A Message from Mayor Stimpson - July 7th
Jul 7th, 2020
Good evening,
It is 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7 and I am writing to give you an update on the City of Mobile's efforts regarding COVID-19.
As of tonight, there have been 4,246 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Mobile County, an increase of 92 since Monday. There are 310 who have been hospitalized to date, and 140 people have died due to Coronavirus. A total of 2,232 are presumed recovered.
We are continuing to see an alarming increase in the daily number of new cases. The 7-day average is basically double what it was a month ago. This should be a clear reminder that the virus is still active in our community and it remains a serious threat to our well-being.
Please take steps to protect yourself as well as those around you:
- Wear a face covering when in public places
- Keep a safe difference of at least 6 feet from others
- Wash your hands regularly
- Stay home if you are sick
Today, we took a major step forward for our City by announcing a series of action steps designed to advance our progress on the issues of race, equity and inclusion.
We are expanding our current, successful Supplier Diversity program and setting new goals for minority contracting. Going forward, the newly expanded Office of Supplier Diversity, led by Archnique Kidd, will help us establish clear guidelines for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and recruit businesses and workers.
The City of Mobile has also created a new and innovative website to attract Section 3 businesses and workforce. All businesses and residents living or working in an under-resourced community qualify as a Section 3 business. To learn more, visit the website at https://workwith.cityofmobile.org/
This is the continuation of a long road toward equitable justice in the City of Mobile. We are focused on extending prosperity to all members of our community, so that we all may share in the benefit of a thriving City. We are making steady progress but we still have more work to do.
Also today, we announced the creation of a task force to review policies and practices across many aspects of local government including the Mobile Police Department, Human Resources, Finance, Business Procurement, and Community Development.
The task force will have 90 days to provide recommendations to my office. We will announce the members of the task force in the coming days.
The specific agenda for the task force will include:
- Use of force policies within the Mobile Police Department
- Law enforcement policy reforms including the national "8 Can't Wait" guidelines
- Use of body cameras
- Review of MPD's implementation of 21st Century Policing
- Recruitment, selection, training, retention and the disciplinary process of officers
- Implementation of implicit bias training in all City departments
- Review of City practices in the Diversity Supplier Department
- Review of City policies for racial or biased language
In parallel to the task force's work, the City will also:
- Conduct a citizens' survey for recommendations
- Focus on economic opportunity strategies in underrepresented communities
- Work with community organizations to expand the City's involvement in the "My Brother's Keeper Initiative"
These are huge steps toward the goal of creating One Mobile. Our City is becoming safer, more business and family-friendly for all of our citizens. As it says in Galatians:
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
On behalf of my team, we will never stop working to build a brighter future for you and your children.
Sincerely,
Sandy Stimpson