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Mayor Reed touts crime drop, city progress in 2025 mid-year Montgomery update

From crime reduction to community centers, Reed says “Montgomery is working”

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed

At his mid-year media availability Monday, Mayor Steven L. Reed delivered an update to residents outlining key accomplishments thus far in 2025. 

“Montgomery is working,” said Mayor Reed. “We’ve paved roads, reopened community centers, expanded local business opportunities, and reduced crime across the board, and we did it all in just the first six months of this year.” 

Public Safety Progress and Accountability: 

Mayor Reed reported major strides in crime reduction: 

  • Violent crime down 28.3 percent
  • Nonviolent crime down 13.3 percent
  • Homicides down 13.5 percent
  • Non-fatal shootings down 22.5 percent

He credited Chief James N. Graboys and the Montgomery Police Department for smart deployment of resources, advanced technology and sustained recruitment— including a new academy class that graduated last week. 

Mayor Reed also expressed the desire to see violent offenders remain off the streets and invited collaboration across the entire justice system.

“Our officers are doing their jobs,” Reed exclaimed. “They’re making arrests. But sometimes we’re seeing the same individuals back out on the street days later. That’s not a failure of policing. We need to make sure we are holding each other accountable across the system.” 

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Mayor Reed called for cooperation among bail bondsmen, judges, prosecutors, lawmakers and the broader community to ensure that public safety gains are not undermined.

City Services in Action: 

City crews played a vital role in maintaining day-to-day operations: 

  • 2,828 potholes repaired since January 
  • 5.2 miles of road resurfaced 
  • 3,490 feet of sidewalk restored for accessibility 
  • Mosquito spraying covered nearly 150 square miles 
  • Sanitation teams collected nearly 20 tons of roadside litter 

With summer heat and weather delays impacting some services, Mayor Reed thanked residents for their patience and expressed appreciation for city workers performing essential tasks in extreme conditions. 

Economic Growth and Community Investment: 

Through the $50 million Montgomery Forward initiative, the City has: 

  • Reopened Sheridan Heights, Chisholm, and Crump Community Centers 
  • Prepared to open the Courtney Pruitt Community Center later this year 
  • Opened Firehouse 10 on the city’s west side, which now houses Montgomery’s first Safe Haven Baby Box 
  • Launched the Block by Block program to enhance the downtown experience with Montgomery Ambassadors 

In addition, the City is in the final stages of its first full zoning and ordinance update in more than 60 years— a milestone that will guide smart, sustainable growth for decades to come, Reed’s release shared.

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Open opportunities also exist for local landscaping companies to contract with the City to clean up overgrown, neglected properties. Interested businesses can apply at montgomeryal.gov

“We’ve shown what city government can do,” Reed concluded. “Now we need every part of the system, and every corner of this community, to stand with us. Because Montgomery’s future isn’t something we wait on. It’s something we build together.”

The Alabama Political Reporter is a daily political news site devoted to Alabama politics. We provide accurate, reliable coverage of policy, elections and government.

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