A Message from Mayor Stimpson - February 9
Feb 9th, 2021
Good evening,
It is 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9, and I am writing to give you an update from the City of Mobile.
Today, the Mobile County Health Department reports 34,427 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 110 cases. To review the most recent detailed report, click here.
Back in November, our team unveiled an ambitious plan to create or preserve more than 1,000 homes in the City of Mobile by 2026. This $15 million initiative will be funded almost entirely through grants from the federal government and public-private partnerships over the next six years. We’ve been asked a few times how we plan to meet these goals, and I wanted to share a little bit about that this week.
One big focus has been programs providing Owner Occupied Emergency Repairs. These programs allow homeowners who meet certain requirements to apply for grants through the City of Mobile that can pay for repairs and improvements to their homes. This is one of the ways we work to address blight in our City, while still keeping people in their houses and families in their neighborhoods.
To date, more than 550 people have taken advantage of these programs. Those include residents who had the exteriors of their homes painted through our volunteer painting program and others who’ve received grants to make critical repairs or fortify their homes against damage from hurricanes. You can find more details in the graphic below and more information about these programs on our website by clicking here.
On Thursday, February 11, you can catch the latest GulfChat event at the GulfQuest Maritime Museum. These monthly informal talks feature knowledgeable presenters discussing topics important to the maritime industry. This speaker is Chief Jason Lewis, who will be discussing the impact that African Americans have had on the maritime industry throughout history.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. prior to the chat with Lewis at 6 p.m. There will also be a Q&A session following the presentation. Due to social distancing guidelines and safety protocols, seating will be limited. You can get your ticket by clicking here and can find more information at www.gulfquest.org.
I also wanted to draw your attention to a story published by AccuWeather Inc. about Mobile’s own Alan Sealls. The piece profiles Sealls’ career as a meteorologist and the impact he’s had in Mobile and elsewhere. After breaking color barriers in other areas, Sealls became the first Black TV meteorologist and chief meteorologist in the Mobile market after he joined WKRG in 1999. Today he holds the same position at WPMI, and Mobilians are well served by his commitment to keeping us informed and safe.
I read a story over the weekend about the great Russian author Leo Tolstoy. As the story goes, Tolstoy passed a beggar on the street one day, and hoping to help, he reached into his pocket only to find it empty. He turned to the man and said, “I’m sorry, my brother, I have nothing to give.” The beggar brightened and said, “You have given me more than I asked for, you have called me brother.”
To the love starved, a word of affection can be a feast. Often the way we interact with others, especially those struggling, can make a difference. Let’s work to make sure our actions and words clearly say that we love others.
Sleep tight,