A Message from Mayor Stimpson - December 10
Dec 10th, 2020
Good evening,
It is 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, and I am writing to give you an update from the City of Mobile.
Today, the Mobile County Health Department reports 21,821 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 227 cases. To review MCHD's detailed report, click here.
This week, our team members and I were thankful for an opportunity to give a presentation to the Mobile Area Black Chamber of Commerce on several of our priorities heading into the new year. If you follow my newsletter, you’ve likely heard about some of these initiatives as well.
We discussed the “Brookley by the Bay” property purchase finalized last week, our plans to create or preserve 1,000 homes in the City of Mobile by 2026 and the growth of our supplier diversity program. We also outlined some of the next steps in our efforts to revitalize Africatown and establish it as a destination where tourists and Mobilians can learn the history of the Clotilda and the founding of Africatown.
Last week, I was able to tour the authentic replica of Christopher Columbus’s ship “The Pinta,” that is currently docked next to the GulfQuest Maritime Museum in Downtown Mobile. I’d like to remind you that tours are still available any day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through December 13. The cost is $6.50 for adults, $5.00 for youths and children under the age of 5 can come see the Pinta for free.
From old ships to new ships! Today I had the honor of joining in a press conference kicking off the planning process for the Commissioning of the USS Mobile. This is the 13th Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) built at Austal USA and it will be taking on our city’s name as a testament to our enduring connection to the U.S. Navy and the crew that will soon be serving aboard the USS Mobile.
As the chairman of the Commissioning Committee, it was an honor visit with the ship’s skipper, Commander Christopher W. Wolff, this afternoon. From the hard-working men and women who build it, to the sailors who will use it defending freedom and preserving peace around the globe, the USS Mobile represents the best of our City and our country. As Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle says, “the USS Mobile will be coolest ship in the U.S. Navy.”
Today, I read a brief but powerful quote about emotional intelligence from Daniel Ek, who is the founder and CEO of the music streaming service Spotify. At its simplest form, emotional intelligence is simply the ability to understand the emotions in yourself, the emotions in others and how those can overlap. However, Ek put it even more succinctly when he said: "Be kind; everyone is on their own journey."
Those eight words are simple to understand, but they can also be easy to forget. We typically know nothing of the challenges that others are facing day to day. Recognizing that we all struggle can help us not only better understand those around us, it can also help us better understand ourselves.
Sleep tight,