As a member of the Montgomery City Council, I have watched with growing concern as our city grapples with serious public safety challenges.

Alabama Senate Bill 298, sponsored by State Sen. Will Barfoot, has ignited spirited and loud debate. While opinions differ—some view it as government overreach and others as a necessary response—the core issue is clear: Senator Barfoot is right that Montgomery is facing a genuine crisis in police staffing and crime.

This bill would not be necessary if those in leadership had demonstrated real transparency about the severity of our staffing shortages, along with genuine collaboration and a concrete plan to address them. By the way, this is a multi year issue, it did not get to here overnight. 

The bill would require Class 3 municipalities like Montgomery to maintain a minimum of two full-time law enforcement officers per 1,000 residents. This legislation wouldn’t be necessary if Montgomery as a city, Montgomery as a county, and our community partners were willing to come to the table with honest, candid communication to solve our crime problem as well as others.

Forget the statistics for a moment. Crime is not a partisan or geographic issue—it affects every neighborhood, every family, and every business. I hear people’s concerns daily in regards to crime.

One of the most frustrating aspects of this debate is the very transparency we claim to value but consistently fail to practice. As a council member, I struggle to obtain accurate, real-time data on police staffing levels — let alone other critical community metrics. Too often, instead of collaborating toward solutions, we argue, deflect, and fight over process while our community pays the price.

Meanwhile, cities like Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Mobile, Dothan, and Auburn have moved forward — not because they faced fewer challenges, but because they have collaborated with partners, invested in solutions, and told their stories effectively. We have the resources.

As long as I have been a city councilor, we have enjoyed a healthy budget surplus year over year. Yet meaningful progress on police recruitment remains elusive. Our marketing efforts are simply not working. We must think differently. We need to study successful recruitment strategies from other cities across the country while highlighting the positive aspects of life in Montgomery.

Look at the Equal Justice Initiative. They have turned Montgomery’s history into a powerful draw, bringing visitors from across the United States and around the world. Their success comes from strategic investment and marketing that more than pays for itself. Why can’t we apply that same innovative, forward-thinking approach to public safety?

For too long, Montgomery has been trapped in a cycle of missed opportunity and self-inflicted setbacks. We look at other places and wonder why we can’t have what they have. The reality is that our city can be its own worst enemy.

The only way forward is to improve our recruitment strategies and stop repeating the same failed approaches. 

It’s time for Montgomery to lead with transparency, collaboration, and bold innovative action. Our residents are counting on us. Regardless of your opinion on the bill, the writing is clear. Our city has every ingredient it needs to become the beacon of the South it ought to be — rather than another declining capital city watching its potential go unrealized.

Andrew Szymanski has served as a Montgomery City Councilor District 7 since his election in 2023.