But at a moment when old political orthodoxies were being challenged all the way down to small towns in the rural South, there were now two Black women on the Fayette City Council: one representing the Black ward, and Virettia Whiteside, 35, manager of two apartment complexes across from a vestigial cotton field on the east side of town. At the 2010 census there were 4,619 people, 1,924 households, and 1,206 families living in the city. City Council | Lafayette, CO - Official Website Four Black candidates were running for major positions, something that had never happened before in Fayette. Add to calendar Details Date: The Fayetteville City Council meets regularlyin formal session on the second and fourthMonday of each month. County Information | AL | Fayette County Fayette is a town where people have always found opportunity waiting to be fulfilled. But no one wants to talk about race in this town, she said. You will be surprised at what you can achieve here. CountyOffice.org does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). See complete story in The Times-Record. Subscribe now! Cotton fields, such as this one in Fayette, still permeate the South. She had replaced it with a trailer approved by the fire chief, a decision some of her neighbors were asking to be overturned by referring to a 1970s ordinance. Fayette municipal election is Tuesday, Aug. 25 | The Times-Record Virettia held her hand as the board voted, each of the White members siding with the White neighbors, and the one Black board member siding with Ericka, thwarting the unanimous vote needed to block the trailer. Council Lady Whiteside? the mayor said, turning to his left. We strive to hear every single question, concern, and comment to better enhance the quality of life in our City. Fayette is a city in Fayette County, Alabama. Fayette, Alabama - Ballotpedia There were 2,336 housing units at an average density of 273.0 per square mile (105.4/km2). There were 2,239 housing units at an average density of 257.4 per square mile (99.4/km2). Hes the only Black.. From 30,000 feet we look at Aliceville and we know 20 years ago it had a White mayor and now it has a Black mayor, and a Black council, and its got s--- left, he continued. Citizens are both stockholders and customers; the elected body represents the board of directors and the manager is the chief executive officer responsible for the daily operations of the corporation. Phone-Number: 334-864-7181 Meeting-Type: regular Submission . City Council March 8, 2016 @ 5:00 pm Add to calendar Details Date: March 8, 2016 Time: 5:00 pm Venue City Hall 203 Temple Avenue North Fayette, AL 35555 United States + Google Map Phone: 205-932-5367 View Venue Website Wade?. As hed told Virettia: I felt fooled by 'em. Growing up in Fayette during a time of growth and initiative I know the citizens of our town have the heart to continue the progressive actions that have always characterized our town. We are conveniently located 40 miles from the City of Tuscaloosa and approximately 90 miles to the City of Birmingham. The mayor is elected at-large. Virettia asked him who was on the abatement board. Originally known as "La Fayette", it incorporated on January 15, 1821. Hed never told her about the notes he got in his mailbox with messages like Shut your mouth, n-----. Or the restraint he had to summon to ask White colleagues who still used the term boy to refer to Black men: If you know the gentlemans name, would you please call him by his name? He had not told her about feeling like you werent there.. including West Point Lake in Georgia, 15 minutes to the east and Alabama's Lake Martin, 30 minutes to the west. State officials Youre going to see some things, Cedric said. She needed his advice deciphering Fayettes zoning laws, but she also knew that Cedric had barely left his house since losing the election, and she was worried about him. She felt the same sense of uncertainty that she had felt since all of this began, and the feeling continued until she called her lawyer a few days later to check on her case. She listened for a moment as he responded mm hmm, she said, mm hmm and then, growing impatient, she did what she finally had the power to do. A & E Family Restaurant has opened in the old Cruze-In location in The Triangle. All council members and Mayor Ray Nelson were present for the meeting. But.. The Fayette City Hall, located in Fayette, AL, provides municipal services for residents of Fayette. She is the newly elected City Council member for Ward 1, which includes the complexes she manages. Oh baby, guess what? Cedric said, brightening, telling Virettia about a White woman hed run into at the bank, one of the many hed suspected of spreading the false rumors about him. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. The only municipal election within the county this year will occur on Aug. 25 in the City of Fayette, with every position on the ballot being contested. For all other departments, please click here. Find 7 external resources related to Fayette City Hall. A few days later, Virettia was still upset, and when a tenant whod helped on her campaign stopped by her office, she started telling her what had happened. Virettia also manages Valley Cove. Alabama Open Meetings Act - Notice Details The population was 4,619 at the 2010 census,[2] down from 4,922 at the 2000 census. Her father: nothing. So yall ever voted to change the outdated laws? Virettia asked Cedric now. I was in the next window. Here's a small story from a small place that teaches us big lessons about what kind of country we actually are. Over the course of its history our town has been the starting point of many endeavors that became larger than the the city itself. Take the high road, people kept advising. The volunteerswho are appointed to the boards andcommissions serve as the link that connectsthe public to its governing body and serve asadvisors who make recommendations thathelp shape the policies and programs ofFayetteville. About 12.5% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over. It was a resident from somewhere in her ward, telling Virettia that her son was in the county jail and was in need of medical attention. In the row behind them, Virettia sat with Ericka, a hand on her shoulder, thinking this would not be happening, not in this way, if Ericka were White. Here we go pothole, pothole, pothole, Virettia said as they headed into Aliskas ward on the west side of town, past the wood-frame houses and churches where theyd both grown up in families that went back generations in Fayette. So, when Whiteside won her council seat, in which she represents a mixed-race district, and a friend of hers won the traditional Black seat, there were two Black citizens on the city council of Fayette, Alabama, which proceeded to lose a bit of its mind. Find 6 Town & City Halls within 22.8 miles of Fayette City Hall. The tentacles are just so far-reaching, Scottie said. Oh no, youre not going there, said the White woman. Any of you want to talk further on this? the mayor said, turning to his right and then turning to Virettia, who shook her head no. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), Former council member Cedric Wilson, at his home in January, served Fayette's historically Black Ward 4 for more than 20 years before stepping down in an unsuccessful run for mayor. There used to be no Black, Cedric said. History [ edit] Originally known as "La Fayette", it incorporated on January 15, 1821. Each office holder is elected to a four year term. Rod Northam, Mayor He owned the Spanish-style house on the edge of the traditionally Black ward that had belonged to Virettias godmother. Tornado activity: Fayette-area historical tornado activity is slightly above Alabama state average.It is 134% greater than the overall U.S. average.. On 4/3/1974, a category F5 (max. LaFayette, Alabama maps, city districts, nearby cities, location It was also because he believed she had run for nefarious reasons including his belief that she was part of a vast plot by national Democrats and billionaires like George Soros and Bill Gates to retain power at any cost. We would love to have you come and visit Fayette County and see rural living at its best! How a White woman hed known for years had asked him to get on a video call so she could see his face when she asked if he really was going to fire all the White department heads if he won, which was not true. Councilwoman Aliska Hughes-Monroe was absent from the meeting with all other council members present. This Was Gerrymandering Cloaked in Civil Rights. Please join me, the Council and others of our community as we strive to make Fayette an even better place to live, work and play. [16], Coordinates: 334131N 874956W / 33.692068N 87.832358W / 33.692068; -87.832358. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post). Her second chance came a few minutes later, after the police chief gave his report. Dont talk to her, talk to them, said the womans daughter, pointing to the board of three White men and one Black man. Its hard even now to believe how crazy with fear the protests last summer made white people in this country. The City Clerk's Office maintainsmeeting minutesfrom City Council meetings and publishes a schedule of upcoming City Council meetings. Posted-By: City of LaFayette, Alabama City Council: Meeting-Date: 2/13/2023 Meeting-Time: 5:30 PM: Notice History: Meeting-Location: FARMERS FEDERATION(ALFA) BUILDING 1006 AVENUE A SE LAFAYETTE, AL 36862. Copy editing by Wayne Lockwood. The local radio stations are WLDX Big Cat and WTXT. Black citizens are allowed to participate in local government, but not to approach anything remotely like controlling it. It was like living through Rod Serlings old Twilight Zone episode, The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street, over and over again. Relevant maps for LaFayette, Alabama Maintain a leisurely lifestyle featuring natural beauty and historic architecture in the city limits, while still enjoying the fast pace activities of nearby Auburn/Opelika (30 miles), Montgomery (70 miles), Atlanta (80 miles) or Birmingham (120 miles). Listen to me. Address, Phone Number, and Hours for Fayette City Hall, a Town & City Hall, at Temple Avenue North, Fayette AL. All Rights Reserved. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. You can also pay your bill on-line. Fayette municipal election is Tuesday, Aug. 25. Virettia took a deep breath. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post). About Us - Fayette Art Museum Fayette City Council votes to charge for abated properties For every 100 females, there were 81.4 males. Each council member is assigned oversight for a unit of city government. What do you expect people to do???? Check back often to see our calendar of upcoming events and our latest county job openings. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), Share your feedback by emailing the author. She said he was being ignored, that he needed help and she needed help, and so Virettia called a deputy at the jail, a White man she knew who was planning to run for sheriff and would need her support. She felt anxious still. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), During her campaign, Virettia knocked on doors in Haughton Acres, a predominantly white, middle-class neighborhood in her ward. . Phone-Number: 334-864-7181 Meeting-Type: special/called Submission-datetime: 1/27/2023 8:19:08 AM: Notice: Statements . speckle park bull sales 2021 847-461-9794; fayette, alabama city council. Mayor and City Council Members. . Click on the links below to view the Agenda and Minutes from the City Council Meetings. Comes now the Plaintiff Scottie Carl Porter she read, recognizing the name of a man she only knew as the owner of an antique store downtown and a superfan of President Donald Trump who had lost his own bid for City Council. We are conveniently located 40 miles from the City of Tuscaloosa and approximately 90 miles to the City of Birmingham. I love you too, but theres no work around here, the man said, and that was how it went all day long, a parade of people with problems that could be as small as needing a ride to the grocery store and as large as not being able to afford medication and as difficult as what had happened the night before, when Virettia had been asleep in her apartment when she heard someone crying. Laws were meant to be amended. After she won, she spoke only of being humbled and grateful, even as she worried about what else could happen. Now he spent most days at his antique store, happy to share with anyone who asked his belief that if all the Black candidates had won, Fayette would have soon resembled another Alabama town he knew of, an hour to the south, which in his mind had been a charming place when White people had the majority on the City Council. These people, these problems that she wanted the power to solve. Mike, come in here, Virettia said, waving him in. A federal judge later tossed out the decisions, but not before the matter helped spark the largest civil rights march in the South since the famous Selma-to-Montgomery march in 1965. . The Fayetteville City Council is the electedgoverning body representing the citizens ofFayetteville. The per capita income for the city was $16,602. Vying for office in Ward One are Steve Herring, Kevin Rhudy and Virettia L. Whiteside. I love you, but you owe me $77, Virettia said. He came in and stood in front of her desk. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Fayette city, Alabama", "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990", "NOAA NCEI U.S. All nine Council members are elected from individual districts, and only citizens within the city limits can vote for those seats on the Council. ? her cousin wrote. See complete story in The Times-Record. Didnt nobody do nothing to help me.. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), LEFT: Antiques store owner Scottie Porter lost a lawsuit against Virettia that disputed her eligibility to hold office in Ward 1 because she owns a home outside of it. At thesemeetings, Council receives information andasks questions. But now it was the summer of protests after the killing of George Floyd. Virettia was alone in her office, and after she hung up, she allowed herself a moment to feel an unexpected sense of vindication. Basically, what happened was that Whitesides election broke what McCrummen calls the Rule of One in Fayette. Virettia also manages Valley Cove. Im talking to you all, Ericka said. He pulled his hoodie over his face, pretending to avoid her. The Fayette City Council with members Tommy Williams and Virettia Whiteside meets at City Hall in the small Alabama town in January with Mayor Rod Northam in attendance. Besides the Mayor, there are five council members. fayette, alabama city council The City Council appoints a manager who carries out the laws and policies enacted by Council. Council elections arenonpartisan and a primary election is held inOctober, only when more than twocandidates vie for a specific seat. Fayette is a city and the county seat of Fayette County, Alabama, United States. Federal election monitors were sent to Aliceville, and in the years after that more Black people were elected, a development that led to White flight and divestment that is the story of rural towns across the South. Check out the Gas Board website. He answered after two rings. She sat down and tried not to cry. LaFayette | Encyclopedia of Alabama One Black person on the City Council. . Local elections were coming up. Call us today to get any more information about our county. what black person have you seen come to my defense Ill wait NO ONE, she had texted her cousin in a moment of frustration. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), Virettia stands in Mayfair Manor's Community Room. Fayette County has four incorporated towns and cities including Fayette, Glen Allen, Berry, and Belk. Im telling you this is the best Ive seen him.. She wanted to call Aliska or Cedric, but before she could do that her phone was ringing. Mayor and City Council Members | City of Fayette Missouri I lost everything. Others with regional and national reputations have also called Fayette home. Of the 1,924 households 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. The biggest threat to the male ego is a black woman, she said, reading out loud a quote someone had sent her as she began work one morning at Mayfair Manor, where she had a glass-front office in the lobby and the first tenant of the day stopped in just after 8 a.m. You doing okay, Junie? Virettia asked an elderly woman. When investigators from the district attorneys office showed up at Mayfair Manor three times asking tenants if their absentee ballots had been coerced, she decided not to file a complaint with the NAACP. In accordance with that act, four of the nine districts are drawn so that minorities are assured a voting majority within that district. The cameraman who live-streamed all the council meetings swung the lens toward Virettia, who cleared her throat. Hes been out, so we scheduled a meeting for tomorrow, so next meeting, Ill be able to bring an update on the airport.. These are just two of the companies that had had their beginning here. On Election Day, someone called police to report a possible fight outside a polling place, which turned out to be Virettia and the other Black candidates who were outside greeting voters when the sirens came screaming, and through it all, Virettia tried to maintain her composure. We could never have death panels where you start euthanizing people, but I believe that. Aliska Hughes-Monroe, Virettia's best friend, was elected in November to represent Ward 4. She got up and followed the sound outside where she found a tenant she knew as a veteran with PTSD, saying over and over I did a lot of bad things, and so she had held his hand for a while, saying We serve a God thats a forgiving God until he calmed down. The Fayetteville City Council has establishedboards and commissions. One on the zoning board. Pictured is the Fayette Civic Center, where the Fayette municipal elections will take place from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Bevill State Community College has a location in Fayette. get driving directions from your location, Fayette County Death Certificates & Records, Voter poll locations and election procedures. That the judge had dismissed the lawsuit. An indication that the actual power structure might change surely brings the night sweats to the good white citizens of the town. Address, Phone Number, and Hours for Fayette City Hall, a Town & City Hall, at Temple Avenue North, Fayette AL. Then she got a lawyer in Birmingham who asked the judge to dismiss the case, describing it as an attempt to intimidate Ms. Whiteside and to punish her for winning election to a traditionally white seat and literally an effort to keep Ms. Whiteside in her place. . FAYETTE, Ala. The men in ties stood in the corridor of City Hall, talking with a kind of familiarity that the newest council member did not yet feel. I think Fayette dodged a bullet.. You got some old ordinances with some old language. Can You Prove Those Colonists Weren't Witches? Welcome to Fayette, a city of opportunities and beginnings. He lives near Boston and has three children. Eddie Williams is on it, Cedric said. The median household income was $25,714 and the median family income was $36,589. Here lately Ive just been down in the dumps, the woman said, and after they talked awhile, another tenant came by to discuss her sons mental illness. She had imagined another version of the moment, one where she had turned to the camera and said to the whole town of Fayette, Why are you so frightened? (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), TOP: Despite aging buildings and the occasional downed sign, Fayette has been trying to revive its downtown area. For additional information on events at the Civic Center or to host an event at the Civic Center, please contact Glenda Robertson at 205-932-8727. BOTTOM LEFT: Residents sit outside Mayfair Manor. Across many fields of endeavor Fayette has been the starting point for people with great ideas, energy and expectations for tomorrow. A city resident wishing to become mayor must specifically run for that office. Whys there always only one Black? Virettia said. There is Opportunity for You in Fayette! He only has one kidney. Virettias mother had shopped at his store. [3] One on the gas board. City Council - Fayette, Alabama She was a full-fledged councilwoman without challenge. Residents sit outside Mayfair Manor. County Office is not affiliated with any government agency. wind speeds 261-318 mph) tornado 19.6 miles away from the Fayette city center killed 28 people and injured 272 people.. On 3/3/1966, a category F5 tornado 32.6 miles away from the city center killed 58 people and . 36101 334-544-0248 egrimes@montgomeryal.gov: DISTRICT 2: Brantley W. Lyons 4256 Lomac Street (36106) 334-557-4196 blyons@montgomeryal.gov . The City of LaFayette, Alabama, the county seat of Chambers County, in East Central Alabama provides the perfect balance between rural and urban life. The racial makeup of the city was 73.4% White, 24.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. At the time, two Black women were organizing Black voters to try to change that when they were accused of absentee ballot fraud, convicted by all-White juries and given the maximum sentences of four and five years in prison. City Council | Fayette, Alabama No FBI Agent Should Just Trust Trump to Tell Truth, Republican Senators Form Wingnut Xylophone, How to Line Your Pockets While Reshaping the Court, SCOTUS Ponders Whether to Dub Loans Unforgiven, Effort to Recall N.O. I worked for that spot. In her new role, she works to help people beyond the complex. She tried to remember that this was the whole reason she had run in the first place. Mayor Hinges on Voter Rolls, Preventing a Repeat of WWII-Era Imprisonment, Fox News Told Viewers What They Wanted to Hear. Cumberland County falls under the requirements of the Federal Voting Rights Act. Fayette County was founded on December 20, 1824 by an act of the Alabama Legislature and was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero General Marquis de Lafayette. It was a small town. My trailer is paid for, cash. Every day, the woman said. The median age was 40.2 years. The mega-rich. Its 20 years I worked for that. Its a lot of language about us in the Constitution of Alabama thats been there since 1921.. 32.8% of households were one person and 14.0% were one person aged 65 or older. City of Fayette | Fayette AL - Facebook We are fans because she goes out and finds those small stories in small places that nevertheless teach us big lessons about what kind of country we actually are, a question that has stumped us pretty badly so far in 2021. Normally thats where the hurt comes from, thinking you know somebody. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. We have a place for you, a place where your dreams can have a beginning. Their combined presence changed the longtime makeup of the council. Whitesides election messed with this informal order of things. For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for Fayette, Alabama . People think we dont have a problem, but we do. The Fayetteville City Council conducts regular meetings on the second and fourth Monday of every month. Virettia talks with a resident at the Mayfair Manor apartments in Fayette. But getting back to what you were saying, baby.. Like spitting on the sidewalk. The mayor is avoting member of the Council. Board of Alderman . The City televisesregularly scheduled Council meetings liveand on playback on FayTV. She read the post again, which gave her a feeling that reminded her of a time when she was a little girl and living for a while in a tough part of Detroit after her parents got divorced. Get your date and time reserved early while they are available. All of that was still in the air as Virettia, preparing for the first full City Council meeting, drove through town one day with her friend Aliska Hughes-Monroe, the new councilwoman from the traditionally Black ward, to see about a zoning issue. I kept my yard up. She saw Black women changing politics across the South including next door in Georgia, and soon she was posting a statement on Facebook titled My Why: I am running because Im a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend and I am committed to our city, its residents and making local government work better for everyone.. Whitesides subsequent experiences surely stemmed from the same kind of panic. (205) 932-4510. As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,285 people, 1,888 households, and 1,178 families residing in the city. This is bigger than me.. Design by Tara McCarty. The story takes a twist at the end which I will not reveal, but suffice it to say that McCrummen has brought us a cautionary tale from a small place that brings us a lesson about a number of big things, including who we really are as a nation, which should stump us no longer. These dreams have been realized by the formation of several companies that grew to be leaders in their fields before being merged into larger entities. The median age was 42 years. Pictured is the Fayette Civic Center, where the Fayette municipal elections will take place from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Virettia had always thought of her town as a nice place to live but a hard place to be anybody unless your granddaddys uncles cousins a somebody. For a while, her father had been somebody the citys first Black councilman but that was long ago, and she had always wondered what to make of his silence about the experience. He needs to go to the doctor. Four days later, a sheriffs deputy knocked on her door and handed her a lawsuit aimed at overturning her election based on the residency issue. Besides Virettia, her cousin was running for a seat on the five-member City Council in another mostly White ward. The age distribution was 21.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% 65 or older. The Council holds special meetings whennecessary; notice of the meeting must begiven to the public and media 48 hoursbefore that meeting. June 2, 2022 by by The City of Fayette is located in Fayette County in the State of Alabama.Find directions to Fayette, browse local businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, road conditions, and more.According to the 2019 US Census the Fayette population is estimated at 4,249 people. The mayor acts as theofficial head of City government and presidesat City Council meetings. Fayette is a city and the county seat of Fayette County, Alabama, United States. 2023 County Office. Fayette, Alabama - Wikiwand A city residentwishing to become mayor must specificallyrun for that office. Social media was aflame with boogedy-boogedy about busloads of Black Lives Matter and Antifa activists coming to wreak havoc in Your Town. [9] The Fayette City Council meets the Second and Fourth Tuesday of each month. The Rot Beneath Green Labels on Forestry Products, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. You see what Im saying? If you wish to speak before the City Council you may fill out a Request Form that can be found on the main menu under About > Council Meetings. All ninecouncil members are elected from singlemember districts and only citizens withineach district may vote for each district seat. View map of Fayette City Hall, and get driving directions from your location. It began with the gift from Lois Wilson, a Fayette native, of her art collection, which ultimately totaled 2,600 pieces of her own and of other artists' work. Appointees are to be city residents. The age distribution was 22.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% 65 or older. You won, they kept reminding her, as she kept thinking of how she was supposed to handle this moment in a changing America, and now the mayor was moving through the agenda, turning to his left for comment.