If Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin could describe the city in a single word, it would be “progress.”
During a recent interview with WBHM, Woodfin reflected on Birmingham’s challenges and opportunities in the opening months of his third term, touching on everything from public safety and education to economic development, neighborhood revitalization and the debate surrounding data centers.
The city's number of homicides has declined significantly from recent highs, Birmingham City Schools has shown improvement on state report cards, and city leaders are weighing how to attract investment while responding to concerns from residents about quality of life.
Among the most contentious issues facing the city is the ongoing debate over data centers.
Woodfin defends city’s approach to data centers
The issue has dominated public meetings and social media discussions in recent months, with opponents raising concerns about water consumption, power demands, noise and transparency surrounding proposed projects, particularly a data center under construction by tech company Nebius along Lakeshore Parkway in Birmingham's Oxmoor Valley neighborhood. That development has been met with several lawsuits.
Woodfin said he understands those concerns, but said the city’s response has been driven by public input.
“I wake up every single day and think about how to improve quality of life,” he said. “That includes making sure there’s no harm to the community, but I’m also pro-business.”
The mayor said the discussion around data centers has become increasingly polarized and said surfacing facts in the public debate has been difficult.
“If I’m honest with you, on data centers, I feel like there’s been a significant amount of misinformation and disinformation out there,” Woodfin said. “I’m trying to cut through the noise.”
According to Woodfin, many of the provisions included in Birmingham’s data center ordinance, which was passed in June despite many people speaking against it, came directly from recommendations made by residents and environmental advocates during public meetings.
Those provisions include requirements for closed-loop water systems, restrictions on diesel generator use and measures intended to ensure utility costs are not passed on to residents.
“Every single thing in the ordinance is about addressing the concerns of not only what environmentalists have recommended to us, but also what feedback we got from community members,” he said. “I think we have one of the most comprehensive data center ordinances, not just in the Southeast, but I dare say in the nation,” he said.
Prior to the ordinance's approval, Birmingham had a data center moratorium in place. However, the Nebius project was not subject to that moratorium. Woodfin said the site had been used for data center operations before and that previous court rulings involving other development moratoriums made it clear the city could not include projects that had already begun the permitting process. He said the city had no way to stop the Nebius project.
“There was no backroom deal,” Woodfin said. “It was simply legally allowable land use prior to the moratorium.”
Still, Woodfin acknowledged many residents remain skeptical.
“I struggle with that,” he said. “One of our core values is transparency, and I think this situation around data centers is so emotionally charged, so politically charged. People are dug in on how they feel and how they see it.”
Public safety remains a priority
Public safety is one of the city’s biggest bright spots in 2026.
The mayor pointed to a significant reduction in homicides and other crimes compared to two years ago, when Birmingham was experiencing one of its most difficult periods regarding gun violence.
Woodfin credited those improvements to a combination of police leadership, community partnerships and recommendations developed by a commission of faith leaders, business leaders and community organizations.
“The reason crime is lower is because it’s a collective effort,” he said.
Looking ahead, he said the city must continue addressing the root causes of crime, particularly school engagement and employment opportunities.
“Let’s make sure our Black boys remain in school, and let’s make sure we can find ways, better ways, creative ways to gainfully employ Black men,” he said.
Education and youth investment
Woodfin repeatedly returned to education throughout the interview, calling it one of the city’s most important long-term priorities.
He pointed to improvements within Birmingham City Schools, including higher state report card scores, fewer failing schools and gains in attendance and literacy.
“Bet on the next generation,” Woodfin said. “That simply means invest in them.”
The mayor argued that investments in education can influence nearly every other quality-of-life measure, from poverty and crime reduction to workforce development and homeownership.
“If we give that the attention it deserves, every ill in our community will change for the better,” he said.
Economic development and jobs
Woodfin said economic development remains a central focus of his third term.
He described Birmingham as uniquely positioned to capitalize on industries including biotechnology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and logistics.
“We need to get more aggressive with job creation and economic development,” he said.
Woodfin pointed to Birmingham’s location at the crossroads of major interstates and rail lines, along with the airport and inland port, as advantages that could help attract new employers.
“The bones are here,” he said.
Budget priorities and neighborhood investment
The city’s current budget, which took effect in July, includes funding for street paving, youth programs, homelessness initiatives and critical home repairs.
Woodfin said residents are likely to see street improvements first, with $12 million dedicated to paving projects across dozens of neighborhoods.
The budget also doubles funding dedicated to homelessness strategies and community violence intervention efforts.
He also highlighted investments in youth programming, financial literacy initiatives, internships and mental health services.
Tackling blight and absentee property owners
One of Birmingham’s most persistent challenges remains blighted and abandoned properties.
Woodfin said the city has spent nearly $30 million over the last nine years mowing vacant lots and demolishing unsafe structures located on private property.
“We need to get out of the business of using public tax dollars on private property,” he said. “It’s not sustainable. That’s money that could be spent on parks, recreation centers, libraries and infrastructure.”
The mayor expressed optimism about new state laws that allow the city to place liens on neglected properties and hold absentee owners more accountable.
A candid message for neighborhood associations
Woodfin offered one of his most candid responses when discussing requests from neighborhood associations for additional funding.
While praising neighborhood leaders for volunteering their time and energy, he questioned whether existing neighborhood funds are always spent on neighborhood priorities. He said said many associations spend money on block parties and sending members to the annual Neighborhoods USA conference.
The mayor said he would be open to increasing funding if more of the money was directed toward projects that address community needs.
“Why would we give you more money if you don’t spend your current money actually on your neighborhood?” Woodfin said.
He stressed that his comments were not intended as criticism of neighborhood officers, whom he described as dedicated volunteers, but rather as part of a broader discussion about priorities.
Looking ahead
As he starts his third, four-year term, Woodfin said his focus is increasingly on delivering measurable results.
Birmingham has already demonstrated progress, he said, in public safety and education and now must build on that momentum in economic development and quality-of-life improvements.
“We need to move beyond perpetual promise and move toward real quality-of-life results for our residents."
Interview Highlights
These excerpts were edited for length and clarity.
On Birmingham's data center ordinance
Every single thing in the ordinance is about addressing the concerns of not only what environmentalists have recommended to us, but also what feedback we got from community members. So collectively, I think we have one of the most comprehensive data center ordinances, not just in the Southeast, but I dare say in the nation.
Here’s my concern. I don’t think anybody’s read the ordinance, man. If they would just read it, you know. There’s this dissemination of just wrong information. The ordinance is pretty solid. Ninety-nine percent of your concerns are addressed in that ordinance.
...
So we have a data center ordinance that addresses noise pollution. We have a data center ordinance that addresses power usage. We have a data center ordinance that addresses water usage. Not sure what else to do besides just outright ban them in the city.
On his involvement with Nebius' data center
Everybody assumes that the mayor’s office is in everything. People believe that any business that comes to Birmingham, whether it’s large or small, but particularly when it’s large, they think their first stop, or their second stop, or their third stop is to the mayor’s office.
I just want you to know on the record that’s not true. Sometimes to do a business in the city, you don’t have to get incentives from the city, and a lot of times you don’t need permission if you meet regulations. Or just need permits.
In this case, I found out in the al.com article Nebius even purchased this property. Everything does not make the mayor’s office like everybody thinks it does.
On transparency and the debate around data centers
I struggle with that to be very honest with you because one of our core values is transparency. And I think this situation around data centers is so emotionally charged, so politically charged. People are dug in on how they feel and how they see it. And I'm not sure if even we present all the facts to people, we present timelines, we present chronological order of engagement, we even present process, we even present an actual comprehensive ordinance. We present all those facts. I'm not sure that's gonna change anybody's mind.
But as a city, local government, it is our responsibility to deal in facts. It's also our responsibility to make sure that things we do don't cause harm.
There's this notion out there that I allowed a data center to come on Lakeshore. This is not true. Simply, simply, simply simply not true If we could have allowed the moratorium to be for everybody and not exclude two organizations, we would have did it. But legally, we were not allowed. But I also accept when things are this emotionally charged, facts are very stubborn.
