>>> TONIGHT ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL," ALABAMA'S NEW UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS ARE OUT.

WE'LL BREAK THEM DOWN.

SUMMER LEARNING IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE STATE.

KAREN GOLDSMITH HIGHLIGHTS A LOCAL PROGRAM AND RANDY SCOTT CATCHES UP WITH SUPERINTENDENT ERIC MACKEY ABOUT HOW SCHOOLS ARE CATCHING STUDENTS UP TO SPEED.

AND A FOCUS ON CITIES TONIGHT WITH MAYORS OF SOME OF ALABAMA'S LARGEST.

HUNTSVILLE MAYOR TOMMY BATTLE, MOBILE MAYOR SANDY STIMPSON AND MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEVEN REED WILL EACH JOIN US.

IT'S ALL NEXT ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

TOPPING THE NEWS THIS WEEK, ALABAMA HAS HIT ANOTHER RECORD LOW FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR JUNE WAS 2.6%.

THAT'S DOWN FROM 2.7% IN MAY AND DOWN FROM 3.5% THIS TIME A YEAR AGO.

TWO YEARS AGO, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, ALABAMA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 7.7%.

>>> EACH MONTH, THE ALABAMA COMMISSION ON REENTRY MEETS TO DISCUSSES WAYS TO HELP THOSE LEAVING PRISON BECOME SUCCESSFUL AS THEY REENTER SOCIETY.

THIS WEEK, THE COMMISSION DISCUSSED A NUMBER OF IDEAS, INCLUDING INCREASING THE NUMBER OF INMATES ENROLLED IN THE PRISON-TO-WORKFORCE PROGRAM AND A SERIES OF TAX CREDITS THAT ENCOURAGE HIRING REHABILITATED INMATES.

ANNETTE FUNDERBURK IS PRESIDENT OF INGRAM STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

>> CURRENTLY, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, BUT CURRENTLY THERE'S A TAX CREDIT FOR EMPLOYERS THAT HIRE FORM EARLY INCARCERATED CITIZENS.

I'M PROPOSING THAT WE PROPOSE A STATE TAX CREDIT FOR EMPLOYERS THAT HIRE FORM EARLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.

WE COULD FORMULATE THE INFORMATION AND THE TAX CREDIT THE SAME WAY THAT THE WORK OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT THAT IS FEDERAL IS FORMED, AND IT WOULD BE A TAX CREDIT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL RECENTLY RELEASED THAT IS EMPLOYED.

A TAX CREDIT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS, AND THEN THE LAST PART OF THE TAX CREDIT I'M PROPOSING IS THE EMPLOYERS MAY CLAIM AN ADDITIONAL PERCENTAGE OF JOB CREDIT ON THE WAGES PAID TO PAY FELONS WHEREAS A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE HAD A FELONY CONVICTION AND I THINK THAT ALABAMA BENEFITS WHEN OUR FORM EARLY INCARCERATE READY WORKING.

>> THE COMMISSION ALSO DISCUSSED HOW FORMER INMATES WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS MIGHT HAVE TROUBLE ACCESSING CARE.

MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSIONER KIM BOSWELL IS PROMOTING A NEW HOTLINE FOR ANYONE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS PEOPLE END UP ENGAGED IN A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE IS NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN THEY ARE DIALING 911 IN A HEALTH CRISIS.

IF YOU DIAL 911 YOU WILL GET LAW ENFORCEMENT OR EMS AND NOT A PERSON WITH A MENTAL HEALTH BACKGROUND THAT WILL HELP FIGURE OUT THE CRISIS GOING ON.

A BIG PUSH NATIONALLY IS TO CONVERT THOSE CALLS TO 988.

988, THE PURPOSE OF THAT IS IF SOMEONE IS IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, WE WANT THEM TO CALL 988 INSTEAD OF 911.

WE HAVE WORKED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY ARE OUR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS WHEN IT COMES TO DECOUPLING POLICING FROM A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS CALL.

AND THAT'S ULTIMATELY THE GOAL IS TO CONVERT THOSE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS CALLS FROM 911 TO 988.

>> DR. MARIA ROSARIO, CHAIRWOMAN THE ARTS, VISITED ALABAMA THIS WEEK.

SHE MADE STOPS AT ART MUSEUMS AND VENUES IN MONTGOMERY, BIRMINGHAM AND SELMA.

DR. ROSARIO PRAISED ALABAMA FOR ITS RICH HISTORY IN THE ARTS.

>> I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE IN ALABAMA.

THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT IS VERY INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THE SPECIFICS AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT REGION.

THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY AND A LOT GOING ON HERE AND WE'RE EAGER TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.

IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO MEET PEOPLE THAT ARE SO DEDICATED TO THE ARTS AND TO PEOPLE'S WELL BEING AS IT RELATES TO THE ARTS ESPECIALLY.

I'M STRUCK BY THAT, BY THE WARMTH AND THE COMMITMENT THAT I SEE FROM ARTS LEADERS HERE.

>> THEY HAVE 300 TO 400 GRANTS A YEAR SUPPORTING ARTS ACTIVITY.

VISUAL, PERFORMING, LITERARY, COMMUNITY ARTS, CREATIVE PLACE MAKING.

SO WE HAVE A UNIQUE VANTAGE POINT OF SEEING SO MANY WONDERFUL, POSITIVE THINGS GOING ON AROUND THE STATE.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW IT OFF TO OUR COLLEAGUES FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. AND REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN ALABAMA AND THE ARTS.

>> AS WE REPORTED LAST WEEK, THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD IS TEMPORARILY LOWERING THE SCORE INCOMING TEACHERS MUST RECEIVE ON THEIR CERTIFICATION TESTS.

THE GOAL IS TO GET MORE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM AND ADDRESS THE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT GOES DEEPER.

>> WHEN SCHOOL STARTS THIS FALL, STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS WILL SEE BIG CHANGES IN CLASSROOMS.

>> WE THINK WE ARE BEGINNING TO TURN THE CORNER ON THE TEACHER SHORTAGE, BUT I CAN'T OVEREMPHASIZE THAT IN SOME COUNTIES, PARTICULARLY RURAL COUNTIES, WE STILL HAVE A CRISIS.

>> STATE SUPERINTENDENT DR. ERIC MACKEY SAYS THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE SCHOOLS BY IMPROVING THE ROSTER OF TEACHERS INSTRUCTING ALABAMA STUDENTS.

>> CHANGES IN RETIREMENT, PAY RAISES AND THE MANY CHANGES WE HAVE MADE TO CERTIFICATION ALREADY HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO GREATLY ALLEVIATE OUR TEACHER SHORTAGE, BUT WE STILL HAVE PLACES IN THE STATE WHERE NOT ONLY IS THERE A SHORTAGE BUT A TRUE CRISIS.

>> STATE SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY ALABAMA IS FACING A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IT IS A SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.

THEY HAVE A LIST OF IDEAS OF WHAT TO DO TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT ONE IDEA THAT'S GAINING A LOT OF ATTENTION AND TRACTION DEALS WITH MAKING CHANGES TO THE TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

>> WE REQUIRE A PRACTICE TEST IN THE CORE AREAS AND THERE'S A CUT SCORE THE STATE HAS SET.

WE USE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, THE HIGHEST ONE WE CAN USE.

>> THE PLAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO CERTIFICATION SCORES GIVING MORE TEACHERS THE CHANCE TO TEACH.

>> THERE ARE SOME TEACHERS WHO HAVE -- OR POTENTIAL TEACHERS WHO HAVE TEST ANXIETY AND DON'T DO WELL ON TESTS.

IF THEY WANT TO BE A MATH TEACHER, THEY HAVE PASSED ALL OF THEIR COLLEGE MATH COURSE AND THE ATPA AND THEY HAVE A HIGHER GPA IN THEIR MATH WORK THAN WE WOULD NORMALLY REQUIRE SO WE WILL ISSUE A CERTIFICATE TO THOSE FOLKS AND SEE HOW THEY WOULD DO IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>>> IT'S NO SECRET THAT MANY STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THE SUMMER SLIDE, IN WHICH SOME ACADEMIC SKILLS ARE LOST OVER THE SUMMER.

MANY PROGRAMS AROUND THE STATE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITH SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH VISITED A LOCAL PROGRAM HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

>> MGM LEAPS IS A SUMMER PROGRAM OF.

>> IT IS K-5.

BUT DONE WITH A TWIST.

>> IT CAN'T BE MORE OF WHAT THEY DID IN THE SCHOOL YEAR.

NOBODY WANTS TO SIT DOWN IN A DESK AND KEEP DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

WE NEED TO SHAKE IT UP AND MAKE IT A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.

>> THEY PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY AND MONTGOMERY' PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

>> EVERY DAY THE CHILDREN GET TO GO AND DO THINGS LIKE SWIMMING, PADDLE BOATING, KAYAKING, HORSEBACK RIDING, ALL SORTS OF THINGS THEY DON'T GET TO EXPERIENCE AND THAT IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.

>> AND THE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT THROUGH BOOKS AND A PODCAST.

SOME QUESTIONS WERE.

>> HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU STOOD UP TO THAT WHITE MAN?

>> FOR THE PODCAST THEY INTERVIEW SOMEONE WHO LIVED DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

>> IT CREATED CONVERSATIONS IN THE HOUSEHOLD, MADE CONNECTIONS AND THOSE ARE VALUABLE EXPERIENCES THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE TALKING TO GRANDMA AND GREAT GRANDMA ABOUT THOSE THINGS HAPPENING AT THAT TIME WHEN THEY WERE THEIR AGE.

>> JACKIE CREATED THE CURRICULUM AND SHE SAID KNOWLEDGE APPLICATION IS A PRIORITY.

>> WE HAVE ALSO -- WERE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT MORE FIELD TRIPS INTO THE COMMUNITY.

SO STUDENTS WENT TO THE ROSA PARKS MUSEUM AFTER THEIR WEEK WHEN THEY LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE BUS BOYCOTT AND THEY HAVE BEEN ON ASC'S CAMPUS AS OF YESTERDAY AND EARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY HERE DEEP IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THEY ALSO TOURED CIVIL RIGHTS MURALS.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>>> SOME OF ALABAMA'S MOST PROMINENT COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE FORMED AN ALLIANCE TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.

THE ALLIANCE OF ALABAMA HEALTHCARE CONSUMERS LAUNCHED THIS WEEK SAYING IT INTENDS TO UNITE ALABAMIANS BEHIND THE BELIEF THAT INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES ALL BENEFIT FROM HAVING ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE.

THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE INCLUDE AT&T, ALABAMA POWER, THE ALABAMA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION, BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF ALABAMA, THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA, MANUFACTURE ALABAMA, NFIB, POWERSOUTH, PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, REGIONS BANK AND SHIPT.

YOU CAN SEE MORE ON THEIR WEBSITE AT HTTPS://WWW.ALLIANCEOFALABAMA.OR G. YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO.A TV.ORG.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CANNING CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

♪ KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

♪ >> AS THE FIRST INCORPORATED TOWN IN ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE BIRTH AND GROWTH OF THE STATE.

SETTLED IN 1805, IT LURED ENGLISH SPEAKING PIONEERS.

IT BECAME THE CENTER OF EARLY STATE POLITICS AND SERVED AS THE INTERIM FIRST CAPITAL OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

PRESENT DAY HUNTSVILLE IS BEST KNOWN AS ONE OF THE SOUTH'S LEADING TECHNOLOGY HUBS.

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY HUNTSVILLE MAYOR TOMMY BATTLE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM THE AIR SHOW IN ENGLAND.

WHERE THE AVIATION LEADERS AROUND THE WORLD GATHER FOR EXPOS AND TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.

HUNTSVILLE IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR AEROSPACE HUB.

WHAT WENT ON AT THE AIR SHOW?

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US.

>> THE AIR SHOW WAS CHALLENGING PHYSICALLY BECAUSE IT WAS THE HOTTEST DAYS THAT EVER HIT ENGLAND BUT A GREAT TIME TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES OF A LOT OF THE COMPANIES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE IN THE HUNTSVILLE AREA, IN THE SECOND LARGEST RESEARCH PARK IN AMERICA.

THERE'S A LOT OF COMPANIES THAT ARE LOOKING AT DO WE NEED TO MOVE TO HUNTSVILLE, DO WE NEED TO HAVE A PRESENCE CLOSE TO THE FUTURE SPACE COMMAND OR A PRESENCE WITH MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY OR A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF AEROSPACE.

WE DEAL MAINLY WITH ENGINEERING AND DESIGN AND A LOT OF THOSE TYPE ITEMS.

TALKING TO SANDY STIMPSON, THEY WORK WITH THE BUILD.

SO FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE STATE WE CAN DO THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN AND HAVE THE BUILD DONE IN MOBILE AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT HELPS THE STATE BECAUSE THERE ARE SUPPLIERS THAT HELP THE STATE AND PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT AND PARTS OF WHAT WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER.

>> WELL, I KNOW THAT HUNTSVILLE IS HOME TO MANY AEROSPACE COMPANIES, JUST TO NAME A FEW, BOEING, LOCKHEED, RAYTHEON, NORTHROP GRUMMAN, AND YOU MENTIONED SPACE COMMAND.

THIS HAS BEEN A BIG BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ALABAMA AND COLORADO.

DO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IT WILL BE FINAL AND THE SPACE COMMAND WILL COME TO HUNTSVILLE?

>> WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT WITH IT.

IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS -- COLORADO SPRINGS, WE UNDERSTAND THEIR ANGUISH OVER THIS, BUT WE ARE STILL GOING TO BE WORKING WITH COLORADO SPRINGS.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF COMMANDS WE SHARE WITH THEM.

WE WILL STILL SHARE WITH THEM WHEN SPACE COMMAND COMES IN.

SPACE COMMAND IS A SIX-YEAR TERM.

WE STARTED A CLOCK A YEAR AGO AND ANOTHER FIVE YEARS BEFORE WE GET FINAL ELEMENTS OF SPACE COMMAND ACTUALLY MOVED IN.

WE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD.

IT WAS A COMPETITION.

WE WON THE COMPETITION.

BUT WE UNDERSTAND OUR FRIENDS IN COLORADO SPRINGS WANTING TO HANG ON TO THAT.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN COMPETING FOR IT IF WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS VERY VALUABLE, THAT WE COULD DO A GOOD JOB WITH IT.

BY DOING A GOOD JOB WITH IT, DO A GOOD JOB FOR THE NATION.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO LOOK AT.

LONG TERM, HUNTSVILLE WILL BE THE BEST PLACE FOR SPACE COMMAND TO BE AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YEARS AND YEARS OF PROTECTION FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN DOING THAT.

>> I KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT THE COMPETITION THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE AND COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE TWO PLACES.

THAT'S WHERE YOU COME IN AS MAYOR, RIGHT, TO FIGHT FOR YOUR CITY AND THE WHOLE AREA IN TERMS OF SHOWING OFF THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN NORTH ALABAMA, TENNESSEE VALLEY.

>> IT COMES DOWN TO QUALITY OF LIFE AND COST OF LIVING, IT COMES DOWN TO WHO HAS A BETTER ENGINEERING BASE.

WE HAVE MORE ENGINEERS AND DEGREED PROFESSIONALS PER CAPITA WHERE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE U.S. AND WHO HAS THE RESEARCH PARK AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ON IT.

AND IT COMES DOWN TO THE IDEA OF COST EFFICIENCY.

CLASSIC EXAMPLE IS THE FBI, AS WE MOVE FBI PERSONNEL DONE TO RED STONE ARSENAL, THEY GET THE SAME PAYCHECK THEY GOT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND THEIR PAYCHECK GOES A LOT FURTHER HERE.

THEIR HOUSING PRICE, IF YOU COMPARE THE HOUSING PRICES EAST AND WEST COAST COMING HERE, THEY CAN PROBABLY GET TWO TIMES THE HOUSE FOR THE MONEY THEY HAVE BEEN SPENDING ON THE EAST AND WEST COAST.

THOSE FACTORS COME TOGETHER.

QUALITY OF LIFE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS -- EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT DEFINITION OF IT BUT IT REALLY MEANS THERE'S SOMETHING TO DO AFTER THAT 5:00 OR 6:00 WHEN YOU GET OFF WORK, THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO DO THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT THE LAST TEN YEARS.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE FBI COMING TO TOWN.

THIS IS A HUGE DEVELOPMENT.

I KNOW IT IS STILL IN PROGRESS.

THAT'S JUST ONE MORE ON THE LIST OF COMPANIES, ORGANIZATIONS COMING TO HUNTSVILLE THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH, TO THE POINT WHERE YOU ARE NOW THE LARGEST CITY, BIRMINGHAM, METROPOLITAN AREA IS BIGGER BUT HUNTSVILLE CITY IS THE LARGEST CITY IN ALABAMA.

THAT HAS TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR A MAYOR, FOR AN ADMINISTRATION TO HANDLE THAT KIND OF EXPLOSIVE GROWTH IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

>> SURE.

WE STARTED IN 2008 WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE.

WE STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT WAS OUR PLAN, WHAT WAS OUR STRATEGY.

BEING THE BIGGEST IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT.

BEING THE BEST IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING THE BIGGEST.

WE STARTED TO WORK ON HOW CAN WE GROW OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GROW OUR COMMUNITY.

GROWTH MEANS OPPORTUNITY.

IT MEANS THOSE WHO USED TO COME INTO THE ENTRY-LEVEL AND LOWER WAGE INCOME CAN MOVE UP TO A BETTER JOB, WHETHER THEY MOVE UP IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND GO TO MAZDA, TOYOTA, AMAZON, AEROJET ROCKETDYNE, BLUE ORIGIN, WHERE THEY ARE DOING ADVANCED MANUFACTURING OR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE AND DECIDE THEY WANT TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST THEY CAN DO THAT.

WE HAVE BEEN PROMOTING BOTH SIDES OF IT.

THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ADVANCED MANUFACTURING BECAUSE IT HAS GIVEN US A MIDDLE-CLASS ECONOMY, MIDDLE-WAGE ECONOMY IN THE ECOSYSTEM OF WAGES, AND WE HAVE DONE FAIRLY WELL WITH THAT WITH GE AVIATION COMING IN, AEROJET ROCKETDYNE AND MAZDA TOYOTA.

WE HAVE PIVOTED A BIT AND ONE REASON WE ARE WORKING SO HARD AT THE AIR SHOW, BACK TO OUR BASIC ROOTS WHICH IS RESEARCH PARK, ENGINEERING, AEROSPACE AND PIVOTED BACK TO THAT BECAUSE THOSE ARE GOOD-PAYING JOBS RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE GROWN 4500 PEOPLE A YEAR, EACH YEAR.

THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES WITH IT AND THEY ARE KEEPING UP WITH YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT'S ROAD SYSTEMS, THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH US.

THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN HELPFUL.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN HELPFUL.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH EACH OF THOSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR ROAD SYSTEMS UP TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP THAT 18-20-MINUTE COMMUTE THAT'S OUR AVERAGE COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK.

THAT AVERAGE IS PROBABLY THE BEST SALES POINT WE HAVE.

EVERY TIME WE SAT DOWN AT A MEETING WE START TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

EACH ONE WOULD LOOK AT THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE COMPANY AND WOULD SAY, WOW, IF WE CAN HAVE AN 18-20-MINUTE COMMUTE, SIGN US UP.

WE ARE READY TO MOVE.

>> IT'S NOT JUST HUNTSVILLE GROWING, IT IS THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

YOU HAVE MADISON NEXT DOOR AND OTHER TOWNS, LIMESTONE COUNTY THAT ARE GROWING.

I CAN SEE HOW SOMETIMES THERE'S COMPETITION AMONG HOMETOWNS, RIGHT, TO GET THE FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL RIVALRY STUFF.

I WOULD IMAGINE IT IS IMPORTANT TO WORK CLOSELY WITH OTHER TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES WHEN SO MUCH GROWTH IS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.

>> THAT'S A CRITICAL FACTOR IN WHAT WE DO.

GUNTERSVILLE IS GROWING AND HARBOR WALK IS GROWING AND BECAUSE OF SOME OF OUR GROWTH, THEY ARE GROWING ON THEIR OWN AND BECAUSE OF THEIR GROWTH WE ARE GROWING.

THE RISING TIDE FLOATS ALL SHIPS.

WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN AREA WHERE EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER.

DECATUR WORKS WITH HUNTSVILLE.

WE WORK WITH ATHENS AND LIMESTONE COUNTY, ALL THE WAY OVER TO THOUGH TRI-CITIES AREA.

THE TRI-CITIES AREA WILL HAVE TERRIFIC GROWTH.

PORTLAND IS SEEING SOME GROWTH COME BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN HYPERSONICS AND DIRECTED ENERGY AND THEN OVER TO SAND MOUNTAIN AND YOU ARE SEEING GROWTH.

WE HAVE 110,000 PEOPLE A DAY COME AND WORK IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE AND GO BACK TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY AND TAKE THEIR PAYCHECK BACK TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE 60,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE AND WORK IN OTHER AREAS AND SPEND THE PAYCHECKS BACK AND SPEND THEM IN HUNTSVILLE.

IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER IT'S GREAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHEN MAZDA TOYOTA AND POLARIS CAME IN AND THE OTHER GROUPS CAME IN, IT WAS A COMBINED EFFORT OF LIMESTONE COUNTY, ATHENS, MORGAN COUNTY, DECATUR, HUNTSVILLE, MADISON AND MADISON COUNTY.

EVERYBODY HELPED TO PITCH INTO MAKE SURE THE MONEY WAS THERE FOR INCENTIVES AND TO MAKE IT WORK FOR EACH OF US.

>> WELL, YOU MENTIONED THE LEGISLATURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

SOME OF THAT REBUILD ALABAMA MONEY.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST -- WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR BIGGEST INFRASTRUCTURE NEED YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO ROADS.

I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL IN 1984, MAYBE BEFORE YOU WERE BORN, BUT WHEN I RAN ROADS WERE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

I CAME IN SECOND AND ROADS WERE NUMBER ONE.

2008, I RAN FOR MAYOR AND WAS ELECTED AT THAT POINT AND ROADS WERE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

OUR JOB IS TO KEEP A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN PLACE TO GET US FROM HERE TO THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE STRETCHED IT TO A PEDESTRIAN OR BICYCLING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OR A CAR AND HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ALL OF IT TIES TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE CAN ACTUALLY MOVE A POPULATION OF PEOPLE TO THEIR WORKPLACE AND FROM THE WORKPLACE BACK HOME AND DO IT AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO US.

EACH LEGISLATURE HAS ROADS IN THEIR DISTRICT WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND EVERYBODY HAS AT LEAST ONE STATE ROAD PROJECT.

WE WORKED WITH THEM TO COME TOGETHER WITH A CONSENSUS PLAN THAT TAKES CARE OF US FOR THE NEXT TEN, 15 YEARS.

THE STATE HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN WORKING WITH US TO MAKE SURE WE CAN PUT IT TOGETHER.

WE ARE OFFERING TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THE NORMAL MATCH TO PUT IT ON A PRIORITY BASE BASIS AND THE STATE HAS BEEN GOOD WORKING WITH US.

>> YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

IN THAT MO BROOKS, RAN FOR SENATE AND LOST BUT HE IS TERM LIMITED THERE, OR AT LEAST HE DOESN'T GET TO RUN FOR HIS SEAT AGAIN.

AND YOU HAVE DALE STRONG, A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, IS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, FAVORED TO WIN THAT CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

NO SECRET THAT CONGRESSMAN BROOKS HAS HAD A ROCKY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BUSINESS AND FARMING COMMUNITY.

I'M WONDERING HOW THE RELATIONSHIP IS WITH DALE STRONG CONSIDERING HE IS FAVORED TO WIN THE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT?

>> THE RELATIONSHIP WITH DALE STRONG IS VERY GOOD.

WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING.

HE PARTNERED WITH US ON MAZDA TOYOTA AND POLARIS AND A LOT OF PROJECTS.

WE WORK IN TANDEM.

HE WAS AT THE PARIS CENTER SHOW WITH US AND AS WE WENT MEETING TO MEETING, RECOGNIZED THAT HE IS PROBABLY THE ODDS ON FAVORITE TO BE OUR NEXT CONGRESSMAN.

HE WAS VERY HELPFUL IN THE RECRUITING WORK THAT WE WERE DOING.

DALE'S A GOOD COMMUNITY PERSON.

HE KNOWS WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE.

HE KNOWS WHAT NORTH ALABAMA'S NEEDS ARE AND HE WILL DO A GOOD JOB IN CONGRESS.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM.

>> WHILE I HAVE GOT YOU, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT, I HAVE ADMIRED FROM AFAR YOUR NEW MUSIC VENUE, THE AMPHITHEATER.

I KNOW THIS IS PART OF AN OVERALL EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ARTS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS MUSIC DEVELOPMENT YOU HAVE GOT GOING ON IN HUNTSVILLE.

>> I THINK THE MUSIC DEVELOPMENT TIES IN WITH -- AA BASEBALL TIES IN WITH PARKS AND YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

YOU ALWAYS WANT A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AND ARE RECRUITING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST.

THEY HAVE CHOICES THEY CAN GO TO SAN ANTONIO, NASHVILLE, A LOT OF PLACES.

WE MAKE THEM OFFERS ON JOBS.

A SPOUSE GOES HOME AND SAYS HONEY I HAVE AN OFFER OF A JOB IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.

TODAY THEY WOULD SAY I JUST HEARD THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND JUST PLAYED IN HUNTSVILLE.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.

OR MAYBE I WANTED TO SEE JOSH GROBAN PLAY.

IT IS A PART OF OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND WHAT WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER TO ATTRACT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE IN AN ENVIABLE POSITION.

WE HAVE MORE JOBS THAN PEOPLE TO FILL THEM.

WE ARE GOING OUTER AND RECRUITING PEOPLE TO COME TO THE HUNTSVILLE COMMUNITY TO BE A PART OF OUR HUNTSVILLE COMMUNITY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE ATTRACTS PEOPLE HERE, BUT ALSO IT HELPS YOU ATTRACT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST.

THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST ARE JOB MULTIPLIERS.

THEY FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT THE WIDGETS TOGETHER AND MORE JOBS AND JOBS SPELL OPPORTUNITY TO PEOPLE.

>> A LOT GOING ON IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.

MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES AT APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY MOBILE MAYOR SANDY STIMPSON.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GREAT TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.

>> I HOPE YOU ARE NOT TOO JET LAGGED.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN IN ENGLAND AT THE FARM BUREAU AIR SHOW.

DIFFERENT CITIES TEAM UP AND SHARE ALABAMA STORIES.

HOW WAS THE AIR SHOW AND WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?

>> FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MOBILE AND I REALLY SAY THE STATE OF ALABAMA IT WAS VERY, VERY BRIGHT.

A LOT OF INTEREST IN WHAT IS GOING ON IN MOBILE AND HUNTSVILLE.

I WILL THROW IN ONE FOR MAYOR BATTLE THERE.

>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

I KNOW THIS IS WHERE THE WORLD GATHERS, THE WORLD'S AVIATION COMMUNITY GATHERS.

MOBILE HAS BEEN -- IS NOW -- HAS A MAJOR FOOTPRINT FOR AVIATION AND AEROSPACE WITH THE EMERGENCE OF AIRBUS.

THEY ARE BRINGING ON A THIRD LINE, ASSEMBLY LINE TO BUILD EVEN MORE AIRCRAFT.

TELL ME ABOUT THE EMERGENCE OF AIRBUS AND MOBILE AND HOW BIG THE FOOTPRINT IS GETTING.

>> IF YOU GO BACK TO 2014, MOBILE -- NO PLANES WERE BUILT IN MOBILE, ALABAMA.

PROBABLY THE DECADE BEFORE THAT, WE HAD BEEN GOING TO THE AIR SHOW, WOOING VARIOUS EXECUTIVES ABOUT COMING TO MOBILE TO BUILD AIRPLANES.

OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOW THE HOME OF AIRBUS IN AMERICA.

WE'RE THE ONLY PLACE OUTSIDE OF EUROPE WHERE AIRBUS IS ASSEMBLING AIRCRAFT AND WE ARE PROBABLY, 7 A-320s A MONTH AND THEN HOPE TO INCREASE CLOSE TO POSSIBLY DOUBLING OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE ARE THE FOURTH LARGEST PRODUCER OF COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT IN THE WORLD.

AND IT GETS BIGGER AND BETTER FROM THERE.

>> I'M JUST THINKING, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO THE TANKER COMPETITION MANY YEARS AGO.

THAT WAS WHAT, 2007, 2008ISH WE EVENTUALLY HAD THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE CONTRACT SENT TO ANOTHER COMPANY.

AND NOT COMING TO MOBILE.

AND YET, OUT OF THAT DISAPPOINTMENT CAME AIRBUS, CAME THEIR COMMITMENT ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE.

HAS IT DEFIED EXPECTATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL?

>> EVEN THOUGH WE LOST THE TANKER CONTRACT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CITY OF MOBILE AND THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND THE UNITED STATES WE WON BY BUILDING A COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

IT IS A SHAME THAT AIRBUS IS NOT BUILDING THE TANKER BUT THAT IS AN OPEN-ENDED STORY AT THIS POINT IN TIME FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE.

WE ARE ALL BENEFITING FROM THE INVESTMENT THAT AIRBUS MADE HERE AND WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.

>> AIRBUS IS BASED AT THE BROOKLEY COMPLEX.

I KNOW YOU ALL ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING MOBILE'S AIRPORT AND COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL TO BROOKLEY.

TELL ME WHAT IS BEHIND THAT AND WHAT YOU EXPECT TO HAVE HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF MOVING DOWNTOWN.

>> IT WAS BUILT AND MOST USED IN THE LATE '40s AND 50s.

IT WENT AWAY AS FAR AS BEING AN AIR FORCE BASE IN 1987.

SO SINCE THEN WE TRIED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF USING THOSE RUNWAYS AND AIRBUS IS ACTUALLY LOCATED THERE.

CONTINENTAL MOTORS IS THERE AND IS SB AEROSPACE.

WHAT WE REALIZE IN THE CITY OF MOBILE OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS WE WERE LOSING TO THE EAST AND WEST OF US, AIRPORTS EAST AND WEST OF U.S. AND IT IS BECAUSE 60 YEARS AGO, WHEN THE AIRPORT WAS BUILT WE DIDN'T PROJECT WHERE THE GROWTH IN THE CITY OR THE REGION WOULD BE.

IT HAS BEEN TO THE EAST OF US INSTEAD OF THE WEST.

WE FIND OURSELVES IN A BAD LOCATION AND THAT'S WHY WHEN WE REALIZED THAT, WHAT WE HAD COULDN'T BE FIXED.

WHEN I SAY "FIXED," WE COULD NOT WOO OTHER AIRLINES TO COME IN.

WE FOUND OURSELVES AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE.

WE LOOKED AT BERKELEY WHICH WAS ALREADY AN APPROVED FAA AIRPORT.

THE IDEA TO MOVE COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS THERE MEANT WHAT WE HAD TO DO IS BUILD A NEW TERMINAL.

SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF THAT.

THE ENGINEERING OF THAT IS BEING DONE AS WE SPEAK.

THE THOUGHT IS THAT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR WE COULD BREAK GROUND AND HOPEFULLY FLY COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS OUT BECAUSE BY OF THE END OF 2024 AND BECAUSE OF SUPPLY ISSUES MAYBE EARLY '25.

AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM ENDORSED BY AIRBUS AND OUR COMMUNITY RECOGNIZING THAT IT WILL SIT -- IT WILL ABUT WHAT IS A TOP TEN DEPOT OF PORT.

ONE OF THE TOP TEN LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND SO JUST THE SYNERGY THAT WILL COME OFF OF THAT BODES WELL FOR THE FUTURE LOGISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCTS COMING THROUGH THE PORT, GOING TO THE AIRPORT AND OUT OF THE AIRPORT.

WE ARE EXCITED.

IT'S GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, YOU MENTIONED THE SEAPORT, ALABAMA SEAPORT LOCATED THERE.

PORT OF MOBILE AND I KNOW THERE IS WORK GOING ON BECAUSE THIS LONG-AWAITED MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SENATOR SHELBY HAS BEEN WORKING ON A LONG TIME TO DEEPEN AND WIDEN THE SHIPPING LANE THERE AND ADD PORT IMPROVEMENTS.

WALK ME THROUGH WHERE WE ARE, THE TIME LINE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PORT.

>> WHEN YOU SPEAK OF DEEPENING AND WIDENING, YOU REFER TO THE CHANNEL FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO TO THE MOBILE RIVER.

THAT'S WHERE ALL OF THE COMMERCE GOES ALONG THE BANKS OF THE RIVER.

THEY ARE DEEPENING AND WIDENING OF THE CHANNEL SHOULD BE FINISHED FIRST QUARTER OF '25.

THAT WILL ALLOW US TO TAKE FULLY LOADED SHIPS COMING INTO THE CHANNEL, CURRENTLY THAT CHANNEL IS PROBABLY 30 MILES LONG AND THERE'S ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT AND YOU CAN'T PASS EACH OTHER.

WE WILL HAVE A PASSING POCKET OR TWO IN THE CHANNEL, AS WELL AS DEEPENING IT TO TAKE THE DEEPER SHIPS.

IT WILL TRANSFORM OUR ABILITY.

WE LOOK AT IT ALREADY WE ARE ON STEROIDS WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONTAINER OPERATION.

BUT IT WILL INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO DO MORE IN THE CONTAINER PART OF THE BUSINESS.

SO VERY EXCITING.

>> I WAS HOPING TO ASK YOU ABOUT AN UPDATE ON THE MOBILE BRIDGE OR THE BAY WAY BRIDGE PROJECT.

I KNOW IT IS A STATE PROJECT BUT A LOT OF TALK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL ABOUT IT.

IT HAS BEEN DELAYED AND PUT OFF.

AT ONE POINT PEOPLE SAID IT WAS DEAD, MAYBE NOT ANYMORE.

THIS WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF ONE DAY GETTING THE I-10 BRIDGE OVER THE BAY THERE?

>> SO, I WANT TO BACK UP FOR A MOMENT AND TALK ABOUT THE AIRPORT -- PROBABLY $300 MILLION PROJECT FOR THE TERMINAL IN WHICH WE HOPE TO BE DEBT FREE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM STATE, THE COUNTY, THIS THE CITY AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WE ARE CLOSE TO DOING THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SCALE OF EVERYTHING, THE INDIVIDUAL WILL APPROACH BEING $3 BILLION, BUT REALLY NEED THE BRIDGE FOR EVERYTHING ELSE TO WORK AT THE CAPACITY.

THE BRIDGE WILL BE PART OF THE I-10 CORRIDOR CONNECTING LOS ANGELES TO JACKSONVILLE.

WE LIKE TO SAY THE BIGGEST BOLT NECK IN THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR, AS FAR AS BEING IN MOBILE ARE THE TUNNELS UNDER THE RIVER THAT CAUSE TREMENDOUS TRAFFIC DELAYS EVERY DAY.

IT'S A DANGEROUS LOCATION BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF WRECKS AND THE NUMBER OF TURNS TO GET TO THE TUNNEL.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT PROJECT FOR 20 YEARS NOW.

IT TOOK 18 YEARS TO GET THE FINAL IMPACT STUDY DONE BUT THAT IS ALL DONE.

WE HAVE A SHOVEL READY PROJECT NEXT WEEK.

ON WEDNESDAY THE TWO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS, ONE FOR BALDWIN COUNTY, WHICH WILL BE AT ONE END OF THE BRIDGE AND THE OTHER MOBILE, WE WILL VOTE AND PUT IT ON THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND BE OFF TO THE RACES AND STILL TRYING TO GARNER SOME FEDERAL GRANTS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT BUT THIS WILL BE A TOLL BRIDGE.

WHICH IS UNIQUE IN OUR AREA BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE BUY IN AND CONCURRENCE BY OUR CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE THAT IS THE ONLY WAY A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL BE BUILT.

WE ARE EXCITE ABOUT THAT.

BETWEEN THE -- WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PORT, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE AIRPORT AND THE BRIDGE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY TRANSFORM THIS PART OF THE REGION, THE CITY, OBVIOUSLY THE CITY AND THE STATE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> WHILE I HAVE YOU, MAYOR, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE ISSUE OF CRIME.

CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE EXPERIENCING UPTICKS IN VIOLENT AND GUN CRIME.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ADDRESS IT?

>> WE ARE ADDRESSING IT VERY PROACTIVELY.

PRIOR TO COVID, WE HAD ALREADY CREATED AN ORGANIZATION FOR CYBERSECURITY AND COLLABORATIVE WORKING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

THIS ORGANIZATION IS SPONSORED AND RUN BY THE CITY OF MOBILE BUT OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS INCLUDE THE FBI, NCIS, U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE, SECRET SERVICE.

ANYWAY, WE ARE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY TO -- OR USE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP US THWART CRIME AND FIND THOSE WHO ARE DOING THE SHOOTING.

WHAT WE BELIEVE IS ONCE SOMEONE IS A SHOOTER THEY HAVE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES OR THEY CONTINUE SHOOTING.

SO OUR MISSION IS TO TAKE THEM OFF THE STREET IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT MANNER BUT NOT TO HARASS THOSE WHO ARE NOT INVOLVED.

UNTIL WE CAN GET THOSE OFF THE STREET, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T TO HAVE A PROBLEM.

WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR COURT SYSTEM, OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE U.S. ATTORNEY, AND FBI SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WHEN WE CATCH THESE PERPETRATORS OF THESE CRIMES THEY WILL BE PROSECUTED AND WILL SERVE TIME.

WE ARE FORTUNATE.

I WILL TELL YOU A QUICK SIDE BAR.

SOMEONE THAT TRAVELS ALL OVER LONDON INSTALLING TECHNOLOGY FOR A NATIONALLY KNOWN COMPANY SAID, MAYOR, THERE'S NOWHERE IN AMERICA THAT WE SEE THE COLLABORATION THAT YOU ALL HAVE GOING ON HERE AND HOW YOU ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THE BAD GUYS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

ONE THING WE KNOW THAT WILL HELP, NOT JUST THE CITY OF MOBILE BUT THE STATE OF ALABAMA IS A LAW THAT WAS RECENTLY PASSED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

A STUDENT AT A UNIVERSITY WAS MURDERED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OUT ON BOND.

IN MY OPINION IT SHOULD NOT BEEN OUT ON BOND, BUT RIGHT NOW TODAY, AS IT EXISTS, OUR JUDGES CAN ONLY DENY BOND FOR SOMEBODY THEY THINK WILL FLEE, FLEE THE CITY, LET'S SAY, OR FOR CAPITAL MURDER.

ANYBODY ELSE, THEY HAVE TO GRANT THEM BOND.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT A JUDGE KNOWS WILL RECOMMIT, WILL COMMIT ANOTHER CRIME BUT THEY CAN'T HOLD THEM.

WHEN THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA PASSED THE STATEWIDE REFERENDUM, IT IS PART OF THE CONSTITUTION.

AND THEN AT THAT POINT IN TIME, JUDGES WILL HAVE ANOTHER TOOL TO KEEP THE BAD GUYS LOCKED UP UNTIL THEY HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE WALKING THE STREETS THAT ARE VIOLENT, RECIDIVOUS OFFENDERS THAT SHOULDN'T BE OUT THERE AND SHOULDN'T.

>> THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.

MAYOR, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO@APTV.ORG.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL FACEBOOK PAGE AND LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> MOBILE NATIVE LEROY SATCHEL PAIGE IS ONE OF THE FINEST PITCHERS IN BASEBALL.

HE PLAYED FOR THE BIRMINGHAM BLACK BEARS AND WOULD THROW 100 NO-HITTER AND PLAY PROFESSIONAL BALL INTO HIS 50s MAKING AN APPEARANCE FOR THE MLB.

HE WAS INDUCTED IN THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME IN '71, THE FIRST NEGRO PLAYER SO HONORED.

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEVEN REED.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> NOTHING LIKE HANGING OUT WITH LIONEL RITCHIE.

I SAW IT ON INSTAGRAM WHEN YOU WERE HANGING OUT.

>> THAT WAS A LAST-MINUTE THING THAT CAME UP YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND YOU DON'T SAY NO WHEN THAT CALL COMES IN.

WHEN LIONEL RITCHIE WANTS TO HANG OUT WITH YOU CHANGE EVERYTHING.

MY WIFE WAS HAPPY TO DO THAT AS WELL.

SHE MADE SURE NOTHING WAS GOING TO STAY IN THE WAY OF HANGING OUT WITH LIONEL RITCHIE.

>> YOU DON'T SAY NO TO NOVELLO EITHER.

>> GREAT FOOD AND GREAT TIME.

>> I WANT TO START WITH EDUCATION.

I KNOW WITH HAVE A NEW SUPERINTENDENT STARTED IN MONTGOMERY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

YOU HAVE HAD A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY SCHOOLS.

DO YOU SEE THIS AS A NEW BEGINNING FOR THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU THINK WE HAVE THREE MAGNET SCHOOLS RANKED IN THE TOP 25 OF NEWS AND WORLD REPORTS, WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE.

THEY WENT THROUGH A PERIOD OF TRANSITION AND NOW WITH DR. BROWN COMING IN, FRESH IDEAS, NEW APPROACH WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BUILD BACK THE CONFIDENCE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND REALLY USE IT AS AN ASSET FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH, AS WELL.

>> SPEAKING OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.

I KNOW THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT WITH 200 JOBS, PREMIER TECH IS THE NEW COMPANY AND ONE OF SEVERAL INVESTMENTS HAPPENING IN THE CITY.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 14 MONTHS.

WE HAVE A BILLION DOLLARS ANNOUNCED WITH 200 JOBS, WE ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

ONE THING WE WANT TO DO IS DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CORPORATE RECRUITING STRATEGY THAT FOCUSES ON TALENT AND FOCUSES ON THOSE REMOTE WORKERS AND WHITE COLLAR JOBS COMING INTO MONTGOMERY.

WE WANT TO TAP INTO THE NET WORTH OF TUSKEGEE AND AUBURN AND ACROSS THE STATE TO MAKE SURE THE BEST TALENT CONSIDERS MONTGOMERY.

IN THE PAST, WE HAVEN'T BEEN AT THE TABLE.

WE ARE TRYING TO LEVERAGE.

WE ARE DOING INDUSTRIAL RECRUITMENT IN MANUFACTURING AND LOOKING AT HOW TO BRING IN MORE TALENT IN OTHER SPACES AND BUILD ON THAT.

WE THINK WE HAVE A GOOD PLAN WITH OUR DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

>> I KNOW TOURISM HAS BEEN INCREASING LATELY.

ESPECIALLY ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS FRONT.

IT HAS BEEN A REAL BOOM THERE LATELY.

HOW MUCH OF TOURISM -- HOW MUCH OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS TOURISM IN THE CITY.

>> LODGING TAXES IS 50% YEAR OVER YEAR.

WE ARE SEEING GROWTH IN THE SALES TAX REVENUE IN THE FACE OF INFLATION RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO GROW THE TOURISM MARKET?

WE HAVE OVER 200 HOTEL ROOMS COMING ONLINE.

WE ARE LOOKING TO DO MORE.

WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING A FEASIBILITY STUDY IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO REALLY LOOK AT EXPANDING THE CONVENTION CENTER AND MAYBE ADDING AN ARENA DOWNTOWN ON THE RIVERFRONT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE BELIEVE WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OUR PRESENCE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONFERENCES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR MEETING ROOMS AND SPACES.

THE DESIRE TO COME TO MONTGOMERY AND CENTRAL ALABAMA IS THERE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE MITE AND STAY AHEAD OF IT.

I THINK WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT ALONG WITH THE OTHER INITIATIVES WE HAVE IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION, OUTDOOR TRAILS AND SPORTS COMPLEXES, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WILL HELP US EVEN MORE WHEN IT COMES TO TOURISM BECAUSE OF OUR CENTRAL LOCATION IN THE STATE.

>> THAT MAKES SENSE.

WE HAVE THE RENAISSANCE AND LARGE BALLROOMS AND CONVENTION SPACE, BUT THE BIGGER EVENTS THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY A SPACE FOR DOWNTOWN.

>> WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE LOSING OUT.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO IS NOT ONLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR POLICY AND INITIATIVES BUT ALSO INVESTING IN OUR CITY.

YOU CAN'T KEEP PUTTING BAND-AIDS ON OLD FACILITIES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE DECIDED ABOUT THE GARRETT COLISEUM.

IT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 1948, BUT IT CAN NO LONGER KEEP UP WITH OTHER CENTERS AND OTHER FACILITIES OF ITS SIZE.

PLUS, WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE RIVER.

WE HAVEN'T MAXIMIZED THAT.

BUT WITH THE WATER PARK COMING ONLINE NEXT YEAR AND THE INCREASED TRAFFIC WITH THE LEGACY MUSEUM.

WE THINK IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO INVEST IN OURSELVES AND THIS COMMUNITY AND THE REGION.

>> SWITCHING GEARS.

I KNOW YOU WERE RECENTLY PART OF THIS INITIATIVE WITH MAYORS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TARGETING GUN VIOLENCE, SPECIFICALLY ILLEGAL WEAPONS THAT YOU ARE SEEING CONTRIBUTE TO ALL OF THIS VIOLENCE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS?

>> PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN EVERY DAY AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY.

WHETHER YOU LIVE, WORK OR PLAY HERE, WE WANT IT TO BE THE SAFEST COMMUNITY IT CAN BE.

THAT MEANS A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TO ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE THAT'S HAPPENING ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE SEEN OUR CRIME NUMBERS WILL DROP 19.9%.

TEN OUT OF 12 CATEGORIES THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT TO THE FBI AND WE HAVE SEEN OUR HOMICIDES COME DOWN, AS WELL, OVER 26%.

SO, WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHERE WE ARE YEAR OVER YEAR, WE HAVE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

WE KNOW WE HAVE TO COLLABORATE AS MAYORS AND USE OUR BUY-IN POWER, OUR PLATFORMS TO REALLY START TO HOLD GUN MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE.

WE THINK THERE'S A LOT TO DO TO MAKE THEM SAFER AND EASIER TO TRACE AND WHEN YOU SEE THE SAME MANUFACTURERS INVOLVED IN THE CRIME GUN STATISTICS, THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

LEGISLATORS DON'T TAKE THOSE CALLS ABOUT SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE STREETS OF THEIR CITY.

JUDGES DON'T TAKE THOSE CALLS.

THOSE CALLS COME TO MAYORS.

WE HAVE TO USE OUR COLLECTIVE POWER TO TALK TO THE GUN MANUFACTURERS TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE BUT ALSO BIG TECH.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE BIG TECH IS NOT ALLOWING SOCIAL MEDIA TO BE USED IN A LOT OF THE CRIME THAT WE ARE SEEING.

WE THINK THEY CAN DO A LOT MORE AND WANT TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, AS WELL.

>> IN THE CRIMES THAT WE DO SEE IN MONTGOMERY, SHOOTINGS SPECIFICALLY, HOW MUCH OF IT IS ILLEGAL GUNS THAT SHOULDN'T BE IN POSSESSION AT ALL?

HOW MUCH CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE CITY DO TOGETHER TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL WEAPONS IN POSSESSION BEFORE THEY ARE USED?

>> LET ME BE CLEAR.

THIS IS ABOUT ILLEGAL GUNS.

I'M A GUN OWNER.

I HAVE SEVERAL AT MY HOUSE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE LEGAL GUN OWNER.

IT'S ABOUT THE TRAFFICKING OF GUNS THROUGH PAWNSHOPS, THROUGH ROGUE GUN DEALERS AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE WE CAN UTILIZE OUR ABILITY, BOTH AT THE STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL LEVEL TO HELP.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ALREADY WITH ATF, U.S.

MARSHALS AND WE HAVE PICKED UP WELL OVER 100 GUNS THIS YEAR.

SO, WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT HERE IN MONTGOMERY, WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF GUNS OUT THERE THAT SHOULD NOT BE IN THE HANDS OF BAD PEOPLE.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE BELIEVE WE CAN DO ALSO FROM A LOCAL SIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE, WHETHER YOU ARE A CONVICTED FELON OR THERE'S OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE A GUN THAT YOU DON'T GET IT.

AGAIN, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HOLDING THE MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ROLE IN THIS.

THERE'S MORE THAT CAN BE DONE FROM THEIR INDUSTRY TO HELP US.

IT IS A TOUGH ISSUE AND A TOUGH TIME FOR MANY CITIES RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE TO LEVERAGE ALL THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND THOSE IN CORPORATE AMERICA AND THOSE NONPROFITS THAT WANT TO HELP AND REDUCE ILLEGAL GUN TRAFFICKING IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE SEE TOO MUCH OF THAT HERE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE A NEW POLICE CHIEF, OR RELATIVELY NEW.

HE'S BEEN ON THE JOB TWO OR THREE MONTHS NOW.

HOW'S THAT GOING?

IS HE SETTLING IN?

ARE YOU SEEING THE RESULTS YOU WANT TO SEE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE DID A NATIONWIDE SEARCH, WE WERE LOOKING FOR A BEST IN CLASS LEADER.

WE BELIEVE WE HAVE URBAN ISSUES IN A MID SIZED CITY AND WE WANTED TO ADDRESS THOSE THROUGH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES.

THE CHIEF WHO CAME TO US FROM THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HAS MET THE MOMENT.

HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND MEETING WITH OUR CITY COUNCILMAN AND LETTING THEM KNOW HIS PLANS AND A GREAT JOB OF WORKING INTERNALLY IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND JUST WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE.

JUST WHAT LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM HE WANTS TO SEE.

BECAUSE OF THAT, I THINK WE ARE IN A GREAT PLACE.

THAT'S DUE, IN PART, TO HIS LEADERSHIP IT IS DUE TO HIS EXPERIENCE, HIS UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO COLLABORATE WITH THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE DEA OVER HERE, HOW TO LEVERAGE DIFFERENT LAWS TO MAYBE CHARGE CRIMINALS WITH AND HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BRINGING ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO THE TABLE.

WHETHER THAT IS THE SHERIFFS, ALEA, ALL OF THEM.

I THINK THAT HAS HELPED IN SOME OF OUR REDUCTION OF CRIME NUMBERS.

NOW HE RECENTLY MADE US AWARE OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT WENT INTO PLACE YESTERDAY AND THAT WAS ANNOUNCED.

I THINK AS YOU LOOK AT THE INTENT FROM SOMEONE WITH HIS BACKGROUND, BOTH WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION TO LEAD IT AND ALSO TO GET THE RESULTS THAT THE PUBLIC WANTS, HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS SO FAR AND WE EXPECT MORE MOVING FORWARD.

>> I WAS ACTUALLY JUST SPEAKING WITH MAYOR STIMPSON AND HE MENTIONED THE LAW THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER SAYING IT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF KEEPING FOLKS THAT SHOULDN'T BE OUT, OUT.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE BIG TEN MAYORS HERE IN ALABAMA HAVE REALLY PUSHED FOR.

WE HAVE PUSHED FOR MORE LEEWAY TO JUDGES IN DENYING BAIL.

RIGHT NOW THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE WITH SOMEONE WITH A VIOLENT BACKGROUND OR PROPENSITY TO CREATE MORE TROUBLE IF THEY ARE RELEASED.

VOTING FOR THE LAW ON THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT WILL ASSIST THOSE JUDGES AND ALL OF US IN MAKING THE COMMUNITY SAFER AND WE THINK THERE NEED TO BE MORE APPROACHES LIKE.

THIS IT IS ONE TOOL IN THE TOOL BOX WE ARE TRYING TO USE, WHETHER IT IS ILLEGAL GUNS AND GUN TRAFFICKING OR BAIL REFORM AT A JUDICIAL LEVEL.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO DO TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFER, AS WELL AS INVESTING IN INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, INVESTING IN PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

OFTEN PEOPLE WANT TO SAVE THE ARGUMENT IS EITHER OR WHEN IT IS BOTH AND.

AND I THINK VOTING FOR ANIAH'S LAW HAS BEEN CHAMPIONED AND GOVERNOR SIGNED IT INTO LAW AND HOPE THE PUBLIC WILL VOTE FOR IT IN NOVEMBER.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON AND MAYBE THE NEXT TIME WE CAN DO ON LOCATION AT THE NEW WATER PARK, THE WHITE WATER PARK.

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪