Highland Park Neighborhood Association Newsletter - August 2, 2021

Curbside Recycling Pickups
Back to 2X/MONTH!!!!
Next pickup - Wed. 8.4.21
(1st & 3rd Wed. of each month ONLY)

*We have unfortunately confirmed that if the truck comes by on other days, they will pick up materials and take them to the dump.
(Recyclables can still be dropped off at Birmingham Recycling and Recovery M-F 7am-4pm* - 9 41st St. S., 35222 (Avondale).)
Check our website for more details on what can be recycled by clicking here.


"Meet the Candidates"
Hosted by the Jefferson County Citizens Coalition

Wed., 8.4.21, 6-8pm
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
2150 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203

On behalf of Congressman Earl F. Hilliard, you are cordially invited to the "Meet the Candidates" Reception hosted by the Jefferson County Citizens Coalition. The reception will take place on Wednesday, August 4 2021, from 6 pm - 8 pm at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. 

Please stop by for light hors d'oeuvres and good conversation. 

We look forward to seeing you at the event. Please RSVP to thejccc.al@gmail.com


Scooter Townhall
Thurs., 8.5.21, 6pm
Wine Loft: 2200 1st Ave N., Birmingham, AL 35203

City Councilor O'Quinn has organized a gathering of personnel from BDOT, BPD, and the scooter/bike companies to speak with residents in the Loft District (CCNA). He will have vendor franchise agreements available along with the City’s ordinance (via a link or printouts).
We had contacted Veo to have a representative come to our Aug. 10th Highland Park Neighborhood mtg., but they have been unresponsive.


City Job Opportunities
The City of Birmingham is hiring for the following positions:
Automotive Technician - General; Automotive Technician - Heavy Truck; Construction Equipment Operator; Data Management Specialist; Data Management Technician; Electrical Inspector; Electrician Supervisor; Firefighter Paramedic; Forensic Scientist; Gardener; Green House Worker; Historic Preservation Manager; Heavy Equipment Operator; Landscape Crew Operator; Lifeguard; Municipal Court Senior Probation Officer; Plans Examiner - Mechanical, Plumbing, Gas; Police Officer; Property Control Clerk; Senior Arborist; Senior Civil Engineer; Senior Land Acquisition Agent; Senior Lifeguard; Senior Municipal Court Clerk; Senior Swimming Pool Supervisor; Traffic Maintenance Worker; Traffic Stripping Machine Crew Leader; Transportation Design Manager; Truck Driver

To apply and for more information visit https://www.pbjcal.org/jobsquest/


Upcoming Highland Park Neighborhood Association Meetings - Agenda and Speaker(s):

MEETING TUESDAY, 8.10.21, 6pm
via Zoom ONLY*.

 

*Due to rising COVID cases and low vaccination rates, we have decided to return to virtual meetings.  Please see below for thoughts and an article from our July Speaker and Highland Park Resident Dr. Mike Mugavero.

Link to General Agenda/Mtg. Format

August 10, 2021 6pm - Speaker: Captain Harry Greenberg of the South Precinct to discuss Trespassing Legalities and other questions/concerns. (We have invited a VEO Scooter Representative to attend, too, but we have not yet heard back.)

***Join Zoom Meeting (updated link as of May 2021)

One tap mobile:

US: +16465588656,,93671898724# or +13017158592,,93671898724#

Meeting URL:

https://osgnoc.zoom.us/j/93671898724

Meeting ID:

 936 7189 8724

Join by Telephone:

Dial: +1 346 248 7799 or 888 788 0099 (Toll Free)
Meeting ID:  936 7189 8724


Zoom is an app/online tool used for video conferencing. BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE SOFTWARE OR APP BEFORE THE MEETING TIME!  Here are instructions; you do NOT need an account or to sign in to join the meeting.

*- Vaccination remains critical, but is not a panacea (at current rates) — at current vaccination rates (<50%) and with the amount of virus circulating in our community, other public health testing and mitigation measures are increasingly important (again). It is critical that we encourage those eligible to get vaccinated, listen to their concerns, provide evidence based scientific information, and respect their decisions — even if they choose not to get vaccinated.

- There is a difference between “infection” and “disease.” While vaccinations are effective in reducing the risk of both acquiring covid (“infection”) and getting symptoms/sick (“disease”), vaccinated persons are still getting infected (“breakthrough”) and getting disease, overwhelmingly with the delta variant. Thankfully, severe disease/illness — hospitalization, ICU, mechanical ventilation and death are significantly reduced among those vaccinated. Data from England are compelling and forebode how the “4th wave” will play out in the USA.

- Even among those vaccinated, masking, especially in crowded indoor settings (e.g., grocery stores, churches, indoor concerts and sporting events, etc) is an important consideration. Again, respecting individual’s choices is essential in my opinion, but persons should make educated, informed masking decisions based upon their beliefs, risk tolerance, etc. I wear a mask in all indoor settings when I am with others, except in my home with my immediate family.

- Consideration to the size of our “social bubbles” is an important consideration, even for the vaccinated. We are all exposed to the individuals in the social networks of every person we interact with — not just that person we are with — but everyone else they have interacted with in person in recent days.

- CDC is now recommending all persons, including the vaccinated, quarantine / isolate for 10 days if they have a covid infection. Persons with symptoms are well served to seek testing and err on the side of isolation / quarantine for the safety of others.

- Children under 12 y/o still cannot get vaccinated. Although rare, serious and fatal infections do occur in this age group. In terms of our individual vaccination, masking, social bubbles and other testing & mitigation choices, we all should be aware of this fact.

https://www.al.com/news/2021/07/alabama-just-saw-the-worst-week-since-winter-for-covid-cases-hospitalizations-week-in-review.html

 

July Minutes coming soon
Click here for June Minutes
Click here for May Minutes


Large Trash and Brush

Future Dates: *FRIDAYS (8.13, 9.3, 9.24)

Buildings with dumpsters DO NOT receive city pickups.

*Friday until further notice (instead of the usual Thurs.)

Leaves and smaller brush and trash MUST BE BAGGED. Larger limbs/branches and furniture items can be piled neatly.  
If space allows, make separate piles: trash/furniture/mattresses/appliances/etc. in one and another pile for plant materials (leaves, limbs, brush) to be mulched by the city. 
They use two different trucks, and making separate piles helps them stay efficient.

Sometimes the city runs behind...if your pile is missed and not collected the following day, please report to 311 (by dialing 311 or the city portal www.birminghamal.gov/311-portal) and send the confirmation code and address to highlandparkneighborhoodal@gmail.com.


Municipal Election Aug. 24

For more information visit: https://birminghamwatch.org/category/government/2021-birmingham-city-election/


World Games 2022

VOLUNTEER AT THE WORLD GAMES 2022. Learn more about how you can volunteer for the games by visiting https://twg2022.com/volunteer/
 
TICKETS FOR THE WORLD GAMES 2022. Visit https://twg2022.com/tickets/ for more information.