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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

IT HAS BEEN SIX DAYS SINCE THE HORRIFIC MASS SHOOTING AT A NIGHT CLUB IN BIRMINGHAM'S FIVE POINTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

BUT THE FALLOUT CONTINUES, AS POLICE SEARCH FOR SUSPECTS, FAMILIES MOURN THE FOUR PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED BY GUNFIRE, DOCTORS CARE FOR THE 17 OTHERS WHO WERE INJURED IN THE SHOOTING AND ALABAMA'S LARGEST CITY SEARCHES FOR ANSWERS IN THE WAKE OF THE TRAGEDY.

HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW AT THE MOMENT.

AS I MENTIONED, FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 17 INJURED BY GUNFIRE AT HUSH IN FIVE POINTS.

NO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED OR CHARGED, AT LEAST NOT THAT THE POLICE HAVE ANNOUNCED.

POLICE BELIEVE THE SHOOTING WAS A TARGETED HIT JOB, INDICATING GANG VIOLENCE.

THEY ALSO BELIEVE A TRIGGER ACTIVATOR WAS USED BASED ON THE HIGH NUMBER OF SHELL CASINGS FOUND AT THE SCENE.

SOMETIMES CALLED GLOCK SWITCHES, THESE DEVICES ATTACH TO PISTOLS AND TURN THEM INTO MACHINE GUN STYLE WEAPONS RAPIDLY SPRAYING BULLETS.

ALSO, THIS IS THE THIRD MASS SHOOTING IN BIRMINGHAM THIS YEAR ALONE.

MAYOR RANDALL WOODFIN SAID POLICE ARE DETERMINED TO BRING THE KILLERS TO JUSTICE.

>> I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TOLL OF THIS, THE HEAVINESS OF THIS FOR MANY, MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED, ONE ARE THESE VICTIMS, THE VICTIMS WHO LIVE AND WHO HAVE TO WAKE UP AND FACE A NEW, UNFORTUNATE NORMAL RELATED TO THE EMOTIONAL AS WELL AS PHYSICAL TRAUMA THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH.

TWO, TO THOSE WHO ACTUALLY LOST THEIR LIVES, TO THEIR FAMILIES.

THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR THAT LOSS, TRYING TO STAND HERE AND FIND WORDS TO DESCRIBE THOSE FAMILIES AND WHAT THEY'RE FEELING RIGHT NOW, THE ANGER, THE HURT, THE PAIN, THE LOSS.

THERE'S A CERTAIN ELEMENT IN THIS CITY, THERE'S A CERTAIN ELEMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO ARE TOO COMFORTABLE RIDING AROUND WITH SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, CONVERGENT SWITCHES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WHOSE ONLY INTENT, HELL-BENT INTENT, IS TO HARM PEOPLE, SHOOT PEOPLE, KILL PEOPLE.

I AM AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

MY POSITION IS NON-PARTISAN.

AND, SO, IN THIS MOMENT, PRETTY MUCH LIKE ALL MOMENTS, I REALLY DON'T CARE, DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT PARTISAN, I DON'T CARE ABOUT DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN POLITICS.

WHAT I CARE ABOUT AND WHAT IS MY CONCERN, MY TOP PRIORITY, ALONG WITH THE BIRMINGHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT, IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> THIS INCIDENT HAS IMPLICATIONS STATEWIDE.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AND ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL SAID THEY ARE WILLING TO SET UP A CRIME SUPPRESSION UNIT COMBINING RESOURCES FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP OUT THE UNDERSTAFFED BIRMINGHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT.

A SIMILAR TASK FORCE WAS SET UP HERE IN MONTGOMERY TO FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME.

>> LIKE IN MONTGOMERY, WE STARTED MONTGOMERY AREA SUPPRESSION CRIME UNIT, AND IT'S PAYING OFF BIG TIME, AND I'M PREPARED TO HELP MAYOR WOODFIN START THE SAME IN BIRMINGHAM.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT THE STATE TAKEOVER SPECIFICALLY THE BIRMINGHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT THIS BEING THE THIRD MASS SHOOTING THIS YEAR?

>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

>> AND LEGISLATION OUTLAWING THOSE GLOCK SWITCH DEVICES HAD ALREADY BEEN FILED FOR THE THIRD YEAR.

I'LL TALK WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIP ENSLER ABOUT HIS BILL LATER IN THE SHOW.

IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY DRAMATIC SEVERAL DAYS ON THE EDUCATION FRONT HERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, MONTGOMERY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT DR. MELVIN BROWN SHOCKED THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY BY ANNOUNCING HIS RESIGNATION FROM OFFICE, WHICH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTED TO ACCEPT.

HIS DECISION CAME AFTER MONTHS OF INTERNAL BICKERING WITH SELECT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WHICH BROWN SAID DEVOLVED INTO PERSONAL ATTACKS AGAINST HIS CHARACTER AND HIS FAMILY.

IN A VIDEO STATEMENT, BROWN SAID IT WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION TO STEP ASIDE GIVEN THE PROGRESS THE DISTRICT HAD BEEN MAKING, BUT THAT THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTINUE.

>> DURING MY TENURE, WE MADE GREAT STRIDES TO IMPROVE UPON HISTORICAL NEGLECT IN M.P.S.

INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES EDUCATIONALLY FOR OUR STUDENTS.

AFTER HEAVY PRAYER AND THOUGHT, MY DECISION TO TENDER MY RESIGNATION TO THE BOARD WAS NOT SOMETHING I TOOK LIGHTLY.

MOREOVER THERE WERE OBSTACLES IN PLACE THAT HINDERED ME FROM EFFECTIVELY TAKING CARE OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES.

FALSE STATEMENTS WERE STATED BY ME AS SUPERINTENDENT AND MY FAMILY.

AS A PUBLIC SERVANT AND LEADERSHIP I UNDERSTAND THERE WILL BE CRITIQUES AND CHALLENGES ABOUT THE DECISION I MAKE, AND I ACCEPT THAT.

HOWEVER, I WOULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED THAT DEFAMATORY ASSERTIONS AND FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT MY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE WOULD OVERSHADOW THE WORK WE WERE TRYING TO DO IN THE DISTRICT.

THESE ATTACKS HAVE INSINUATED I HAVE SOUGHT "PERSONAL AND FAMILY FAVORS."

THE CONSTANT INTERFERENCE ON THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE DISTRICT ADVERSELY IMPACTED MY ABILITY TO EXECUTE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AND PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN MY DECISION TO RESIGN.

>> THIS SHAKEUP IN THE CAPITAL CITY FOR ONE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS THE ENTIRE EDUCATION COMMUNITY CONCERNED.

THE ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION THIS WEEK SPECIFICALLY CALLED ON MONTGOMERY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER LESA KIETH TO RETRACT AND DISAVOW ATTACKS SHE MADE TOWARD BROWN CALLING HER ACTIONS "INCONGRUOUS AND OFFENSIVE."

AND THIS WEEK THE MONTGOMERY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HELD AN EMERGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE URGING BROWN TO RECONSIDER HIS DECISION AND CALLING FOR THE STATE TO AGAIN TAKEOVER THE MONTGOMERY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> THESE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, LAST WEEK, TOLD ELECTED AND BUSINESS LEADERS THAT WE HAVE NO BUSINESS IN THEIR BUSINESS.

TODAY, WE SAY TO THE MONTGOMERY BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATION IS INDEED EVERYONE'S BUSINESS, AND WE STAND READY TO ASSIST IN FINDING SOLUTIONS TO THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP CRISIS.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS UNITED MONTGOMERY LEADERSHIP DELEGATION CALLS UPON STATE OF ALABAMA SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION DR. ERIC MACKEY AND THE STATE OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND BOARD TO PLACE M.P.S.

UNDER STATE CONTROL AND INTERVENTION UNTIL SUCH TIME THE LOCAL BOARD DEMONSTRATES THAT A MINORITY OF LEADERSHIP WILL MAKE THE NEEDED CHANGES TO MOVE MONTGOMERY FORWARD IN A TRUE SPIRIT OF PARTNERSHIP.

>> DR. MELVIN BROWN'S DONE A GREAT JOB.

HE HAS MOVED US FORWARD.

HE'S BEGUN TO IMPLEMENT SOME CHANGES, SOME PERSONNEL CHANGES, SOME CURRICULUM CHANGES, SOME SCHEDULING CHANGES THAT ARE REALLY PROPELLING MONTGOMERY FORWARD.

FINANCIALLY, MONTGOMERY WAS ESSENTIALLY BANKRUPT WHEN THE STATE INTERVENTION STARTED.

JUST A FEW YEARS LATER, WE HAD TURNED THAT AROUND.

BUT AGAIN -- AND THIS COMMUNITY HAD INVESTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 40 YEARS IN A NEW PROPERTY TAX.

BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME MAINTAINING THE ACADEMIC MOMEMTUM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME MAINTAINING ALSO THE MOMEMTUM BEHIND THE NEW TAX AND BEHIND THE INVESTMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY WITHOUT STABLE LEADERSHIP.

WE'RE FOLLOWING THIS VERY CLOSELY.

WE APPRECIATE THE RESOLUTION TODAY.

I REALLY CAN'T REACT TO THE RESOLUTION TOO MUCH WITHOUT TAKING THAT BACK TO OUR LEGAL TEAM SO THEY CAN LOOK AT WHAT METHODS ARE AVAILABLE TO US, BUT I PROM US WE WILL BE DEEPLY INVOLVED TO TRY TO TURN THIS AROUND, TO MAKE SURE THAT MONTGOMERY RETURNS TO STABLE LEADERSHIP AND DOES NOT LOSE THE MOMEMTUM THAT HAS BEEN BUILT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

>> SOME MORE POSITIVE NEWS ON THE EDUCATION FRONT, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY THIS WEEK VISITED A NEW PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IN PRATTVILLE THAT FOCUSES ON CLASSICAL EDUCATION.

IT'S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN ALABAMA, OFFERING FAMILIES A SCHOOLING OPTION USUALLY ONLY FOUND AT PRIVATE SCHOOL.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S JEFF SANDERS HAS THAT STORY.

>> GOVERNOR KAY IVEY RETURNED TO HER ROOTS AS A SCHOOL TEACHER READING A DR. SEUSS BOOK TO A CLASSROOM FULL OF STUDENTS IN ELMORE COUNTY AT CLASSICAL ACADEMY.

>> YOU HAVE BRAINS IN YOUR HEAD, FEET IN YOUR SHOES, YOU CAN STEER YOURSELF ANY DIRECTION YOU CHOOSE.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO THE NEWLY OPENED CHARTER SCHOOL WAS PART OF HER BACK-TO-SCHOOL TOUR AROUND ALABAMA.

>> HERE YOU'RE LEARNING ABOUT THINGS LIKE RESPECT, HONESTY AND KINDNESS.

THESE ARE VALUES THAT WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR ENTIRE LIFE, NO MATTER WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO.

>> IVY CLASSICAL ACADEMY IS ALABAMA'S FIRST CHARTER SCHOOL WITH A FOCUS ON CLASSICAL EDUCATION.

>> WE WANT TO TRAIN THE MINDS, SO WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE SMARTER, WE WANT THEM TO KNOW A LOT OF THINGS AND WANT THEM TO IMPROVE THEIR HEARTS WHICH MEANS WE WANT THEM TO BE VIRTUOUS, THOUGHTFUL PEOPLE, SO WE FOCUS ON KINDNESS AND POLITENESS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CITIZEN.

>> DAVID WHITMAN IS HEAD OF SCHOOL OVER THE K-5 STUDENTS IN IVY'S INAUGURAL YEAR.

>> BEFORE, IF YOU WANTED A CLASSICAL EDUCATION FOR YOUR CHILDREN IN ALABAMA YOU HAD TO SEND THEM TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR HOME SCHOOL THEM.

SO US HAVING A RATHER LARGE FIRST CHARTER SCHOOL IN ATTENDING FROM OUR STATE LEADERSHIP IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THE EDUCATION TO CHILDREN THROUGHOUT ALABAMA.

>> BRADLEY BEGAN THE LONG JOURNEY TO CREATE THE SCHOOL YEARS AGO.

HE BELIEVES CHARTER SCHOOLS LIKE IVY CAN BE A MODEL FOR THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION.

WE CHOSE TO START THIS SCHOOL.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO TAKE FIVE YEARS AND BE THE GRAVEL ROAD AND SO LONG AND GRUELING BUT WE STARTED THIS FOR OUR TWO BOYS.

BUT I WANT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO KNOW WE FINISHED IT FOR EVERY STUDENT IN THIS ROOM.

>> IVY CLASSICAL PLANS TO ADD A NEW GRADE LEVEL EACH YEAR.

WHILE STUDENTS FROM ELMORE COUNTY GET TOP PRIORITY, APPLICATIONS ARE UPO TO STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

REPORTING FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M JEFF SANDERS.

>> ON THE LATEST EPISODE OF SPOTLIGHT ON EDUCATION THAT AIRED THIS WEEK, I SPOKE WITH EMILY SCHULTZ OF ALABAMA FAMILIES FOR GREAT SCHOOLS ABOUT THE STATE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN ALABAMA.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT THAT CONVERSATION ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

JUST GO TO YOUTUBE AND SEARCH CAPITOL JOURNAL.

AND HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON WHILE YOU'RE THERE.

ALABAMA DODGED THE BRUNT OF HURRICANE HELENE THIS WEEK, BUT THE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF RAIN AND TRAFFIC FROM EVACUEES MADE FOR CHALLENGE FOR ALABAMA STATE TROOPERS.

KNOWING HURRICANE SEASONS ISN'T OVER, IT WAS A TEST RUN FOR WHAT COULD COME WITH THE NEXT STORM.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT REPORTS.

>> CITIZENS LOVE TO TRAVEL, AND HITTING THE OPEN ROAD IS A POPULAR METHOD FOR MANY.

RECENTLY, WE MARKED THE END OF SUMMER WITH LABOR DAY.

FOR SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THAT MEANT A BUSY STRETCH OF WORK WHILE MANY PEOPLE TRAVELED.

>> LABOR DAY AGAIN, ANYTIME WE LOSE A LIFE, IS TRAGIC, BUT WE HAD SIX FATAL CRASHES, OR SIX CRASHES THAT RESULTED IN LIVES LOST DURING LABOR DAY AND WE HAD ONE DROWNING.

SO, OVERALL, WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A DECREASE IN FATAL CRASHES.

>> LIEUTENANT JEREMY BURKETT SAID THE PATROL DIVISION PUT IN A LOT OF WORK TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

>> WE KIND OF ANALYZE THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS, LOOK AND SEE WHERE WE SAW ISSUES, WHERE WE HAD CRASHES AND WE DEVELOP ENFORCEMENT PLANS IN A PROACTIVE WAY TO KIND OF REDUCE THAT.

SO WE'VE SEEN THAT BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> THE WORK DOESN'T END WITH THIS SEASON.

IT EXTENDS INTO HURRICANE SEASON.

>> A STORM'S PATH CAN CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

IT'S HARD TO PREDICT.

BUT FOR US, WE CANNOT NOT BE PREPARED.

>> MANY PEOPLE KNOW AALIYAH AND STATE TROOPER DIVISION FOR MONITORING TRAFFIC IN ALL 67 ALABAMA COUNTIES AS PART OF THEIR DUTIES FOR PROMOTING PUBLIC SAFETY.

BUT DID YOU KNOW THEY ALSO MONITOR THE WEATHER, TOO?

WITH IT BEING HURRICANE SEASON, THEY'RE VERY BUSY.

>> WE WORK WITH THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

IT MAY BE SOMETHING LIKE CONTRAFLOW WHERE, HEY, SOMETHING HITS IN MOBILE OR BALDWIN COUNTY AND WE'VE GOT TO ONE WAY THE INTERSTATE OR CHANGE ROADWAY PATTERNS.

>> THEIR OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY BY KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.

>> WHETHER IT BE LOCALLY OR STATE, WE HAVE PLANS IN PLACE, NATIONAL GUARD, THEY'RE ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT WE REALLY WORK IN CONCERT WITH AS RELATES TO STORM AND DISASTER RELIEF.

>> IN MONTGOMERY, RANDY SCOTT, "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> TURNING BRIEFLY TO WASHINGTON.

YOU MAY REMEMBER WE PREVIEWED THE END OF FISCAL YEAR SPENDING DEADLINE WITH STEPHEN BOYD LAST WEEK.

THIS WEEK, CONGRESS AVOIDED A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BY PASSING STOP GAP CONTINUING RESOLUTION.

THE MEASURE KEEPS THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED UNTIL DECEMBER 20, WHEN CONGRESS WILL DO ALL THIS OVER AGAIN.

IT ALSO ADDS AN ADDITIONAL $231MILLION FOR THE SECRET SERVICE IN THE WAKE OF THE RECENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS.

THE ALABAMA DELEGATION WAS SPLIT ON THE BILL.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT ADERHOLT, MIKE ROGERS, JERRY CARL, TERRI SEWELL AND DALE STRONG ALL VOTED YES, WHILE REPRESENTATIVE GARY PALMER AND BARRY MOORE, AND SENATORS TOMMY TUBERVILLE AND KATIE BRITT VOTED NO.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, I'LL TALK WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIP ENSLER ABOUT THAT GLOCK SWITCH BILL.

AFTER THAT, SENATORS APRIL WEAVER, LANCE BELL, CHRIS ELLIOTT AND WES KITCHENS ARE IN STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT THEIR TRIP TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND WHAT THEY LEARNED.

AND LATER IN THE SHOW, DOTHAN MAYOR MARK SALIBA AND FAIRHOPE MAYOR SHERRY SULLIVAN ARE HERE TO DISCUSS THE NEW LIVE LOCAL ALABAMA CAMPAIGN FROM THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES.

STAY WITH US.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIP ENSLER FROM HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> OF COURSE, ALWAYS GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> IT'S UNDER LESS THAN IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED IN BIRMINGHAM THIS PAST WEEKEND.

TRAGIC ALL THE WAY AROUND, BUT IT ALSO REMINDS US OF YOUR BILL THAT WOULD BAN THE GLOCK SWITCHES, I GUESS THE SALE AND USE OF GLOCK SWITCHES, THESE DEVICES THAT CAN BE ATTACHED TO A WEAPON TO BASICALLY TURN IT INTO A MACHINE GUN.

DO I HAVE THAT CORRECT?

>> YEAH, AND TO JUST BEGIN, IT IS HORRIBLE WHAT HAPPENED.

MY HEART AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES AND VICTIM, EVERYONE IMPACTED, AND IT'S IMPORTANT WE REMEMBER THIS IS NOT JUST SOME DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN ISSUE, IT REALLY IS A HUMAN ISSUE.

ALL THAT TO SAY THE BILL THAT I'VE NOW FILED FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, WHAT IT DOES IS BAN THE CONVERSION OF PISTOLS INTO MACHINE GUNS.

SO WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT, IF THERE IS A PISTOL THAT HAS WHAT'S CALLED A TRIGGER ACTIVATOR OR A GLOCK SWITCH, THERE ARE A FEW TERMS USED, THAT TURN IT INTO A MACHINE GUN, THAT THAT WOULD BE ILLEGAL ON THE STATE LEVEL HERE IN ALABAMA.

>> IT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, RIGHT?

>> IT IS ALREADY ILLEGAL.

IT IS IMPORTANT WE GIVE YOUR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IN ALABAMA A TOOL THEY CAN USE.

RIGHT NOW IF POLICE, SHERIFFS, LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ALABAMA, IF THEY FIND ONE OF THESE DEVICES, THE BEST THEY CAN DO IS TURN IT OVER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR U.S.

ATTORNEYS TO PROSECUTE.

THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEYS EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE HAVE A TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX THEY CAN USE.

>> IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE A TON OF FEDERAL AGENTS RUNNING AROUND THE STREETS ENFORCING GUN LAWS, THERE'S A REASON YOU HAVE FEDERAL, LOCAL AND STATE LAW AND EVERYTHING.

I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ESPECIALLY IN LARGER CITIES, THEY'RE FINDING MORE AND MORE OF THESE DEVICES.

AT ONE POINT IN TIME, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS SUFFICIENT TO HAVE THEM TURN IT OVER AND HANDLE IT BUT THE CASE LOAD HAS GROWN SO MUCH THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND WHO'S ABLE TO PROSECUTE THEM.

>> BASED ON ALL THE REPORTS, WE'LL WAIT FOR THE FORENSICS, BUT THE INITIAL REPORTS OUT OF BIRMINGHAM WERE THAT THERE ARE INDICATIONS OF A GLOCK SWITCH OR TRIGGER ACTIVATOR WAS USED BASED ON THE SHEER NUMBER OF SHELL CASINGS THEY FOUND.

FOUR PEOPLE KILLED, 17 INJURED.

THAT'S A LOT OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE ON A SHOOTING.

THAT'S THE DANGER OF THESE THINGS, RIGHT?

BECAUSE INSTEAD OF GETTING OFF ONE SHOT, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THE TIMING WORKS, YOU'RE SPRAYING BULLETS JUST LIKE A MACHINE GUN?

>> RIGHT, AND WITHIN A HANDFUL OF SECONDS, DOZENS AND DOZENS OF BULLETS CAN BE SPRAYED AND THIS IS WHY THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, THE SHERIFFS, ALL THE STATEWIDE ENTITIES THAT REPRESENT LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT REPRESENT PROSECUTORS, THEY WANT THIS BILL BECAUSE IT IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

AGAIN, THIS IS NOT ABOUT CONTROLLING GUNS, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE SECOND AMENDMENT IN ANY WAY.

OF COURSE, THERE'S THAT SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS, BUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE WANT TO EMPOWER LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR STATE, WE WANT TO SUPPORT THEM EVEN MORE AS THEY TRY TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER.

I PREFILED THIS BILL BEFORE THE BIRMINGHAM SHOOTING, I FILED IT BEFORE THE DADEVILLE SHOOTING, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS I'VE HEARD FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT RIGHT HERE IN MONTGOMERY THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT THEY WANT THIS.

SO THIS IS NOT JUST SOME KNEE JERK REACTION, IT'S NOT JUST TRYING TO SAY WE'RE DOING SOMETHING.

THIS IS TRULY AN EFFORT TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE LAST THING I'LL SAY ON THAT NOTE, THIS IS JUST ONE PIECE OF A LARGER PUZZLE.

I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP EVERY SHOOTING OR BAD ACT, BUT IT CAN DETER SOME USE AND HOLD ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THERE ARE SOME OF THESE HORRIBLE SITUATIONS.

>> WELL, AND PERHAPS TURNING A RELATIVELY ISOLATED SHOOTING INTO A MASS EVENT WHEN YOU'RE SPRAYING BULLETS.

LET ME ASK YOU, THOUGH, YOU BROUGHT UP THE SECOND AMENDMENT BECAUSE THERE ARE PLENTY OF THOSE CONSERVATIVES, MOSTLY, WHO DON'T LIKE GLOCK SWITCHES OR THEY DON'T WANT THESE, YOU KNOW, ALTERED WEAPONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THEY WILL RESIST ANY KIND OF RESTRICTION ON GUNS INCLUDING SOMETHING LIKE THIS BECAUSE OF A FEELING THAT, LOOK, ANY KIND OF RESTRICTION ON FIREARMS IS AN EROSION OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

I MEAN, SOME REAL HEART FELT VIEWS LIKE THAT.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THOSE, INCLUDING MANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO MIGHT FEEL THAT WAY?

>> GREAT POINT.

WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO UPHOLD EVERY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.

THIS, THOUGH, DOES NOT AT ALL ERODE THAT RIGHT.

PEOPLE STILL HAVE A RIGHT TO A PISTOL, THEY STILL HAVE A RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.

WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WHEN IT BECOMES A MACHINE GUN, WHEN IT BECOMES SOMETHING THAT IS SO LETHAL AND DANGEROUS THAT AT THAT POINTIO NO LONGER HAVE A RIGHT TO BEAR THAT, AND WE IMPOSE REASONABLE RULES ALL THE TIME ON EVERY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, WHETHER FREE SPEECH, WHETHER VOTING RIGHTS.

WE SAY, AS A SOCIETY, THERE ARE CERTAIN PARAMETERS AND THINGS WE NEED TO DO.

SO I HAVE NO INTEREST IN ANY WAY IN INFRINGING ON THE RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO PROTECT THAT RIGHT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND I'LL JUST ADD ON THAT THIS BILL IS VERY NARROWLY FOCUSED, IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH ANY OTHER SORT OF GUNS OR WEAPONS OR DEVICES.

YOU KNOW, ANYTHING ELSE IS A SEPARATE BILL THAT OTHERS HAVE.

THIS IS PURELY FOCUSED ON GLOCK SWITCHES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE EMPOWER OUR PROSECUTORS.

FOR ANYONE WHO MAY SAY, WELL, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT BECAUSE IF THE BAD GUYS HAVE IT, THEY WANT A GLOCK SWITCH AS WELL.

ANYONE WHO'S SEEN OR USED A GLOCK SWITCH KNOWS YOU CAN'T REALLY PROTECT YOURSELF WITH IT BECAUSE ONCE YOU PULL THE TRIGGEN ON IT THE BULLETS SPRAY EVERYWHERE, AS MENTIONED.

SO YOU CAN END UP HARMING PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

IF YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT YOURSELF, YOU CAN END UP HARMING FRIENDS, FAMILY, PEOPLE IN THE VICINITY.

SO IT'S NOT INFRINGING ON PEOPLE'S RIGHTS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND FAMILIES.

>> THEY'RE HARD TO AIM.

AN A.T.F.

AGENT COULDN'T CONTROL IT, AND HE'S A PROFESSIONAL.

THING I HEARD FROM SCENTICS, YOU CAN BAN THESE THINGS ALL DAY LONG AND IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP CRIME.

SO HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO CRITICS THAT SAY IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE BIRMINGHAM OR DADE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT THE BILL?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT'S GOING TO STOP EVERY HORRIBLE SITUATION, BUT WE PASS LAWS ALL THE TIME HERE AT THE LEGISLATURE TO HAVE STATE-LEVEL OFFENSES TO MAKE SOMETHING A CRIME, KNOWING THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL BE DETERRED, SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY, HEY, NOW THAT IT IS A CRIME IN ALABAMA, I'M NOT GOING TO COMMIT IT.

BUT THEN TO THE EXTENT PEOPLE DO BREAK THE LAW, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

THERE HAVE TO CONSEQUENCES.

SO UNDER THAT REASONING OR LOGIC, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY CRIMINAL LAWS OR ANYTHING THAT MAKES SOMETHING A CRIME.

WE HAVE SPEED LIMITS, PEOPLE WILL STILL SPEED.

WE HAVE STOP SIGNS, PEOPLE WILL STILL GO THROUGH THE SIGN, BUT IT'S GOING TO DETER SOME OF THE BAD BEHAVIOR.

BUT IF PEOPLE VIOLATE THE LAW, THERE'S A CONSEQUENCE.

BUT, LOOK, I CERTAINLY BELIEVE IT STARTS AT HOME WITH INDIVIDUALS.

THERE'S A ROLE TO PLAY IN HAVING A STRONG MORAL FOUNDATION.

IT INVOLVES THE COMMUNITY AND MENTORSHIP AND HAVING PROGRAMS THAT TRY TO STEER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE AWAY FROM VIOLENCE, BUT THEN HERE AT THE LEGISLATURE, WE WERE ELECTED TO TAKE ACTIONS TO BE HERE TO ENACT LAWS.

ALSO TO THE EXTENT THERE'S SOMETHING REASONABLE, WE'RE DOING OUR SMALL PART IN A BIG PICTURE.

>> YOU SAID YOU FILED THIS BILL THIRD TIME IN A ROW.

PASSED THE HOUSE LAST YEAR, RAN INTO TROUBLE IN THE SENATE.

WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS THIS YEAR?

TALKING WITH COLLEAGUES, DO YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE MORE MOMEMTUM BEHIND IT THIS YEAR?

>> YES, THIS YEAR, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL AND GLAD TO HAVE CO-SPONSORS, TREADAWAY, BEDSLE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THREE OF THE FOUR ARE REPUBLICANS.

SO IT HAS STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO BEGIN WITH, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

ON THE SENATE SIDE, I'M HOPEFUL WE GET IT THROUGH.

I THINK WITH ALL THE BACKING OF THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO BACK THE BLUE, WHO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHO CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY TO TAKE A VOTE THAT'S IN FAVOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

IN NO WAY DO WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE A VOTE THAT'S AGAINST WHAT THEY BELIEVE.

THIS IS SIMPLY SAYING THEY CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO I'M HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC THIS YEAR WE'LL GET IT THROUGH.

>> WE'LL BE WATCHING.

ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO NEXT SESSION.

CRIME, CRIMINAL JUSTICE BEING A BIG FOCUS, AND I EXPECT THIS TO BE RIGHT IN THERE.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TOLL "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT ARE MEMBERS OF THE ALABAMA SENATE, SENATORS APRIL WEAVER, LANCE BELL, CHRIS ELLIOTT AND WES KITCHENS.

WE ALMOST HAVE A QUORUM HERE.

[LAUGHTER] I DON'T THINK I'VE INTERVIEWED SO MANY LAW, AT ONE TIME.

THE REASON FOR IT, Y'ALL HAVE JUST RETURNED, I GUESS ABOUT A WEEK AGO, FROM THE U.S. BORDER WITH MEXICO.

OBVIOUSLY, TONS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE BORDER.

I KNOW YOU WITNESSED A LOT.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL STORIES WRITTEN ABOUT IT.

LET ME ASK YOU, SENATOR BELL, I KNOW YOU HAD BEEN BEFORE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, SO THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TRIP.

WHAT LED TO THIS TRIP TO YOU BRING YOUR COLLEAGUES ALONG.

>> THE FEDERATION OF AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM.

THEY PUT IT TOGETHER EVERY YEAR.

THERE'S THINGS YOU FIND OUT ON THE FIRST TRIP, STAY IN CONTACT WITH E-MAILS.

BUT THIS BUILT ON THE LAST TRIP, AND THIS WAS FOR LEGISLATORS AND SHERIFFS.

SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR AS MANY OF OUR PEOPLE FROM ALABAMA THAT CAN BE INVOLVED TO GO AND LEARN REALLY MORE THAN WHAT WE LEARNED THE LAST TIME, AND I THINK IT MADE A DIFFERENCE AND OPENED MORE EYES TO WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE BORDER.

>> WAS IT YOUR FIRST TRIP?

>> IT WAS MY FIRST TRIP.

>> WHAT DID YOU SEE?

>> IT CERTAINLY OPENED MY EYES, THE THINGS THAT I SAW WERE -- I GUESS I WOULD DESCRIBE THEM AS NOT ONLY EYE OPENING BUT SHOCKING.

IT WAS A VERY, VERY EDUCATIONAL TRIP TO GO AND TO ACTUALLY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE ON THE BORDER AND AT PLACES THAT ARE NOT A POINT OF ENTRY BUT WHERE ILLEGALS ARE CROSSING.

THAT WAS VERY EYE OPENING AS WELL, AND TO HEAR IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF DEALING WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, IT WAS JUST VERY EDUCATIONAL.

>> MM-HMM.

WOULD YOU AGREE?

>> I WOULD, AND I'LL ECHO SOMETHING SENATOR WEAVER SAID WHICH IS BEING THERE WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS AT THE SAME TIME TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ISSUES THEY ARE SEEING AND FACING AND THEN TO TALK TO OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT MEASURES THAT THEY'VE TAKEN AT THE STATE LEVEL TO TRY TO STEM ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN THEIR PARTICULAR STATE.

SO MUCH MORE THAN A PHOTO OP.

THIS WAS AN EDUCATIONAL TRIP TO TRY TO LEARN FROM OUR COLLEAGUES AROUND THE COUNTRY WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THAT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN YOUR STATE, AND THAT'S REALLY THE TAKEAWAYS.

IN ADDITION FIGURING OUT THE THE DIFFERENCES IN THE FEDERAL AGENCIES, THE ALPHABET SOUP OF BORDER PATROL AND IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AND CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATIONS SERVICES, THERE ARE ALL THESE DIFFERENT STEPS AND AGENCIES THAT HANDLE THESE FOLKS AND KNOWING HOW THEY WORK WILL HELP US ATTACK THE ISSUE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> SENATOR, DID SOME OF THAT RESONATE AS YOU SAW THE SITUATION AT THE BORDER, SENATOR ELLIOTT?

>> IT DID.

OUR ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION MADE THE TRIP.

WE'VE SEEN AN INFLUX OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS BUT MORE RECENTLY IT'S REALLY BEEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT.

SO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH COLLEAGUES, LEGISLATORS FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

I BELIEVE THERE WERE 20 STATES REPRESENTED THERE AND SHERIFFS FROM ALL OF THOSE STATES.

SO REALLY BE ABLE TO SHARE IDEAS, WHAT'S WORKED IN OUR AREA AND WHAT CAN WE BRING BACK TO ALABAMA AND CONTINUE TO BUILD ON.

>> I KNOW LAST YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE FENTANYL TRAFFICKING BILL.

THIS HAS BEEN A BIG FOCUS OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND THAT'S A BIG IMMIGRATION PROBLEM, RIGHT, THE DRUG TRAFFICKING THAT COMES ACROSS THE BORDER.

I KNOW THAT'S PASSED AND IT'S ONE OF THE STRICTEST IN THE COUNTRY.

I THINK EVERYBODY ELSE IS PLEASED WITH THAT.

SO WHAT ELSE DO YOU THINK MIGHT NEED TO BUILD ON TOP OF THAT IN TERMS OF STEMMING IMMIGRATION AND REALLY THE PROBLEMS THAT COME ALONG WITH IT?

I'LL ASK YOU FIRST.

>> SO WE HAVE LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

AND, AGAIN, HAVING THE DIALOGUE WITH OTHER STATES AND LEGISLATORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM ACROSS THE NATION, IT HELPED US TO THINK ABOUT AREAS WE CAN ADDRESS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS AND WORKING WITH THE HOUSE MEMBERS TO TRY TO THINK WHERE IS IT THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS.

YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE NOT LEGALLY, THEY'RE WORKING FOR CASH, YOU KNOW.

HOW DO WE ADDRESS MAYBE THE WIRE TRANSFERS OR THINGS THAT SPECIFICALLY THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF SALES TAX FROM THINGS THEY BUY, BUT THEY'RE IN OUR SCHOOLS, RIDING ON OUR ROADS, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IS DEALING WITH THEM, WHERE ARE THOSE ISSUES THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THERE AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY LOOKING AT HELPING OUR SCHOOLS AND HOW DO WE NAVIGATE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM ARE WORKING ON SOME OTHER THINGS THAT THEY MAY WANT TO TOUCH ON AS WELL.

>> YEAH, PLEASE.

SENATOR BELL, I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE FOR A WHILE, YOU HAD THAT DRIVER'S LICENSE BILL AT ONE TIME.

WHAT ARE OTTER PROPOSALS YOU THINK MIGHT BE LEGITIMATE AND IMPACT THE ISSUE FOR ALABAMA RATHER THAN TEXAS?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT COMES IN CONTACT WITH THEM AND THEY PUT THEM IN THE JAIL, WE KNOW IMMIGRATION NEVER COMES AND PICKS THEM UP EVEN IF THEY ARE HERE ILLEGAL.

SO GETTING A DNA SWAB FROM THEM, PUTTING IT IN OUR DNA DATABASE AND SHARING THAT ACROSS THE STATES.

WHEN THEY COME BACK WITH A DIFFERENT NAME AND COMMIT A CRIME, WE CAN RELATE THAT.

TEXAS, BUT ALSO A COUNT HERE IN ALABAMA ON A MURDER CASE, A GUY WAS WANTED FOR MURDER IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY WERE ABLE TO TRACE HIM THROUGH DNA.

THE DNA TIED HIM TO BEING THE SAME PERSON, BUT HE HAD DIFFERENT NAMES, ET CETERA.

>> DO YOU THINK LEGISLATION COULD ADDRESS THAT?

>> YES.

>> YOU MENTIONED CRIME.

OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T WANT ANY CRIMES TO OCCUR.

WE WANT TO LOCK UP EVERYBODY WHO IS VIOLENT AND COMMITTING CRIMES, WHETHER AN IMMIGRANT OR NOT.

BUT IT STRIKES ME A LOT OF THE FOLKS ARE COMING FROM CENTRAL AMERICA TO THE UNITED STATES, ALABAMA, OTHER STATES EVERYWHERE REALLY.

A LOT OF THEM WANT TO WORK AND TRYING TO COME TO A BETTER LIFE UM R. I'M CURIOUS IF REFORM -- IF YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE, I KNOW IT'S NOT A STATE ISSUE, IT'S MORE FEDERAL.

AFTER SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BORDER, IF THERE CAN BE, YOU KNOW, A BREAKING POINT FORCING CONGRESS TO ACTUALLY FIX THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION PROBLEM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE JOBS TO BE FILLED HERE, THERE SHOULD BE A SYSTEM OF LEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND WOULD THAT MAYBE STEM SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE'RE SEEING AT THE BORDER IF THERE WAS A MORE COHESIVE, STREAMLINED, COMMON-SENSE PROCESS TO ACTUALLY IMMIGRANT LEGALLY TO THE UNITED STATES?

>> WELL, CLEARLY, I MEAN, THIS IS THE PURVIEW OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY AND LARGE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GOT TO FIX THIS.

BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I MEAN CONGRESS HAS GOT TO FIX THIS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT WE HAVE IN ABSENCE OF THAT IS WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS ISSUED WIDE-RANGING EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT HAVE LET AND EXPANDED THIS PAROLE PROGRAM THAT'S CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS, AND WE SEE POLICIES ALONG THE BORDER, WHETHER IT'S THE WALL ORB FUNDING OF BORDER PATROL OR HOW WE'RE HANDLING THOSE THAT ARE BEING INTERDICTED, THAT HAS REALLY EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM.

SO WE SEE AS WE REPORTED OUT THESE IMPACTS, THEY HIT US AT HOME, RIGHT, THEY HIT OUR SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, OUR ROADWAYS.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, WHILE CONGRESS HAS ABSOLUTELY GOT TO ACT ON THIS, AND I HOPE THAT THEY DO, AND IN A TOUGH NATURE -- WE'RE NOT AN ANTI-IMMIGRATION, FAR FROM IT.

WE'RE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

THESE FOLKS NEED TO COME THROUGH THE RIGHT WAY, THERE ARE PROGRAMS AND METHODS TO DO THAT.

AN EXECUTIVE ORDER IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

SO OUR HOPE IS TO DISSUADE FOLKS, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, FROM COMING TO ALABAMA UNTIL WE CAN GET A FEDERAL FIX.

>> MM-HMM.

WELL, I DO REMEMBER 2011, AFTER THE REPUBLICAN TAKEOVER OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS THAT HAPPENED WAS THE IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN.

IT WAS PART OF THE HANDSHAKE.

I WAS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN ALL OF THAT, AND IT WAS CELEBRATED AS THE TOUGHEST IMMIGRATION LAW IN THE COUNTRY.

SO MUCH OF THAT GOT PEELED BY THE COURTS, BY THE LEGISLATURE ITSELF.

SO HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT CRAFTING SOME COMMON-SENSE POLICIES THAT DO HELP ALLEVIATE PROBLEMS, DO HELP CRACK DOWN ON CRIMINALS, THINGS LIKE THAT, WITHOUT REPEATING WHAT HAPPENED IN 2011 TO HELP IT BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> I WAS IN THE HOUSE IN 2010.

WHAT WE WANT TO REALLY DO IS FOCUS ON THINGS AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO PROTECT ALABAMA CITIZENS.

WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR ALABAMA VALUES.

AND SEEING THE THINGS FIRSTHAND THAT SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, ARE DEALING WITH THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING ISSUES, THE FENTANYL ISSUES, ALL THE DRUG ISSUES COMING ACROSS THE BORDER, I THINK SOMEBODY SAID, YOU KNOW, EVERY STATE IS A BORDER STATE NOW, AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT JUST BASED ON THE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN.

AND, SO, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REALLY FOCUSING ON SOME COMMON-SENSE SOLUTIONS THAT WE REALLY THINK WILL ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS.

>> I DID FIND IT INTERESTING, I MEAN, I THINK THE VICE PRESIDENT WHO IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IS AT THE BORDER TODAY.

AN THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CONSIDERING THE CAMPAIGN.

ALWAYS INTERESTING THAT AROUND CAMPAIGN TIME EVERYBODY WANTS TO FOCUS ON THE BORDER BUT, NOT IN CAMPAIGN TIME, FOR SOME REASON WE FIND IT TOUGH TO ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS, SENATOR -- YOU KNOW, YOU JUST MENTIONED IMMIGRANT INFLUXES TEND TO HAVE PUBLIC -- THEY CAUSE A STRAIN ON PUBLIC RESOURCES, SCHOOLS, ROADS, PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT IS A REAL, LEGITIMATE PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS COMMUNITIES.

YET, SOMETIMES ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, LIKE WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, THE RHETORIC GETS A LITTLE OVERHEATED, TALKING ABOUT EATING DOGS AND CATS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

HOW DO WE ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS AND GET TO TALK ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS WITHOUT IT DEVOLVING INTO REALLY OVER THE TOP, OVERHEATED RHETORIC?

>> YOU JUST LOOK AT THINGS WE'VE SEEN IN ALBERTVILLE, AND WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE 30 YEARS OR MORE, BUT AS STRAIN ON OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE AN EL POPULATION AROUND 60% IN SOME OF THOSE SCHOOLS.

IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO LEARN AND GO IN AND GET A QUALITY EDUCATION THAT WE EXPECT EVERY STUDENT IN ALABAMA TO GET.

WHEN YOU START BRINGING IN DIFFERENT DIALECTS AND LANGUAGES ON TOP OF THAT'S CORRECT TRYING TO FIND RESOURCES TO FUND ADDITIONAL EL TEACHERS, NOT JUST SPANISH BUT THE DIFFERENT DIALECTS AND LANGUAGES.

YOU LIVE IN A MORE RURAL AREA AND YOU HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS, YOU KNOW, A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WHEN YOU HAVE AN INFLUX OF ANY PEOPLE, IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO PUT A STRAIN ON THEM.

WHEN WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THOSE TYPES THINGS, I THINK YOU SEE PRIME EXAMPLES IN ALBERTVILLE, ATHENS, SYLACAUGA, YOU'RE STARTING TO NAME IT AROUND THE STATE THAT WE'VE SEEN A LARGE INFLUX OVER A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

>> BALDWIN COUNTY, HAS THERE BEEN AN INFLUX THERE, TOO?

>> SPECIFICALLY CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTY, WE'VE SEEN A HUGE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS BUT -- ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, IN TALKING WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES.

BUT WE'RE SEEING SCHOOLS THAT, IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, HAVE SEEN THEIR ENGLISH SECOND LANGUAGE OR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, WHATEVER WE'RE CALLING IT NOW, POPULATIONS QUADRUPLE OR MORE, AND IT PUTS A TREMENDOUS STRAIN ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

YOU GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM DEPARTMENT AND SEE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT AREN'T ENGLISH SPEAKERS, AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT STATUS, HOW THEY GOT HERE, WHO'S PAYING FOR THIS, AND THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON.

I WANT TO GO BACK, IF I CAN, TO THE 2011 EFFORT.

I THINK IT'S WORTH SAYING THAT OUR COURTS HAVE CHANGED, AND YOU CAN CERTAINLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SCALED BACK THAT WERE OVERRULED BY THE FEDERAL COURTS, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WORTH LOOKING AT AGAIN.

NO ONE CAN DENY WE HAD A DIFFERENT SUPREME COURT THEN AND OUR FEDERAL JUDICIARY HAS CHANGED SINCE SOME OF THOSE RULINGS.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THE COURT RULINGS WERE SPECIFICALLY, BUT ALSO REALIZE OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM HAS CHANGED IN ITS MAKE UP.

>> SO YOU THINK REVISITING THAT MIGHT BE ON THE TABLE.

CERTAINLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT MORE.

I KNOW YOU'VE NOT PUT PEN TO PAPER YET ON ACTUAL LEGISLATION, BUT HOW SOON DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE -- BECAUSE THE SESSION IS ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AWAY SO YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME, BUT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY ABOUT WHAT MIGHT COME ABOUT WITH THESE PROPOSALS.

>> I THINK YOU'RE SEEING COOPERATION BETWEEN HOUSE AND SENATE AND LSA.

WE'VE HAD DIALOGUE WITH THE HOUSE MEMBERS.

LET'S ALL DO IT TOGETHER AND DO IT AS ONE AND TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN WHAT WE DO.

>> INTERESTING.

THIS IS SOMETHING TO REALLY FOLLOW UP.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON.

WE'LL SHOW PICTURES FROM YOUR BORDER TRIP.

FOLLOW UP WITH US AS YOU DEVELOP TO PROPOSALS BECAUSE IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING SESSION WITH THINGS FOCUSED ON CRIME AND THINGS RELATED TO THAT.

PLEASE KEEP US INFORMED.

THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

RECENTLY, THE ALABAMA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES LAUNCHED ITS LIVE LOCALLY ALABAMA CAMPAIGN.

HERE'S A SHORT CLIP.

>> WHERE DOES ALABAMA START?

IS IT IN THE BAYOU OR ALONG THE SANDY WHITE SHORELINES, AMID SEAFOOD AND SHIP BUILDERS, OR HIGH UP IN THE STATE PARK WHERE THE SUN CREEPS THROUGH THE TREES.

MAYBE IT'S A SOUND LIKE THE REVVING OF ENGINES OR A PERFECT DRIVE ON A PERFECT DAY.

IT CAN BE IN THE RHYTHM OF MUSCLE SHOALS AND GENERATIONS OF MUSIC HISTORY THAT FEEL CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH.

HISTORY.

THAT COULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START.

AFTER ALL, THE STORIES THAT WERE WRITTEN HERE STILL ECHO ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THE FUTURE, WELL, WE KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT REACHING FOR THE STARS.

WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS WILL HELP US GET THERE, WHILE OUR AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IS WORKING TO BUILD A MORE FUEL EFFICIENT TOMORROW.

WHEN THEY AREN'T, WELL, YOU CAN FEEL THAT IN THE ELECTRICITY OF A FRIDAY NIGHT OR THE THUNDER OF A SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU BEGIN, IT ALL STARTS LOCALLY.

THE HEART OF ALABAMA IS IN THE SHOP DOWN THE STREET OR IN THE RESTAURANT NEXT DOOR.

IT'S IN THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE LOCAL MARKET AND IN THE JOY OF A FAVORITE PAST TIME.

IT'S IN THE FIRST RESPONDERS WATCHING OUT FOR ALL OF IT AND ALL OF US.

IT'S EVEN IN THE STREETS WE USE TO DRIVE TO THE PARKS AND FESTIVALS WE LOVE.

WHAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE?

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, A PUBLIC SERVICE THAT KEEPS OUR ENVIRONMENT CLEAN, OUR CITIES GROWING AND OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE ALIVE, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT US, ALL OF US.

SO WHERE DOES ALABAMA START?

IT STARTS WITH YOU, LOCALLY.

>> AND JOINING ME NEXT TO TALK ABOUT IT ARE DOTHAN MAYOR MARK SALIBA AND FAIRHOPE MAYOR SHERRY SULLIVAN.

MAYORS, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> I SHOULD ALSO MENTION YOU ARE, RESPECTFULLY, PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ALABAMA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES CURRENTLY.

>> WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN MAINLY BECAUSE WE THINK IT WILL HELP NOT ONLY OUR CITIZENS BUT STATE LEGISLATORS AND OTHERS AS WELL TO UNDERSTAND AND SEE THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND WHERE WE SPEND OUR MONEY AND HOW THAT'S USED EACH AND EVERY DAY.

AND, SO, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS VIDEO CAMPAIGN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I SAW IMAGES FROM AROUND THE STATE, SO IT'S NOT JUST YOUR BEAUTIFUL COAST AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT I'M SURE EVERY CITY HAS SOMETHING TO SHARE IN TERMS OF WHY LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHY LOCAL PARTICIPATION IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO EDUCATE EVERYBODY ON IS THE FACT EVERY COMMUNITY IS UNIQUE.

EVERYBODY HAS QUALITY OF LIFE THINGS THEY'RE WORKING ON, THE THINGS THAT IMPACTS THEIR CITIZENS AND THE PEOPLE WHO VISIT THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE THINGS WE OFFER, PUBLIC SAFETY, SANITATION, ALL THE THINGS THAT COST MONEY FOR OUR CITIES AND WANT TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I JUST REMEMBER FROM PAST LIVES, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY GETS SO WORKED UP ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON, RIGHT, PROBABLY BECAUSE OF A LOT OF CABLE NEWS, IT'S KIND OF ENTERTAINMENT.

EVERYBODY GETS WORKED UP ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE AND EVEN HERE IN THE STATE SOMETIMES.

I ALWAYS SAY WHAT HAPPENS HERE AT THE STATE HOUSE BUT ALSO THE LOCAL LEVEL WILL IMPACT YOUR LIFE MORE THAN WHAT HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

DO YOU TRY TO PREACH THAT TO YOUR CITIZENRY AS WELL?

>> ESPECIALLY IN FAIRHOPE WE DO.

WE'RE THE ONES TO HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS WHEN THE TRASH ISN'T PICKED UP, ABOUT THE BALL PARKS.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALABAMA AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

BUT, AGAIN, I MEAN, WE DO TOUCH FOLKS EVERY DAY.

I THINK ABOUT OUR SANITATION CREWS WHO TOUCH OR RESIDENTS FOUR TIMES A WEEK, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OR S.R.O.

OFFICERS IN THE SCHOOLS.

SO, AGAIN, I PERSONALLY BELIEVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THE BEST.

>> AND THE MOST IMPORTANT SOMETIMES, RIGHT?

>> WELL, AND AS WELL, THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT REALLY PARTISAN IN MOST OF OUR TOWNS AND CITIES.

IT IS ABOUT PROVIDING BASIC SERVICES FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS AS MAYOR SULLIVAN SO ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBED.

EVERY DAY, WE SEE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS IN ALL OUR CITIES.

WHAT HAPPENS IN MONTGOMERY TRICKLES DOWN AND AFFECTS US IN A LARGE WAY, BUT WE REALLY WANT OUR CITIZENS TO KNOW JUST HOW LOCAL OUR GOVERNMENT FEELS, WE ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN OUR CITIES AND TOWNS.

>> MM-HMM.

I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH STEPHEN BOYD IN WASHINGTON TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY TRAVELING TO WASHINGTON.

I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF TIMES TO COMMUNICATE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

HE MADE AN INTERESTING COMMENT ABOUT HIS TIME ON THE HILL SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T SOLVE PROBLEMS WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

SO PLEASE COME AND TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON.

WOULD THAT BE THE SAME IN TERMS OF AT THE LOCAL LEVEL HEARING FROM CITIZENS, WHETHER AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING OR PARTICIPATING IN A TOWN HALL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW YOUR PROBLEMS UNLESS YOU TELL US?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK, BECAUSE WE ARE LOCAL, WE DO HEAR THAT A LOT BETTER THAN MAYBE IN A LARGER SCALE.

YOU KNOW, WE SEE ALL OF OUR PEOPLE IN GROCERY STORES OR AT CHURCH OR AT SCHOOLS, SO WE GET TO INTERACT WITH THEM FACE-TO-FACE.

WE HEAR ALL THE ISSUES AND THE PROBLEMS AND THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE IN EVERYDAY LIFE.

>> MM-HMM.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE ENGAGEMENT LEVEL IS RIGHT NOW AMONGST THE CITIZENRY IN FAIRHOPE AND DOTHAN, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE IS THIS.

>> IN FAIRHOPE, WE HAVE A VERY ENGAGED COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF PLACES YOU GO, YOU DON'T SEE MANY PEOPLE AT COUNCIL MEETINGS.

WE TEND TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD CROWD AT OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS.

THEY TEND TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AT COUNCIL MEETINGS.

WE CAN'T FIX PROBLEMS WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE FOLKS.

THAT'S WHY LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU DO RUN INTO THEM, SO YOU GET TO COMMUNICATE A LOT MORE.

SO THEM CONTINUING TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE ISSUES THEY'RE HAVING.

IN FAIRHOPE WE HAVE A VERY ENGAGED COMMUNITY WHICH IS GREAT.

>> DOTHAN IS THIS.

>> WE HAVE AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY AS WELL.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW, USED TO BE WHEN -- IN THE '90S PEOPLE WENT TO THE NEWSPAPER OR TV AND NOW THERE ARE DIFFERENT AVENUES OF INFORMATION.

THE CHALLENGE IS WHAT IS GREAT AND ACCURATE INFORMATION, WHAT IS MISINFORMATION OR DISINFORMATION.

WHAT'S REALLY ON MORE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL OR A FEDERAL LEVEL OR SOMETHING THAT MAYOR SULLIVAN OR ANY OF OUR MAYORS OR COMMISSIONERS CAN REALLY DEAL WITH ON THAT LEVEL.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I KNOW IT MUST BE A CHALLENGE FOR ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS BUT ESPECIALLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THESE DAYS BECAUSE YOU DO DEAL WITH MISINFORMATION.

I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS HIGH PRESSUREN MIGRATE THING.

I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERY CITY COUNCIL OR COUNTY COMMISSION IS DEALING WITH IT, BASED ON MAYBE NOT EXACTLY ACCURATE INFORMATION, YET THEY COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ABOUT IT.

HOW BIG IS THAT CHALLENGE AND IS IT HELPFUL FOR Y'ALL TO POINT PEOPLE TOWARD ACCURATE INFORMATION?

HEY, HERE'S THE FACTS FROM THE CITY OR COUNTY OR WHATEVER IT IS?

IS THAT A CHALLENGE THAT CITIES FACE?

>> FOR US IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LARGE COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY NIGHT IN REGARDS HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS COMING TO FAIRHOPE OR BALDWIN COUNTY AND BEING ABLE TO DISPEL THE RUMORS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CREDIBLE SOURCE FOR THE INFORMATION.

IT'S NOT A FEDERAL ISSUE IT'S A LOCAL ISSUE.

IT'S HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEY NEED TO DEAL WITH AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DEAL WITH LOCALLY, BUT TO LET THEM KNOW WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO MAKE SURE OUR VOICE IS HEARD AND THEY KNOW THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE PREPARED FOR IN BALDWIN COUNTY OR FAIRHOPE AT THIS TIME.

BUT AGAIN IT'S A FEDERAL ISSUE AND HELPING PEOPLE FIGURE OUT, NAVIGATE THE MISINFORMATION AND DISPEL THE RUMORS.

>> AND I THINK MOST OF THE TIME IT'S SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION, IT REALLY SPEAKS TO SOME FEARS THAT PEOPLE HAVE, AND RIGHT OFLY SO.

THEY DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT TO BELIEVE.

IT WAS LIKE DURING THE COVID AND THE PERCHING, YOU WEREN'T REALLY SURE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS ACCURATE AND GOOD INFORMATION AND REALLY JUST ALLEVIATING THEIR FEARS BECAUSE NO INFORMATION OR MISINFORMATION OR DISINFORMATION, IT MAKES PEOPLE NERVOUS AND RIGHT OFFULLY SO, AND THAT'S -- RIGHTFULLY SO AND THAT'S HOW WE NEED TO ENGAGE WITH THEM AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE IS.

>> RIGHT.

I AGREE.

THERE CAN BE SOME TRUTH WITH THINGS AND IT GETS BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTIONS BECAUSE THERE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ABOUT LOCAL RESOURCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT CAN KIND OF GO AWRY AS WE'VE SEEN.

YOU MENTIONED WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT.

I KNOW YOU BOTH ENGAGE WITH OUR LAW, HERE IN MONTGOMERY, SEE YOU IN THE STATE HOUSE QUITE A BIT, ALSO IN D.C. WITH OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION.

TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR YOU AND YOUR FELLOW MAYORS IN THE LEAGUE TO BE ENGAGED IN MONTGOMERY AND D.C. AND TO ALL BE WORKING TOGETHER WHEN THOSE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE LAYERS COME UP.

>> I THINK SPECIFICALLY THE CAMPAIGN WITH THE ALABAMA LEAGUE, THE LIVE LOCALLY, IS, AGAIN, SOMETHING WE CAN JEWS TO EDUCATE THE LEGISLATORS TO LET THEM KNOW HOW IMPORTANT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS AND THE THINGS WE'RE DOING AT HOME AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

WE CONTINUE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, STATE OR FEDERAL, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN SO YOU CAN EDUCATE THEM ABOUT ISSUES THAT YOU'RE HAVING LOCALLY AND ALSO LEARN FROM THEM ABOUT THE ISSUES AT THE STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> AND WE'VE GOT A GREAT DELEGATION, MOST OF US IN THE STATE DELEGATIONS ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB AND OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION AS WELL.

BUT IT'S A LONG WAY FROM BEING HERE THAN IT IS ON THE GROUND IN DOTHAN, JUST KNOWING THE NEEDS.

YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LOT OF REVENUE TO TAKE CARE OF INFRASTRUCTURE ALONE, THE COST OF ROADS CONTINUES TO GO UP, THE BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE OF THAT, RUNNING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR A FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TIMES, THOSE THINGS NEVER STOP AND THEY'RE ALWAYS CONTINUING TO GET HIGHER NOT SMALLER AND LOW.

SO MAKING SURE THAT OR LEGISLATORS KNOW, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WHAT IT TAKES FOR US, DOLLAR-WISE, TO REALLY MAKE SURE THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF WATER NEEDS, SEWER NEEDS, ELECTRICSY.

WE HAVE A STORM COMING OUR WAY SHORTLY AND HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THOSE REVENUES AND BE READY TO ACT AND TAKE CARE OF OUR CITIZENS.

>> YEP.

MAYOR, I REMEMBER RIDING AROUND WITH YOU WHEN MICHAEL CAME THROUGH BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR CAME DOWN AND I WAS SHADOWING HER THAT DAY AND THAT WAS A BLESSING EVERYBODY MADE IT OUT OF THAT HURRICANE.

TALKING ABOUT THE STATE AND LOCAL AND FEDS WORKING TOGETHER AFTER SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SWITCHING GEARS, THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES CERTIFIED OFFICERS PROGRAM.

I FOUND IT FASCINATING OVER THE YEARS ABOUT HOW THE LEAGUE TAKES IN NOT JUST MAYORS AND CITY COUNCILMEN BUT FOLKS WHO WORK IN CITY GOVERNMENT TO GO THROUGH A PROGRAM OF CERTIFICATION, MAKING THEM ABSOLUTELY TRAINED FOR THE JOBS, THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES THAT FACE CITIES.

30TH ANNIVERSARY OF IT.

A BIG MINE STONE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> THE CERTIFIED MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS PROGRAM IS AWESOME.

THE TWO YEARS I'VE RUN, PEOPLE WEREN'T SURE WHAT THEIR JOBS WOULD BE.

THEY WOULD COME WITH WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WANTED TO GET DONE.

THE BASICS OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.

SO THE PROGRAM REALLY SPEAKS TO THAT.

IT BRINGS IN PEOPLE THEY CAN TALK ABOUT AND SHARE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY'VE HAD.

BUT WHAT'S REALLY GREAT, I THINK, IS THAT IT HELPS US TO CONTINUE TO STAY ATOP OF ANY NEW ISSUES THAT ARE COMING ALONG.

AND, SO, IT IS THE 30TH YEAR.

WE'RE THE SECOND OLDEST PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH IS ALSO, BY THE WAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE 90 YEARS OLD NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

>> THE LEAGUE ITSELF.

>> THE LEAGUE WILL BE 90.

SO THIS IS A REALLY STRONG ORGANIZATION.

AND ANY STRONG ORGANIZATION NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS UP ON THE ISSUES OF THE DAY, AND THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO DO THAT.

AND I'M SO PROUD OF OUR STAFF AND LEAGUE FOR DOING THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M SURE YOU'VE HAD FOLKS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM AS WELL.

>> I HAVE, AND BEING A NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR, MAYOR SALIBA HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE BUT NOT MYSELF, THE LEAGUE, I'VE GAINED KNOWLEDGE FROM THEM AND THE PROGRAMS THEY HAVE BUT ALSO THE RELATIONSHIPS YOU BUILD.

THEY TRAINING PROGRAMS ALLOW YOU TO LEARN FROM OTHERS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO BUILD THE RELATIONSHIPS AGAIN.

THE TRAINING PROGRAM HAS BEEN INVALUABLE TO ME.

JUST KNOWING YOUR ROLE, KIND OF GETTING THAT DIVISION BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AND BEING ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF FOLKS, I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

>> YOU PUT YOUR NAME ON THE BALLOT, YOU GET ELECTED AND WHAT NOW?

SO IT'S NICE TO HAVE A WHOLE GROUP, 100 STRONG, THAT HAS THE SUPPORT AND THE GREAT STAFF AT ALM.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT THANKS FOR COMING IN AND EXPLAINING THE ISSUES.

LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH MORE "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AT THE SAME TIME RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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