Part 3: What Comes Next? How Community Organizations Can Fight for Access After the Water Takeover
The transition to Central Alabama Water is already in effect. Control has shifted, governance has changed, and the system is now operating under a new regional structure.
For community-based organizations like the Black Contractors Association – Alabama Chapter, the question is no longer how to stop it—but how to protect communities now that it is here.
This moment requires a different kind of strategy: one focused on accountability, access, and long-term influence.
From Resistance to Accountability
Once legislation is enacted and a system is operational, the most effective form of advocacy shifts. The goal becomes accountability.
That means pushing public agencies to:
- Operate transparently
- Clearly explain how decisions are made
- Document who benefits from public spending
- Remain responsive to the communities they serve
Accountability keeps pressure on systems long after public attention fades.
Restoring Access Even Without Control
Loss of control does not have to mean loss of opportunity.
One of the most important goals for organizations like the Black Contractors Association is to restore access—particularly in public contracting and infrastructure work. This includes advocating for:
- Fair procurement policies
- Clear and open bidding processes
- Outreach to Black-owned and local businesses
- Measurable participation benchmarks
Access is not automatic. It is policy-driven—and policies can be influenced.
Securing a Permanent Seat at the Table
Real influence requires more than public comments or listening sessions.
Community organizations should push for:
- Formal advisory roles
- Standing committees tied to procurement and equity
- Required consultation with trade and community groups
A permanent seat at the table ensures that concerns are raised before decisions are finalized, not after the damage is done.
Protecting Economic Pathways for Black Communities
Water systems represent billions of dollars in long-term infrastructure investment. Those dollars shape:
- Job creation
- Business growth
- Workforce development
- Economic stability
For Black communities in Birmingham, public infrastructure has historically been one of the few consistent pathways to economic participation. Protecting that pathway is not political—it is practical.
Public systems should strengthen the communities that fund them.
Documentation Matters More Than Demonstrations
Public protest raises awareness, but documentation creates leverage.
Effective organizations focus on:
- Tracking contracting outcomes
- Identifying disparities over time
- Publishing clear, data-backed findings
- Preserving records for policy, legal, and legislative review
Movements can be ignored.
Data cannot.
Educating Without Burning Bridges
Sustainable advocacy requires credibility.
That means:
- Educating the public without inflaming divisions
- Applying pressure without closing doors
- Remaining consistent across political cycles
Long-term access depends on long-term relationships—and the ability to work across systems, even while challenging them.
Redefining “Fairness” in Real Terms
Much of the current debate centers on the word fairness. Community organizations must help define it clearly.
Fairness is not:
- Equal exclusion
- Ignoring historical disparities
Fairness is:
- Measured by outcomes
- Grounded in real-world access
- Informed by history and present-day impact
If policies consistently exclude the same communities, they are not fair—regardless of intent.
The Real Goal Going Forward
For organizations like the Black Contractors Association – Alabama Chapter, the goal is clear:
To ensure that Central Alabama Water operates with transparency, accountability, and measurable inclusion—so that Black communities and Black-owned businesses are not excluded from a public system they helped build and continue to fund.
This is not about reversing the past.
It is about shaping the future.
And that work is just beginning.
Be sure to check in with the Black Contractors Association – Alabama Chapter to learn how you can support and be a part of this movement.
Continue following Urbanham’s ongoing coverage of Central Alabama Water and community impact across Birmingham.
Part 1: How Birmingham Lost Local Control of Its Water System
Part 2: Water, Access, and Accountability: A Birmingham Community Concern
Part 3: What Comes Next? How Community Organizations Can Fight for Access After the Water Takeover
Part 4: So Where Does Birmingham’s Drinking Water Come From?
