A Message from Mayor Stimpson - December 22
Dec 22nd, 2020
Good evening,
It is 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, and I am writing to give you an update from the City of Mobile.
Today, the Mobile County Health Department reports 23,871 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 163 cases.
To review MCHD's detailed report, click here. If you have been reading this additional data released by MCHD, you may have noticed there have been a significant number of reported deaths from COVID-19 recently. While any loss of life in our county is tragic, there is some needed context for these numbers.
The Alabama Department of Public Health recently began a review process for a large number of deaths that have occurred since the pandemic began in March. However, reports of deaths that occur from COVID-19 in Mobile County are added as they’re received from ADPH. Because of that, the recent uptick in reported deaths does not reflect the current mortality rate of COVID-19 in our community.
In the recent omnibus bill and in previous years, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby has helped improve the viability of the Port of Mobile and the Downtown Mobile Airport while making both more competitive regionally and nationally. This is one of many ways the City of Mobile has benefited from Sen. Shelby’s leadership in the Senate and his role as the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
With the passage of the 2021 appropriations package, Senator Shelby is once again leading the charge to invest in Southwest Alabama. It is hard to overstate the role he’s played in Mobile’s quest to become a world class city and global competitor in multiple industries. From education to defense and commerce to transportation — there’s virtually no sector of our economy Senator Shelby hasn’t impacted.
On the local level, today the Mobile City Council recognized December 22 as Gwen Hall Day in honor of our Revenue Director, who is retiring after 32 years of service to the City of Mobile. Employees like Gwen represent the best in our City, and though it is hard to replace three decades of experience, I know Gwen’s team is well trained and will keep things running smoothly. This evening, we congratulate her on a well-earned retirement and 32 years of service to our citizens.
“Coming, ready or not!” As a child playing hide and go seek, that’s what we would cry out before starting to look for those who were hiding. It was a warning that whether you were hidden or not, the seeker was coming to look for you. I’m reminded of that, because it’s like Christmas – It’s coming, ready or not!
For many of us, Christmas may look a little different this year because of the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I have no doubt there are still memories to be made, and love to be shared. It’s been a difficult year for so many, so please make sure to enjoy the next few days with your loved ones — whoever they are or however they are gathered. Merry Christmas!
Sleep tight,
Sandy Stimpson