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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL".

WE ARE GEARING UP FOR ANOTHER WEEK IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE AS THE REGULAR SESSION ENTERS ITS SECOND HALF, SO TO SPEAK.

THERE ARE 15 MORE POSSIBLE LEGISLATIVE DAYS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE NEXT MONTH AND INTO JUNE.

WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE ISSUE OF GROCERY SALES TAXES AND THE MOVEMENT TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THEM.

THAT EFFORT PICKED UP STEAM LAST WEEK WHEN LT.

GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH AND STATE SENATOR ANDREW JONES TEAMED UP TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION CUTTING SALES TAXES ON GROCERIES IN HALF OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD.

ALL 35 SENATORS, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, SIGNED ON TO SENATE BILL 257 AS COSPONSORS.

BUT TODAY, A NEW WRINKLE.

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS REPORTS THAT THE BILL ALSO CONTAINS LANGUAGE PREVENTING CITIES AND COUNTIES FROM RAISING THEIR OWN LOCAL SALES TAXES ON GROCERIES.

THE BILL WOULD ALLOW CITIES AND COUNTIES TO CUT THEIR GROCERY SALES TAXES, BUT NOT RAISE THEM.

GREG COCHRAN WHO LEADS THE ALABAMA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES SAID THAT PART OF THE BILL IS PROBLEMATIC TO HIS MEMBERS WHO WANT THE AUTONOMY TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES.

SONNY BRASFIELD OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONS SAID HE BELIEVES THE BILL AS WRITTEN COULD PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON COUNTIES TO REMOVE THEIR OWN SALES TAXES THAT ARE DEPENDED ON AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

SENATE BILL 257 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE FINANCE AND TAXATION EDUCATION COMMITTEE, WHICH COULD HEAR THE LEGISLATION AS SOON AS THIS WEEK.

>> CATCHING UP ON FLOOR ACTION FROM LAST WEEK, THE HOUSE DEALT WITH AN ISSUE REGARDING MEDICAID INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE KYLE SOUTH IS SPONSORING TWO BILLS AIMED AT MAKING MEDICAID'S REIMBURSEMENTS TO MEDICAL PROVIDERS MORE CONSISTENT.

>> ABOUT YOU I THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE SO FAR.

EVERY LITTLE STEP HELPS.

>> JUST TO YOUR POINT AND SOME FURTHER EXPLANATION, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE SAVING MONEY IN MEDICAID IN CERTAIN INSTANCES AND THERE WERE NEEDS BEYOND WHAT WE COULD DO BY LAW ON OTHERS AND THIS WOULD ALLOW THE COMMISSIONER TO KIND OF SET -- RESET THOSE REIMBURSEMENT RATES WITHIN HER BUDGET ALLOCATION.

>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

BECAUSE WE NEED EVERY LITTLE BIT.

AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL COST THAT IS STILL OUT THERE THAT REALLY HADN'T BEEN PAID OFF BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WENT INTO HOSPITALS WITH THE COVID VIRUS BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE HEALTH CARE.

SO IT'S BEEN AN UNUSUAL STRESS ON ALL OF OUR HOSPITALS AND, AS A RESULT, SOME HAVE CLOSED, SOME ARE NOW IN A POSITION TO CLOSE BECAUSE THE COST WAS JUST SO GREAT THAT, IF WE HAD HAD MEDICAID EXPANSION DURING THAT TIME, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE PROVIDED SOME RELIEF FOR THOSE HOSPITALS THAT ARE RIGHT ON THE BUBBLE NOW TRYING TO STAY OPEN AND EVEN OUR URBAN HOSPITALS ENCOURAGE SUCH A GREAT COST UNTIL THEY'RE NOT ON A SOLID FOUNDATION EITHER BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAME INTO ALL OF OUR FACILITIES, BUT THEY HAD NO FORM OF HEALTH CARE.

>> WE APPRECIATE MINORITY LEADER'S CAMEO THERE.

BOTH HOUSE BILL 126 AND 279 PASSED THE HOUSE AND ARE NOW AWAITING ACTION IN THE SENATE.

THE 16TH LEGISLATIVE DAY IS TOMORROW, WITH THE HOUSE CONVENING AT 1:00 AND THE SENATE COMING IN AT 2:30.

COMING UP NEXT, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEVEN REED FOR AN IN DEPTH INTERVIEW.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING US ME NEXT IS MONTGOMERY MAYOR TEACH REED.

MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE COVER THE LEGISLATURE A LOT HERE AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL," OBVIOUS WITH IT BEING IN SESSION.

BUT WE'RE IN YOUR CITY, AND THERE'S SO MUCH INTERSECTION WHEN WHAT YOU DO RUNNING THE CITY AND HERE IN THE CAPITOL COMPLEX.

YOU WERE HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THE CRIME LEGISLATION PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO CRIME THEFT.

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE INVITED ME OUT TO THAT AND HE KNOWS THE PACKET THAT THIS HAS AND IT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T ALWAYS FOCUS ON.

WE THINK ABOUT THE VITAL CRIME.

BUT RETAIL DEATH HURTS BIG BUSINESSES AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

IT HURTS OUR ECONOMY.

AND IT HURTS THOSE TRYING TO PROVIDE JOBS FOR OTHERS.

WHEN WE SAW THE SLATE OF BILLING THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SHOW NOT ONLY MY SUPPORT BUT SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT AMONG THE BIG 10 MAYORS ASSOCIATION IN HERE ALABAMA.

HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THIS AND HOW DO YOU MAKES SURE THAT IN A WORLD WHEN BRICK AND MORTAR STORES ARE CLOSING LEFT AND RIGHT BECAUSE OF THE ADVENT OF ONLINE SHOPPING THAT WE KEEP THOSE MOM AND POP AS WELL AS THOSE CORPORATE CONGLOMERATES OPEN SO THEY AREN'T GOING OUT OF BUSINESS OR LOSING THEIR MARGINS DUE TO SHRINKAGE DUE TO RETAIL THEFT.

>> IT WAS SURPRISING FOR ME TO HEAR ABOUT THE NUMBERS AND WHAT A PREVALENT PROBLEM IT IS.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING.

YOU BRING UP THE BIG 10 MAYORS.

IT'S JUST BECOME A FORCE.

LIKE Y'ALL WORKING TOGETHER, THE 10 LARGEST CITIES IN ALABAMA.

YOU HOSTED A LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION JUST THE OTHER DAY.

THAT'S WHAT BEEN LIKE.

I GUESS YOU JUST SHARE A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES AND NEEDS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF, YOU KNOW, PARTY, MAYORS HAVE TO GET THINGS DONE AND WE DO.

BECAUSE NO ONE CALLS AND WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, THEY DON'T CALL AND ASK ABOUT THE TRASH FROM A PATTERN STANDPOINT OR IF THE GRASS IS CUT AT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

THEY WANT THOSE THINGS ADDRESSED.

WHAT IT WANT TO WE FIND WHEN YOU TALK TO THE MAYORS OF THE OTHER NINE LARGEST CITIES IN THE STATE IS THAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING.

WE'RE TRYING TO GROW OUR CITIES AND ECONOMIES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SAFE FOR RESIDENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY ADOPTING THE BEST PRACTICES TO HELP OUR STATE GROW.

AND TO HELP OUR CITIES THRIVE.

WE REALIZE THAT WE'RE IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY AND WE'RE ALL COMPETING FOR TALENT AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITIES ARE AS WELL POSITIONED AS ANY CITY IN THIS COUNTRY AND I THINK BY COMING TOGETHER AS AN ASSOCIATION WE CANNOT ONLY SHARE IDEAS BUT ALSO SHARE LEGISLATION THAT WE THINK MAY BE HELPFUL FOR US AS A STATE AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE THINK AREN'T GOOD FOR OUR STATE AS WELL BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT THEY MAY HAVE ON OUR CITIES.

>> RECENTLY WE SAW ONE OF THE 1ST INSTANCES OR HIGH-PROFILE USES OF ANIAH'S LAW THAT YOU ADVOCATED FOR.

IT'S ALL OF WHAT HAPPENED IN DADEVILLE BUT Y'ALL PLAYED A BIG PART IN ADVOCATING FOR THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND SPEAKING OF THAT, ANY TIME THERE'S A STRATEGY LIKE THAT HAPPENS, A LOT OF CONVERSATION TURNS TOWARD GUNS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE, WHAT, YOU KNOW, SHOULD BE DONE, COULD BE DONE, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GUNS ON THE STREET, AND IT STRIKES ME THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM.

WE HAVE TALKED IN THE PAST ABOUT CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL WEAPONS AND HOW TO DO THAT FROM A -- NOT JUST CITY STANDPOINT BUT WORKING WITH THE STATE AND WORKING WITH THE FEDS.

IS THAT WORKING?

ARE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WORKING IN TERMS OF GETTING ILLEGAL GUNS OFF THE STREET?

>> THEY ARE.

BECAUSE OUR POLICE CHIEF HAS BEEN VERY PROACTIVE IN WORKING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS OUR LOCAL PARTNERS TO SET UP STRINGS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IDENTIFYING SOME OF THE BAD ACTORS IN HOW GUNS GET ON THE STREET.

AND THERE'S MORE WORK FOR US TO DO CERTAINLY.

BUT I THINK THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF GUNS THAT WE TOOK OFF THE STREET LAST YEAR, WE HAVE SEEN A POSITIVE IMPACT FROM HIS APPROACH TO MAKING SURE THAT THOSE GUNS AREN'T JUST FALLING INTO THE WRONG HANDS BUT THAT WE ARE ALSO FOLLOWING UP ON WHO THOSE OWNERS ARE, HOW THEY GET INTO THE HANDS OF SOME OF THE WAD GUISE.

AND I THINK THAT WE CAN DO OUR PART, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH TRAFFIC STOPS, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE TO GET SOME OF THE GUNS OFF THE STREET.

BUT I ALSO THINK THE LEGISLATURE CAN DO MORE AS WELL.

>> I WAS I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, DO YOU THINK THERE COULD BE -- COULD THERE BE LEGISLATION THAT GIVES YOU MORE TOOLS IN THAT LEGAL GUN VENUE?

>> I CERTAINLY THINK THERE COULD BE.

I THINK COMMON SENSE GUN REFORM, THE MOST PART, IS WITHIN REACH.

WE'RE SEEING OTHER SOUTHERN STATE LEGISLATURES APPROACH THIS NOW.

THERE'S MIDDLE GROUND TO BE GAINED THERE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO POINT THE FINGER AT EITHER SIDE.

BUT LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE GOING TO HUNT RECREATIONALLY, EVEN SOMEONE WHO FEELS LIKE THINK HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY A HANDGUN.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T CONTINUE TO SEE THE PERMITLESS CARRY TYPE BILLS WHICH ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS AGAINST.

OUR MAYORS WERE AGAINST THOSE BILLS.

AND GUESS WHAT?

THE LEGISLATORS DON'T GET THOSE CALLS.

THE POLICE CHIEF GETS THE CALL, THE MAYORS GET THE CALLS.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLOSING ANY LOOPHOLES THAT MAY EXIST AROUND GUN SHOWS.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, A BAD ACTOR OR BAD ACTORS AREN'T USING THAT AS COVER?

I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT WE COULD UTILIZE THAT GUN SHOWS COULD STILL BE SUCCESSFUL AND AS PROFITABLE AS THEY ARE FOR THOSE BUSINESSES THAT RELY ON THEM.

BUT ALSO THAT CLOSE THE LOOPHOLES THAT SOME OF THE FOLKS ARE UTILIZING TO BUY THOSE GUNS IN PLACES AND FOR PEOPLE THEY SHOULDN'T.

NOW AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE WILL SHARE AND WHAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY WILL TELL YOU IS THAT MOST OF THESE ONES ARE BEING TAKEN ILLEGALLY.

THEY'RE FOUND UNDER THE SEAT OF A CAR THAT'S UNLOCKED.

THEY'RE TAKEN OUT OF A HOME.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, I DO THINK THERE ARE OTHER EFFORTS THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS LOCAL AND STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COME UP WITH COMMONSENSE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND THEN WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PRESS FORWARD AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO AVOID THE CONFLICTS THAT UTILIZING ANY TYPE OF GUN.

FINALLY I WILL SAY THIS BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THE BIG 10 MAYORS THAT WE'RE PUSHING, AND THAT'S OUTLAWING THE GLOCK SWITCH AND MAKING SURE WE'RE TAKING ACTION AROUND GHOST GUNS.

AND I THINK THAT, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS TURNING A HANDGUN INTO A SUB MACHINE GUN BECAUSE OF ONE SWITCH THEY CAN PUT ON IT.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK WE CAN WORK WITH, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ON AND I THINK AS MAYORS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE LEGISLATOR TAKE THAT INITIATE AND GO WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ASK FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON IT AND DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO IN THIS REALM, TO REALLY MAKE THIS A SAFER SATE IS IT SALVATION ARMY OUR CITY A SAFER CITY.

>> JUST THE OTHER DAY, I HAD YOUR NEW STATE REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIP INSER IN HERE AND HE HAS A GLOCK SWITCH BILL AND HE DIDN'T REALIZE IT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AND ONE OF THOSE WAS USED IN THE DADEVILLE TO SHOOTING.

IT'S HORRIFYING.

>> IT IS.

>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE MAYOR OF MONTGOMERY YOU MIGHT AS WELL TALK ABOUT MAXWELL.

SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

RECENTLY MONTGOMERY GOT A FEATHER IN ITS CAP FOR BEING ONE OF THE BEST DEFENSE COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT WAS THE RANK?

>> I THINK WE WERE TWO OUT OF FIVE.

I TAKE TOP FIVE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE A MILITARY PRESENCE, TO BE NAMED ONE OF THE TOP FIVE COMMUNITIES FOR DEFENSE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS NOT ONLY A TEST OF WHAT WE DO AT CITY HALL BUT WHAT OUR COMMUNITY DOES IN PARTNERING AND WELCOMING THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN OUR UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.

IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE PROUD OF AND WORK AT EVERY DAY.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW COMING IN THAT YOU HAVE TO MAXIMIZE THAT RELATIONSHIP.

AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT EVEN AS SOME OF THE GENERALS AND COMMANDERS HAVE GONE ON TO OTHER ASSIGNMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO THEIR NEEDS.

AND ALSO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING IDEAS TO THEM SO WE WORK WITH LT.

GOVERNOR AINSWORTH ON SOME LEGISLATION, AND LAST SESSION WE WORKED WITH THEM ON THE INITIATIVE AROUND EDUCATION AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IS A PRIORITY FOR US, NOT ONLY IN PASSING THE AD VALOREM TAX COUNTRY THAT BENEFITS OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ALLOWS US TO ADD MORE MAGNET SCHOOL SPOTS AND BRING ON AN INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SCHOOL PROGRAM, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MILITARY FAMILIES, BUT ALSO EVEN WORKING ON LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES FOR RECIPROCITY FOR THOSE SPOUSES THAT ARE COMING WITH THE MILITARY.

SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THEM.

AND WE HAVE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHITEWATER AND WHAT IT WILL MEAN TO -- >> HOW CLOSE IS THAT TO COMING ON BOARD?

>> WHITEWATER -- THERE WILL BE A SOFT OPENING LATER THIS MONTH WITH, I THINK, FULL OPENING IN ABOUT THE LATTER PART OF JUNE, EARLY PART OF JULY.

SO THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

THE SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF PLACE IT BRINGS TO MAXWELL.

THEN THERE'S DEVELOPMENT THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE WORKS FOR THE OTHER SIDE OF MAXWELL BOULEVARD.

SO WE HAVE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

ALSO IMPROVING ACCESS TO BASE HOUSING CLOSER TO THE AIR FORCE, HOW WE DEVELOP AIR FORCE BOULEVARD AND PARTS OF MAXWELL BOULEVARD THAT AT ONE TIME HOUSE A LOT OF MEN, WOMEN, WHO WORKED ON THE BASE OR WHO ARE SERVING BUT NOW DO NOT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING IN IN THE THUNDERSTORM AND LONG-TERM SO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT MAXWELL BUT THAT WE GROW THE MISSION AS WELL.

I THINK FOR SO LONG WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT EARLIER AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN INTERESTING SCRIPT.

I LIVED HERE ALL OF MY LIFE AND IT WAS ALWAYS, WE'RE REALLY AFRAID OF BEFORE THAT ACCIDENT AND LOSING MAXWELL.

YOU'RE SAILING LET'S FLIP THAT.

LET'S THINK ABOUT GROWING IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE REPRESENTING MONTGOMERY AND WE HAVE A UNITED STATES SENATOR THAT LIVES AROUND THE CORNER, SO THAT'S -- THAT'S SIGNIFICANT AND LET'S NOT FORGET SENATOR TUBERVILLE, REPRESENTATIVE SEWELL SO THAT'S A LOT OF CONGRESSIONAL HEFT THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

>> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

I THINK CONSIDERING MAXWELL NOW IN REPRESENTATIVE SEWELL'S DISTRICT AND WE HAVE THE SENATOR CALLING THIS HOME THAT IS SIGNIFICANT FOR US AND WITH SENATOR TUBERVILLE UP THE ROAD HE IS A BIG CHAMPION FOR MONTGOMERY.

HE SAID ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS HE WANTS TO HELP OUT AND MAKE SURE CENTRAL ALABAMA GETS THEIR FAIR SHARE OF FEDERAL DOLLARS.

THEN TO HAVE OUR CONGRESSMAN ROGERS SETTING ON THAT PERCH.

THAT ALLOWS US TO THINK ABOUT THIS IN A DIFFERENT FASHION.

NOT AS JUST THE PLACE HOW A UNIVERSITY AND HOUSED BUT HOW DO WE GROW THE MISSION OF THE AIR FORCE AND SPACE FORCE MOVING FORWARD.

WE HAVE THE STATE CAPITOL.

WE HAVE GREAT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HERE.

WE'RE NOT AT SOME OUT POST.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE ALWAYS ACTED LIKE THAT FROM CITY HALL.

AND I DON'T MEAN RECENTLY.

I MEAN OVER THE COURSE OF DECADES WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH THE CITY ARCHIVES.

IT HAS LEGAL BEEN A MIND-SET AND AN APPROACH OF NOT WANTING TO LOSE IT AS OPPOSED TO HOW DO WE GROW IT?

THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

I CAN SAY WITH NOT ONLY SOME OF THE CONGRESSIONAL HELP THAT WE HAVE BUT ALSO OUR LEADERSHIP HERE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND WHERE SOME OF THE YOUNGER LEADERS IN OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY WARRANT TO POSITION THE CITY NOT SO MUCH AS JUST A SMALL VILLAGE UNTO ITSELF BUT AS ARE A REGIONAL CAPITOL, MAXWELL-GUNTER PROVIDES AN OCCUPATION STUDENT FOR US TO UTILIZE A LOT OF DEFENSE DOLLARS THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AS MORE AND MORE RESHORING TAKES PLACE, RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA AND AS WE SEE THROUGH THE CHIPS ACT AND THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, I BELIEVE THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN MENTAL ANGUISH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAXWELL-GUNTER ALONG WITH MAKING SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ALSO COMES ALONG AND HELPS THE STATE AND HELPS THE CITY WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAXWELL WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND THAT'S AN APPROACH THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T TAKEN AT A FEDERAL LEVEL THAT WE WILL BE TAKING UNDER NOW MOVING FORWARD AND WE HAVE UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOBBING THOSE AGENCIES ABOUT THINGS THEY HAVE TO DO.

WE HAVE A $70 MILLION INTERCHANGE OF THINGS THAT MAXWELL WANTS US TO BRING RIGHT THERE AT MAXWELL AND I-65.

DODD CAN ASSIST US IN THAT.

AND WE'VE GONE TO OUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, AND THEY'VE BEEN HELPFUL WITH ENSURING FUNDS FOR GATES AND OTHER ISSUES AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE BASE BUT I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CAN BE HELPFUL IN OTHER WAYS TOO, AND I LIKE THE IDEAS THAT WE HAVE TOSSED AROUND AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE US IMPLEMENT MOVING FORWARD.

>> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE BUT IT'S TIME TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

FOUR YEARS AGO YOU WERE ELECTED.

>> DON'T REMIND ME.

>> IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THAT.

THROW A PANDEMIC IN FROM AND TIME JUST DOES FUNNY THINGS.

BUT YOU HAVE ANNOUNCED YOU'RE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANNOUNCED YET OR NOT BUT WHAT IS YOUR PITCH?

WHAT'S YOUR SALES PITCH TO VOTERS OUT THERE TO THE CITY TO SAY FOUR MORE YEARS?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD A VERY GOOD FOUR YEARS.

AND I SEE THAT BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID WE PASS THE AD VALOREM PLEASE WE WHICH LED FOR THE 1ST TIME IN 40-PLUS YEARS TO INVEST IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHICH HAS CHANGED A LOT.

IT CHANGED THE APPROACH THAT MAXWELL HAS WITH OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEIR PERCEPTION OF HOW WE VALUE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

BUT I THINK ALSO WHEN WE DID CONSIDER HOW WE LEAD THROUGHOUT COVID.

LEAD THROUGHOUT A PANDEMIC TO BE THE ONLY COMMUNITY IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA DURATION THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTEST THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY MAJOR DAMAGE IN OUR RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS.

WE DID NOT HAVE THE MAJOR VIOLENT PROTEST.

WE DIDN'T FIRE A BULLET.

WE DIDN'T ARREST PEOPLE FOR ANY VANDALISM OR VIOLENCE GOING ON.

I THINK THAT'S NOT ONLY A TESTAMENT TO THE COMMUNITY BUT TO OUR LEADERSHIP.

TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE DURING A TIME OF CRISES.

THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMICS DEVELOPMENT THAT WE HAVE HAD IN 2022, HAVING THE CITIES' BEST ECONOMIC YEAR ON RECORD WITH OVER 2,000 JOBS AND $1.7 BILLION NOW ANNOUNCED, I THINK THAT SAYS WE'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT IN OUR ADMINISTRATION.

WE HAVE HAD MINORITY PARTICIPATION WITH THE CITY.

WE'RE MAKING SURE THERE ARE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES IN HOW WE APPROACH POLICY FROM CITY HALL AND WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE LEVERAGE MONTGOMERY'S HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE FOR A MORE PROMISING PRESENT AND FUTURE?

AND I SAY THIS ALL ALONG OF ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

INTEREST MAY BE BIGGER CITIES BUT THERE ARE VERY FEW WITH BETTER STORIES THAN MONTGOMERY.

I THINK WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT FOR US TO NOW BE ABLE TO BRING IN NATIONAL FOUNDATIONS AND INTERNATIONALLY FOUNDATIONS AND FLAP PEE TO ASSIST US IN WHAT WE'RE DOING ALONG WITH OUR TWEAKING OF OUR APPROACH AND NOT JUST BE A GOVERNMENT AND AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING COMMUNITY THAT FOCUSES ON THOSE FACILITIES BUT ALSO ONE AS LOOKING AS THE KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMY -- HOW DO WE RECRUIT AND MAINTAIN OUR BRIGHTEST STUDENTS AND BRIGHTEST TALENTS FROM MONTGOMERY, FROM ALABAMA, HOW DO WE GET THEM HERE SO THAT OUR ECONOMY MOVING FORWARD IS ONE THAT IS PRODUCTIVE, MORE SO THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW?

AND I THINK THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL.

AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SPEAK TO THE ISSUE OF REDUCING CRIME IN OUR CITIES OVER THE COURSE OF TWO YEARS.

NOW, YOU KNOW, FOR SOMEONE THAT IS A VICTIM OF CRIME, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT ATTENTION YOU GIVE.

BUT OVER ALL WE LOOK AT THAT DATA, NOT ONLY ON A YEARLY BASIS, WE LOOK AT IT WEEK TO WEEK AND MONTH TO MONTH.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THINGS ARE WORKING AND HAPPENS AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFER CITY THAN IT WAS COMING IN.

I THINK THAT THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN DO.

I THINK THERE ARE MORE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'RE CREATING.

AND THERE'S MORE THAT WE HAVE TO DO AS A CITY TO MAKE IT BETTER.

BUT I LIKE THE TRAJECTORY THAT THE CITY IS ON AND I BELIEVE OUR LEADERSHIP AND OUR VISION HAS BEEN ONE THAT IS POSITIVE OVER THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS.

>> OF COURSE YOU HAVE YOUR DETRACTORS.

>> SURE.

>> THERE ARE THOSE WHO YOU HEAR RUMORS AND EVERYTHING.

DO YOU EXPECT TO HAVE AN OPPONENT?

DO YOU EXPECT AN ORGANIZED EFFORT TO TRY TO KNOCK YOU OFF?

>> I THINK ANYTIME YOU TAKE ON BIG TASKS AND WORRY ABOUT CHANGE, YOU ROUGHLY THE FEATHERS OF THE STATUS QUO AND ANYTIME YOU DO THAT YOU HAVE TO EXPECT BELOW BACK OR OPPOSITION.

SO I RUN THE RACE IN MY HEAD AND FOCUS ON MY LANE AND I THINK IF I RUN THE BEST RACE, I DOESN'T MATTER WHO GETS IN.

IF SOMEBODY CHOOSES TO GET IN, THAT'S THEIR CHOICE.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE SHOWN SINCE 2012, WE ARE TAKING ON THE BIG GUYS, AND THE NO-NAMES AND THE WANT-TO-BE'S, IF YOU WILL.

THAT'S HOW WE APPROACH IT.

I TRUST MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY I TRUST MY RELATIONSHIP IN THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE OFFER IN EVERY DIVISION WE OFFER AND THE DIVISION THAT I HAVE HAD.

AND I THINK THAT'S HOW YOU GO FROM WINNING IN THE UPSET IN 2012 TO WINNING UNPOSED IN 2018 AND THE RUNNING WITH 2/3 OF THE VOTE IN 2019.

WE WILL CONTINUE DOING THE SAME THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE SINCE WE 1ST GOT INTO PUBLIC OFFICE, AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS RESPONDED AND WILL RESPOND TO WHERE WE ARE.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT, MAYOR, THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, TODD.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW AT 10:30 WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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