Latest news with #RandallWoodfin
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
I felt pressure to join my father's law firm and moved away from home at 20 without saying goodbye. Now, I regret it.
I grew up trying to fit my dad's mold. One day, when I was old enough, I'd join his law firm. When that day finally approached, I realized I didn't know who I was or what I wanted from life. So, I left without even saying goodbye. I never got the chance to apologize to him for how I left. I don't regret leaving, but I do regret how I left. I dropped it on everyone as if it were an afterthought. It must have been a shock. I knew I may have hurt people who cared about me. At the time, though, I convinced myself it was the only way. It happened the summer before my sophomore year of college when I had overcommitted myself. I grew up striving to be the ideal son That summer, I worked for my dad's law firm, babysat, house-sat, and registered for classes at colleges in Alabama and in New York, where I hoped to transfer that fall. I also volunteered for Randall Woodfin's mayoral campaign in Birmingham. I was exhausted, but the work kept me from spiraling. The campaign became my steadying force, the only place I felt like I mattered. Talking to neighbors and hearing their stories gave me a sense of purpose I hadn't felt in a long time. However, the more I poured into the campaign, the more I realized how little control I had over my life. I had enrolled in business school with the idea that I would help my dad's law firm grow. His business was struggling, and I felt it was up to me to fix it. From an early age, I was expected to be his partner, not just his son. That meant being the one to solve problems, build marketing plans, create websites, and dig through legal documents to find potential cases. I followed my dad's mold. I was always striving to be the ideal son, but that left me little space to explore my passions. I just learned how to be what everyone expected of me. By the time I was 20, I realized that I didn't know who I was or what I wanted. That hard realization broke something in me One night, I lost it on the bathroom floor of my aunt's house, sobbing quietly, alone. When I picked myself up and looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself, all puffy-eyed with red cheeks. Yet, that night, something finally clicked. I didn't have to save my dad's business. I didn't have to stay here at all. I had $1,000, my beat-up 1997 Lexus ES 300, and what I could fit inside it, which mainly consisted of some clothes, my laptop, my Xbox, a TV, and a few books. The car was old enough to have a cassette player but reliable enough to get me where I needed to go: New York, where Jacky lived. I left Alabama for New York Jacky had been my escape for years, the one person who truly saw me. We had built our relationship across different states, holding it together through late-night calls and short visits. That wasn't enough anymore. I wanted to be where she was, with a fresh start in a place where nobody knew me, where I could be myself. In Alabama, everything seemed to revolve around keeping up appearances. When I wore a headband and grew my hair out, I got comments implying I looked too feminine. When I told my peers that I had met my girlfriend online, some laughed and others rolled their eyes. In that world, deviation was a weakness. There was an unspoken rule: this is how life is, and there's not much room to step outside it. So I left. No grand send-off. No dramatic goodbye. I didn't want people trying to stop me or tell me I was making a mistake. One morning, I simply packed my things and began driving north. The only person I told was my manager at the campaign. Things were never the same between me and my dad after that The first few hours of the 1,200-mile drive were a blur. Somewhere around Virginia, my dad called. "You're where?" he asked. He had always told me to leave Alabama, but I don't think he meant it like this. "You always said it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission," I said. He let out a breath, half laugh, half sigh. "Yeah, I guess I did." We spoke after that, but less and less. It was never the same, less like father and son and once more like business partners, even though I seldom returned to Alabama and never worked at his law firm again. It's been 2 years since my dad died I'd like to think he respected my decision, even if it hurt. I always appreciated him, and I wish we had spent more time together. I wanted to know more about who he was and what he wanted for me, but leaving made that feel impossible. Eight years later, and nearly two years since my dad died, I keep thinking about the call we had when I was already halfway to New York. I never got to tell him I was sorry for the way I left. I thought I was avoiding pain, but all I did was delay it. Leaving was still the right decision, but the way I left is a heavy regret that I'll always carry. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Business Insider
01-08-2025
- General
- Business Insider
I felt pressure to join my father's law firm and moved away from home at 20 without saying goodbye. Now, I regret it.
I don't regret leaving, but I do regret how I left. I dropped it on everyone as if it were an afterthought. It must have been a shock. I knew I may have hurt people who cared about me. At the time, though, I convinced myself it was the only way. It happened the summer before my sophomore year of college when I had overcommitted myself. I grew up striving to be the ideal son That summer, I worked for my dad's law firm, babysat, house-sat, and registered for classes at colleges in Alabama and in New York, where I hoped to transfer that fall. I also volunteered for Randall Woodfin's mayoral campaign in Birmingham. I was exhausted, but the work kept me from spiraling. The campaign became my steadying force, the only place I felt like I mattered. Talking to neighbors and hearing their stories gave me a sense of purpose I hadn't felt in a long time. However, the more I poured into the campaign, the more I realized how little control I had over my life. I had enrolled in business school with the idea that I would help my dad's law firm grow. His business was struggling, and I felt it was up to me to fix it. From an early age, I was expected to be his partner, not just his son. That meant being the one to solve problems, build marketing plans, create websites, and dig through legal documents to find potential cases. I followed my dad's mold. I was always striving to be the ideal son, but that left me little space to explore my passions. I just learned how to be what everyone expected of me. By the time I was 20, I realized that I didn't know who I was or what I wanted. That hard realization broke something in me One night, I lost it on the bathroom floor of my aunt's house, sobbing quietly, alone. When I picked myself up and looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself, all puffy-eyed with red cheeks. Yet, that night, something finally clicked. I didn't have to save my dad's business. I didn't have to stay here at all. I had $1,000, my beat-up 1997 Lexus ES 300, and what I could fit inside it, which mainly consisted of some clothes, my laptop, my Xbox, a TV, and a few books. The car was old enough to have a cassette player but reliable enough to get me where I needed to go: New York, where Jacky lived. I left Alabama for New York Jacky had been my escape for years, the one person who truly saw me. We had built our relationship across different states, holding it together through late-night calls and short visits. That wasn't enough anymore. I wanted to be where she was, with a fresh start in a place where nobody knew me, where I could be myself. In Alabama, everything seemed to revolve around keeping up appearances. When I wore a headband and grew my hair out, I got comments implying I looked too feminine. When I told my peers that I had met my girlfriend online, some laughed and others rolled their eyes. In that world, deviation was a weakness. There was an unspoken rule: this is how life is, and there's not much room to step outside it. So I left. No grand send-off. No dramatic goodbye. I didn't want people trying to stop me or tell me I was making a mistake. One morning, I simply packed my things and began driving north. The only person I told was my manager at the campaign. Things were never the same between me and my dad after that The first few hours of the 1,200-mile drive were a blur. Somewhere around Virginia, my dad called. "You're where?" he asked. He had always told me to leave Alabama, but I don't think he meant it like this. "You always said it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission," I said. He let out a breath, half laugh, half sigh. "Yeah, I guess I did." We spoke after that, but less and less. It was never the same, less like father and son and once more like business partners, even though I seldom returned to Alabama and never worked at his law firm again. It's been 2 years since my dad died I'd like to think he respected my decision, even if it hurt. I always appreciated him, and I wish we had spent more time together. I wanted to know more about who he was and what he wanted for me, but leaving made that feel impossible. Eight years later, and nearly two years since my dad died, I keep thinking about the call we had when I was already halfway to New York. I never got to tell him I was sorry for the way I left. I thought I was avoiding pain, but all I did was delay it. Leaving was still the right decision, but the way I left is a heavy regret that I'll always carry.
Fox Sports
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
UFL's New International Player Showcase Aims to Attract European Athletes
The United Football League is going international, announcing that it will host a player showcase in Switzerland in October in an effort to attract European athletes ready and motivated to compete next season. The showcase offers international players the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in front of UFL officials, coaches and personnel directors, per the UFL's official website, and they'll be evaluated based on their performance to be included in the UFL player pool and for potential free agent opportunities with UFL teams for upcoming seasons. "We are the league of opportunity, and we're expanding that opportunity overseas," said Doug Whaley, the senior vice president of player personnel for the UFL. The UFL will also put on seven showcase events in the United States from September to December in Atlanta, Washington D.C., Dallas, San Diego, Orlando, Phoenix, Houston and Los Angeles. The Zurich showcase will be held on October 5, in between the second (D.C. on September 28) and third (Dallas on October 12) U.S. showcases. [MORE: UFL to NFL Pipeline: Tracking Every UFL Player Signed to a 2025 NFL Roster] The league's announcement comes on the heels of rumors that it's considering expanding from eight to 10 teams for the 2026 season and possibly relocating all four USFL Conference teams (Birmingham Stallions, Michigan Panthers, Houston Roughnecks and Memphis Showboats) to new cities next season. Those new locations are expected to be Florida, Kentucky, Boise and Columbus, according to Sports Illustrated. "We've heard the rumors … and have been assured by the league that no final decisions have been made about numerous teams for next season, including the Stallions," Randall Woodfin, the mayor of Birmingham, said this week. The four XFL Conference teams (Arlington Renegades, DC Defenders, San Antonio Brahmas and St. Louis Battlehawks) aren't rumored to be affected by the potential changes. Building more fan interest in local markets — a stated goal by the league entering this season — remains a work in progress as the UFL heads into a third season. "We are looking at every way to reengage and look at our marketplace in each separate silo as we move forward," Russ Brandon, CEO and president of the UFL, previously said. "We're a great product. … We're trying to activate as much as possible in each of these local markets, and we have a great plan in place, I believe, to do that." The UFL wrapped its second season last month, with Jordan Ta'amu and the Defenders taking down Offensive Player of the Year and regular-season MVP Bryce Perkins and the Panthers in the 2025 UFL Championship Game, 58-34. Season tickets for the 2026 season are already on sale. The 2026 UFL schedule — which will feature a 10-week regular season followed by a two-week postseason, including the 2026 title game — will be announced at a later date. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience United Football League Get more from the United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin proposes $591 million budget
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin presented a proposed $591 million Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget Tuesday. The budget focuses on advancing a public safety strategy, recruiting more police and investing in youth. Woodfin's plan includes $21.8 million to increase neighborhood revitalization. It also includes another $15 million for street resurfacing. 'This budget represents our shared priorities,' Woodfin said in a statement. 'We will continue to invest in our neighborhoods to resurface streets, invest in sidewalks and traffic calming, and remove blight. These are common requests from our residents that we are committed to providing.' Community violence intervention programs will receive $1.5 million to support ongoing initiatives. Below is a summary of the proposed budget: Neighborhood revitalization Street paving: $15 million Weed abatement: $3 million (up $250,000) Demolition: $2 million (up $500,000) Sidewalks: $1 million Traffic calming: $500,000 Recycling: $300,000 Public safety and violence reduction Police vehicles: $1 million (part of $6 million rolling stock investment) Common ground conflict resolution in BCS: $1 million Park and Recreation Safe Haven Initiative: $625,000 (up $125,000) Park and recreation youth sports program: $500,000 (new funding recommended by the independent Birmingham Crime Commission) RESTORE Youth Re-entry Initiative: $450,000 (up $225,000) Additional community violence intervention: $1.5 million Youth investments Birmingham Promise for BCS students: $2 million Birmingham City Schools (mental health): $1 million Financial literacy curriculum in BCS: $1 million Common ground conflict resolution in BCS: $1 million Small magic early childhood education: $250,000 Park and Recreation Safe Haven Initiative: $625,000 (up $125,000) Park and Recreation youth sports program: $500,000 (new funding) Kids and jobs: $210,000 Homelessness Services for the unhoused: $1.5 million (new funding) Community development block grants: $800,000 (estimated, annually) Public transportation Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority: $11 million Birmingham Xpress Bus Rapid Transit: $3 million Birmingham on Demand powered by VIA: $2.5 million City employees 1% cost of living adjustment for all employees: $4.225 million 5% merit pay for eligible employees: $3.9 million Longevity pay for eligible employees: $1 million The city covers all healthcare benefit increases for city employees to prevent new out-of-pocket costs: $3.6 million City contribution to pension fund: $40 million (estimated pending actuary's report) The full proposed budget can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
08-05-2025
- Business
Alabama governor overhauls state's largest water utility amid cries of racial discrimination
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The city of Birmingham is one step closer to losing control over Alabama's largest water utility after the governor signed a bill on Wednesday that would give more power to neighboring suburbs, despite a pending federal lawsuit alleging the move would constitute racial discrimination. The bill redistributes power from Birmingham city officials — who currently appoint a majority of the nine-person board — to the governor, the lieutenant governor and the surrounding four counties that are also in the board's jurisdiction. It also reduces the number of board members to seven. Board members approve rate hikes and manage infrastructure projects for the utility's 770,000 customers. The state Senate voted unanimously to pass the bill, and the House of Representatives approved it along party lines. 'No doubt, this is an important issue to all those residents served by this utility board. The Alabama Legislature overwhelmingly passed SB330, and I was pleased to sign it into law,' Republican Gov. Kay Ivey said in a written statement. Proponents of the bill point to frequent rate hikes, old infrastructure and recent scandals. The legislation said that the power transfer will prevent catastrophic events that have happened in cities like Jackson, Mississippi, or Detroit, Michigan. Opponents say that the restructured board wouldn't solve the utility's problems. 'This is a taking of power from the local rate payer by Republican politicians in Montgomery,' Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said in a statement on Wednesday. 'We have seen this same thing happen in other cities throughout the southeast. Your water and sewer bill will keep going up.' Five counties rely on the Birmingham Water Works Board. Over 40% of customers are concentrated in the city of Birmingham, and 91% are in Jefferson County. The new system would give more weight to Jefferson County's neighboring areas that have only a fraction of the customers, but which house some of the reservoirs that supply the system. Woodfin and city council members filed a federal lawsuit against Ivey on Tuesday, alleging that the legislation 'constitutes blatant racial discrimination' because it gives the majority-white suburbs disproportionate influence and takes power away from Birmingham, a majority-Black city where close to half of the utility's customers live. Birmingham City Council President Darrell O'Quinn said that the decision exacerbates long-standing tensions in the region. 'Regardless of whether our efforts prevail, the worst, deep-seated fears of the citizens of the City of Birmingham about their suburban neighbors have been confirmed. Old wounds have been reopened. Years of progress have been destroyed,' O'Quinn said. U.S. Chief District Judge Emily C. Marks declined to temporarily block the bill from going into effect on Tuesday evening without first hearing oral arguments from either side. She set a hearing for May 15. ____
