Council Vote Spends Tens of Thousands on Hidden Proposal Our Citizens Deserve Transparency

Mobile, Ala – Stand Up Mobile released the following statement following today’s vote by the Mobile City Council to approve a contract worth tens of thousands of dollars for an out-of-state consultant to “study” the Mayor’s annexation proposal. While the Mayor’s office has been holding private meetings on the subject for months, the administration has refused to release the proposal to the general public. 

“It is mind boggling that the Council today approved spending tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars -likely more than $100,000- to conduct a study of something they are unwilling to share with the citizens of Mobile first. It is even more troubling that they approved the contract with NO public discussion of the parameters of the proposal or study.

“Two months ago, a council member stated the proposal was nearly complete and had been reviewed by all members of the council, yet they still refuse to share any information on it with the general public. Why? And why was there such a rush to approve this contract with no discussion? With more questions right now than answers, why engage a consulting firm? 

“For example, if the promise that any annexation would maintain the current demographic breakdown of the city is legitimate, then why is that not the charge for these consultants? Why are they not tasked with identifying and studying a proposal area that would maintain the current demographics?