Comeback Town: Time to pay close attention to Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin

Comeback Town is an opinion column exploring the evolution of Birmingham. It is coordinated by David Sher for 205focus.com.

If you care about Birmingham’s future, subscribe to the ComebackTown newsletter.

For 14 years, I have written ComebackTown columns exploring how Birmingham could reach its full potential. After years of pushing for change, it feels like the momentum has finally shifted. The city is currently hitting its stride with consistent wins, landing headlines that seemed unimaginable just months ago.

A Visionary Approach

Much of this transformation can be attributed to Mayor Randall Woodfin. Instead of focusing on short-term political gains, Woodfin has prioritized long-term vision. This strategy resonated with voters during his last election, where he secured 75% of the vote despite facing eight challengers.

I recall meeting Woodfin years ago while he was serving as Birmingham School Board president. I proposed a scholarship initiative inspired by the Kalamazoo Promise, specifically aimed at two-year colleges. Woodfin aimed higher, wanting to cover all public colleges and universities in the state. Once elected mayor, he turned that vision into reality.

The Birmingham Promise has since provided over $15 million in tuition assistance to more than 1,600 students, while opening doors through hundreds of paid internships.

Tackling Public Safety and Education

Under Woodfin's leadership, the city has utilized data and discipline to confront public safety issues head-on. By focusing resources on those driving the majority of violent crime, the results have been striking: homicides dropped 45% in 2025 compared to 2024. Furthermore, the Birmingham Police Department achieved a historic 87.3% homicide clearance rate, with a 100% clearance rate during the first 100 days of his third term. As of now, the department is fully staffed with only 15 homicides recorded in 2026.

Beyond safety, Woodfin is investing in the foundation of the city’s future: early education. Through a partnership with Small Magic, the city is ensuring children are prepared for kindergarten. The initiative has already served over 5,500 children and distributed 15,000 educational resources.

These efforts are mirrored in the academic performance of Birmingham City Schools. In 2023, fifteen schools held an F rating; by 2025, that number dropped to one, with the district achieving its highest report card score to date. The goal is to reach a B rating by the end of 2026.

By focusing on both immediate public safety and long-term academic opportunity, Mayor Woodfin is governing for the future. Birmingham is finding its footing, and Woodfin is cementing his place as one of the most impactful figures in the city's history.