham Water Works bill, and “NO” to the current proposed amendments to the Mayor-Council Act of 1955. After multiple meetings with several members of the Birmingham City Council as well as members of the Jefferson County Democratic House delegation, including the latest public forum at the Jefferson County Courthouse on April 4, 2016, it has become increasingly the opinion of the GAA that these two elected entities HAVE NOT had sufficient civil dialogue together discussing these two critical pieces of legislation that will impact hundreds of thousands of current citizens and millions to come in future generations as well as the potential control of billions of tax payer dollars. Therefore, these two pieces of legislation SHOULD NOT hastily be voted upon WITHOUT a thoughtful, transparent, intellectual, thorough process involving ALL PARTIES FROM BOTH ELECTED ENTITIES WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF ALL CITIZENS AFFECTED.
Moreover, GAA urges all citizens, especially the voters who voted these current elected officials into office and will vote again next year for Birmingham city offices and in 2018 for state representatives, to call the members of the House Commerce and Small Business Committee concerning HB 399 immediately. Please begin your calls with the clerk for this committee, Mary Ruth Davis, who can send a message to the entire committee:
Mary Ruth Davis 334-242-7696 maryruth.davis@alhouse.gov
Jack Williams, Chair (Jefferson Co) 334-242-7779 jack@jackwilliams.org
Dimitri Polizos, Vice Chair (Montgomery Co) 334-242-7469 dimitri.polizos@alhouse.gov
Craig Ford, Ranking Minority Leader (Etowah County) 334-242-7690 craig.ford@alhouse.gov
Louise Alexander (Jefferson Co) 334-242-7593 louise.alexander@alhouse.gov
Adline Clarke (Mobile Co) 334-242-7449 adline.clarke@alhouse.gov
Anthony Daniels (Madison Co) 334-242-7494
Danny Garrett (Jefferson Co) 334-242-7535 dannygarrett44@gmail.com
Micky Hammon (Limestone Co, Morgan Co) 334-242-7709 mickyhammon@gmail.com
Nathaniel Ledbetter (Dekalb Co.) 334-242-7492 nathaniel.ledbetter@alhouse.gov
Jimmy Martin (Autauga & Chilton Co) 334-242-7139 jimmy.martin@alhouse.gov
Barry Moore (Coffee Co) 334-242-7773 barry@barrymooreindustries.com
Jim Patterson (Madison Co) 334-242-7531 jimpattersonhd21@gmail.com
Richie Whorton (Jackson & Madison Co) 334-242-7753 ritchiewhorton@gmail.com
Additionally, please contact the Jefferson County House delegation concerning the Mayor-Council Act:
Louise Alexander 334-242-7600 205-425-5700 louise.alexander@alhouse.gov
Jim Carns 334-242-7600 205-314-9808 jim.carns@alhouse.gov
Merika Coleman-Evans 334-242-7755 205-325-5308 merika.colemanevans@alhouse.gov
Dickie Drake 334-242-7727 205-699-7392 dickie.drake@alhouse.gov
Allen Farley 334-242-7767 205-477-5617 allen.farley@alhouse.gov
David Faulkner 334-242-7600 205-870-9577 david.faulkner@alhouse.gov
Juandalynn Givan 334-242-7684 205-326-2466 juandalynn.givan@alhouse.gov
Arnold Mooney 334-242-7600 205-222-8721 arnold.mooney@alhouse.gov
Mary Moore 334-242-7608 205-229-9966 mary.moore@alhouse.gov
Oliver Robinson 334-242-7769 205-849-6765 oliver.robinson@alhouse.gov
John Rogers 334-242-7761 205-925-3522 john.rogers@alhouse.gov
Rod Scott 334-242-7752 205-837-5673 rod.scott@alhouse.gov
Kyle South 334-242-7600 205-393-4496 kyle.south@alhouse.gov
Patricia Todd 334-242-7718 205-324-9822 patricia.todd@alhouse.gov
Allen Treadaway 334-242-7685 205-566-6835 allen.treadaway@alhouse.gov
Tim Wadsworth 334-242-7600 205-712-1792 tim.wadsworth@alhouse.gov
Jack Williams 334-242-7779 205-862-5041 jack.williams@alhouse.gov
This recommendation reflects a collective opinion of the entire group and is not considered the official position by any individual members of GAA or any organizations with which the members are affiliated.
Charles Finney wrote, “If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.” We as the GAA accept and embrace our responsibility to empower the church through education, encouragement, exposure and evaluation.
Moreover, GAA encourages continual prayer for our Mayor, Birmingham City Council members, and all State Legislators involved in this decision-making process as well as all other governmental leaders and those serving in our nation’s armed services protecting the freedoms we hold so dear.
“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”- Thomas Jefferson. So “person of good conscience”, let your voice be heard concerning both pieces of legislation.
END
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Bishop Jim Lowe
Gatekeepers Association of Alabama
205-365-2757
Info@gatekeepersassociation.org
HEADLINE: Gatekeepers Association of Alabama recommends voting “NO” on HB399, or the Birmingham Water Works Bill, and “NO” to the current proposed amendments to the Mayor-Council Act of 1955
Birmingham, Alabama, April 5, 2016
The Gatekeepers Association of Alabama (GAA), a diverse group of pastors united to empower the church to influence the governmental realm, recommends our State Legislators vote “NO” to HB399, or the Birmingham Water Works bill, and “NO” to the current proposed amendments to the Mayor-Council Act of 1955. After multiple meetings with several members of the Birmingham City Council as well as members of the Jefferson County Democratic House delegation, including the latest public forum at the Jefferson County Courthouse on April 4, 2016, it has become increasingly the opinion of the GAA that these two elected entities HAVE NOT had sufficient civil dialogue together discussing these two critical pieces of legislation that will impact hundreds of thousands of current citizens and millions to come in future generations as well as the potential control of billions of tax payer dollars. Therefore, these two pieces of legislation SHOULD NOT hastily be voted upon WITHOUT a thoughtful, transparent, intellectual, thorough process involving ALL PARTIES FROM BOTH ELECTED ENTITIES WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF ALL CITIZENS AFFECTED.
Moreover, GAA urges all citizens, especially the voters who voted these current elected officials into office and will vote again next year for Birmingham city offices and in 2018 for state representatives, to call the members of the House Commerce and Small Business Committee concerning HB 399 immediately. Please begin your calls with the clerk for this committee, Mary Ruth Davis, who can send a message to the entire committee:
Mary Ruth Davis 334-242-7696 maryruth.davis@alhouse.gov
Jack Williams, Chair (Jefferson Co) 334-242-7779 jack@jackwilliams.org
Dimitri Polizos, Vice Chair (Montgomery Co) 334-242-7469 dimitri.polizos@alhouse.gov
Craig Ford, Ranking Minority Leader (Etowah County) 334-242-7690 craig.ford@alhouse.gov
Louise Alexander (Jefferson Co) 334-242-7593 louise.alexander@alhouse.gov
Adline Clarke (Mobile Co) 334-242-7449 adline.clarke@alhouse.gov
Anthony Daniels (Madison Co) 334-242-7494
Danny Garrett (Jefferson Co) 334-242-7535 dannygarrett44@gmail.com
Micky Hammon (Limestone Co, Morgan Co) 334-242-7709 mickyhammon@gmail.com
Nathaniel Ledbetter (Dekalb Co.) 334-242-7492 nathaniel.ledbetter@alhouse.gov
Jimmy Martin (Autauga & Chilton Co) 334-242-7139 jimmy.martin@alhouse.gov
Barry Moore (Coffee Co) 334-242-7773 barry@barrymooreindustries.com
Jim Patterson (Madison Co) 334-242-7531 jimpattersonhd21@gmail.com
Richie Whorton (Jackson & Madison Co) 334-242-7753 ritchiewhorton@gmail.com
Additionally, please contact the Jefferson County House delegation concerning the Mayor-Council Act:
Louise Alexander 334-242-7600 205-425-5700 louise.alexander@alhouse.gov
Jim Carns 334-242-7600 205-314-9808 jim.carns@alhouse.gov
Merika Coleman-Evans 334-242-7755 205-325-5308 merika.colemanevans@alhouse.gov
Dickie Drake 334-242-7727 205-699-7392 dickie.drake@alhouse.gov
Allen Farley 334-242-7767 205-477-5617 allen.farley@alhouse.gov
David Faulkner 334-242-7600 205-870-9577 david.faulkner@alhouse.gov
Juandalynn Givan 334-242-7684 205-326-2466 juandalynn.givan@alhouse.gov
Arnold Mooney 334-242-7600 205-222-8721 arnold.mooney@alhouse.gov
Mary Moore 334-242-7608 205-229-9966 mary.moore@alhouse.gov
Oliver Robinson 334-242-7769 205-849-6765 oliver.robinson@alhouse.gov
John Rogers 334-242-7761 205-925-3522 john.rogers@alhouse.gov
Rod Scott 334-242-7752 205-837-5673 rod.scott@alhouse.gov
Kyle South 334-242-7600 205-393-4496 kyle.south@alhouse.gov
Patricia Todd 334-242-7718 205-324-9822 patricia.todd@alhouse.gov
Allen Treadaway 334-242-7685 205-566-6835 allen.treadaway@alhouse.gov
Tim Wadsworth 334-242-7600 205-712-1792 tim.wadsworth@alhouse.gov
Jack Williams 334-242-7779 205-862-5041 jack.williams@alhouse.gov
This recommendation reflects a collective opinion of the entire group and is not considered the official position by any individual members of GAA or any organizations with which the members are affiliated.
Charles Finney wrote, “If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.” We as the GAA accept and embrace our responsibility to empower the church through education, encouragement, exposure and evaluation.
Moreover, GAA encourages continual prayer for our Mayor, Birmingham City Council members, and all State Legislators involved in this decision-making process as well as all other governmental leaders and those serving in our nation’s armed services protecting the freedoms we hold so dear.
“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”- Thomas Jefferson. So “person of good conscience”, let your voice be heard concerning both pieces of legislation.