BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is giving an update almost a month after the launch of a safety initiative for the city.
The pilot program for “Project Safe Streets” began on July 8 and placed painted concrete barriers throughout the East Lake neighborhood to deter speeding and drive-by shootings.
While the initiative is only in week four, it was the first thing Woodfin was asked about during Tuesday morning’s press conference.
“The results I want for the Eastside initiative is for parents and grandparents to feel safe enough for their children to play outside again,” Mayor Woodfin said.
Additionally, he said the program will also focus on cleaning up alleys, getting rid of illegal dumping and addressing prostitution.
“It wasn’t just about preventing people from driving in, easily being able to shoot, easily drive out. It was other things," Woodfin said.
During the press conference, Woodfin said the next step is to get feedback from residents.
“I think the biggest thing for us is continuing to get the pulse of the residents about how they feel about it," he said. "Their likes, dislikes, etc., adjusting as we need to.”
CBS 42 News returned to East Lake to see how residents feel about the changes.
“I thought they would do more behavior correction, and then maybe close off a few hot alleys,” Bianca Young said. “ I did not think I would become a prisoner in my own neighborhood.”
Young, who has lived in the area since April 2022, says the placement of the concrete barriers has proved to be a real challenge for those who live here.
“Now they’ve blocked all the way down, so I cannot go all the way down and get to my grocery store," she said. "I cannot even get out, I have to backtrack through the neighborhood and then go all the way out."
She has noticed a decrease in cars speeding down her street, but says they could have been installed "months ago."
Another neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, is not too thrilled about having the barrier so close to her home. She says cars use her front yard as a cut-through to get around the barrier and has plans to move out.
CBS 42 reached out to the Birmingham Police Department for numbers on recent arrests in East Lake but did not receive any information by this article's publication.