Mobile City Council denies annexation vote

The Mobile City Council voted against allowing 13,000 residents of West Mobile a referendum on whether to join the city, following an expedited hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

The vote fell along racial lines with the four white councilors voting in favor and the three black councilors voting against the proposal that would allow 13,000 residents of West Mobile to decide on annexation. Despite a simple majority of councilors allowing the vote, the item failed due to a lack of a supermajority of five votes, which is required by the state law that sets up Mobile’s form of government.