Hardworking senior, 92, forced to mow neighbors' lawns after Dem mayor's neglect in historic city

Daily Mail​

17-06-2025

An elderly Alabama man has been forced to maintain his neighbors' lawns for decades after the city snapped up properties for a project that was never completed.
Jimmy Smith, 92, regularly mows the grass of his late mother's house in Birmingham, despite the city having purchased it nearly 20 years ago, reported WBRC.
He still lives next door to his mother's derelict home and said the local government stopped taking care of the property years ago.
'What the city said they were going to do has not been done, and my question is why?' Smith said. 'They took what was rightfully ours.'
His mother, Nancy Smith, sold her longtime home for $42,000 on March 22, 2006, as part of the 35th Street North Extension Street Improvement Project, according to WBMA.
Smith said his mother felt like she had no choice but to sell, and then tragically, she died five days later.
'When my momma got the news... what the city was going to do... although she had medical problems, she died, for lack of a better word, she died of a broken heart,' Smith said.
The project, which was conducted during the administration of then-Mayor Bernard Kincaid, was never completed, and the Smith family property has sat untouched, according to AL.com.
'What the city said they were going to do has not been done, and my question is why?' Smith said. 'They took what was rightfully ours.
'The city took this property, and it's not my responsibility to dictate their policies. They did it — they should have all the answers. Mr. Mayor, it's one of your children. I want action right now. Can't wait.'
Smith remembers his once-thriving community and has taken on the burden of maintaining not just his mother's house but also several of his neighbors'.
'You're looking at the maintainer. Not just this, but that and that and that, that on the other side,' he said.
Across the street is the former Carver High School, the original site of a high school built for black students in 1959 during the era of segregation.
'That's the school where the children made a difference, and Lord, look at it now,' Smith said.
'My God, man, they could do something with that. That hurts, not as much as my mom's house, but close to it.'
'This was a proud community with houses, filling stations and cleaners,' he said. 'I haven't completely forgotten. I know God says forgive, but I ain't Jesus, I ain't never going to forget that.'
A spokesperson for current Mayor Randall Woodin told local media that they are reviewing the forgotten project.
'There are a great deal of historical details related to how the 35th Street North extension project evolved,' the spokesperson said.
'As a city, we are reviewing this area and see the need for access improvements and other changes to benefit the community.'
The city intends to consult with Smith and his neighbors to use their input moving forward.
'Our study of this area will include input from Mr. Smith and his neighbors before committing to next steps for the specific property he has cited,' the spokesperson said.
'His advocacy has been impactful. We'll be following up with him and others in the community soon to discuss possible plans for the area.'
Smith said he has hope that the community will be revived before he passes away. 'Then I could just go at peace,' he said.
'Some years to come, our babies are going to have a swimming pool, and our babies are going to have safe streets,' he said. 'We're going to have sidewalks. Just watch and see.'