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The 57th annual Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee was one of the biggest subjects at the Selma City Council meeting on Tuesday night.

City Council President Billy Young, councilmen Clay Carmichael, Atkin Jemison, Sam Randolph, Michael Johnson, councilwomen Lesia James, Christie Thomas, Jannie Thomas, Mayor James Perkins Jr. were all present.

Attorney Faya Toure was one of the three speakers on the Citizen’s Concerns portion of the meeting.

Toure, a longtime Bridge Crossing Jubilee coordinator, expressed her disappointment in the lack of out-of-town guests not putting money into the Queen City.

“I love Oprah Winfrey, but she comes here for the Jubilee and doesn’t put any money,” Toure said. “We asked President Obama to do something, but he did not follow through.”

Toure talked about President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala getting invites to attend the Jubilee, which will held March 3-6 in Downtown Selma. The Bridge Crossing Jubilee returns live and last year’s event was virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the Mayor’s Report, Perkins spoke about presenting a $500 billion dollar Infrastructure plan for President Biden. 

Perkins said that Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn, Selma Housing Authority, Waterboards in Selma and Dallas County worked with him on the plan. “We’re trying to fix it, but its going to cost money, money we don’t have,” Perkins said. “The supply line is broken, its hard to get materials.”

Perkins also discussed the Infrastructure plan at the Selma Rotary Club last month.

The Bridge Crossing Jubilee highlights “Bloody Sunday”, the Selma-to-Montgomery March, and the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The city’s structure continued at the rest of the citizen’s concerns meeting.

Snow’s Cleaning Service owner LeMarkus A. Snow discussed the Hazardous conditions in all eight Wards:  Ward 1 (Troy Harvill), Ward 2 (Christie Thomas), Ward 3 (Clay Carmichael), Ward 4 (Lesia James), Ward 5 (Samuel Randolph), Ward 6 (Atkin Jemison), Ward 7 (Jannie Thomas) and Michael Johnson (Ward 8). Snow said that storm drainage and water meters across the cities need tops  and huge hollow trees in those areas.

Rev. Marshall was the other speaker and talked about King Street fixed.

Perkins said that the city of Selma and Public Works Director Henry Hicks are working on fixing the area, but can’t find the right pipe and the water drainage is a huge problem around First Avenue.