City council votes in favor of pep rally

The Tuscaloosa City Council unanimously approved a resolution that will allow the University Strip Merchants Association to sponsor an Alabama/Tennessee pep rally in preparation for Saturday's game.

The Strip will be closed off today for the festivities. According to the resolution, the purpose of the pep rally is to "promote the spirit of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football and to encourage visitors to Tuscaloosa to visit historical downtown Tuscaloosa and to provide entertainment to the inhabitants of the city."

Councilman William Tinker III said the pep rally has become a tradition and said it gives extra activities to fans.

"It has become a big rivalry and there will be many fans in attendance. It's a good thing," Tinker said.

Jessica Albe, a freshman majoring in psychology, said she is unsure how thousands of Tide fans will get pepped up with so many Tennessee fans there.

"I foresee fights," she said. "I know how the Georgia fans were after they won, and if the Tennessee fans are anything like that, I don't want to be around."

Councilman Lee Garrison said security would be present in full force for the pep rally.

"The pep rally on University Boulevard gives an area for fans to come to one secure place for entertainment and to have a good time," Garrison said. "Alabama fans and Tennessee fans can come together and enjoy Tuscaloosa."

Ryan Roberts, a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering, said he did not know about the pep rally last year, but he will be attending today.

"I'll go to support my team and get fired up," Roberts said. "It's my niche."

The council also voted 6-1 to increase the Tuscaloosa lodging tax from 7 percent to 9 percent. Since a unanimous decision was not reached, the resolution was not adopted. The council will vote on the resolution again next Tuesday.

The original plan was unanimously agreed upon during a financial meeting by the council three weeks prior to Tuesday's meeting. Councilman Kip Tyner, who voted against the resolution, said he wished the members of the hotel industry could have been included in the meeting.

"I know I voted for the resolution earlier, but I have had some time to think about it, and I feel we should have introduced this proposal to the business owners before we voted," Tyner said.

Toby Wilson, the president of the Tuscaloosa Area Hospitality Association, asked the council to rethink its decision, because he said it will negatively affect the hotel industry.

"We are competing with gas prices and other travel costs," Wilson said. "Increasing [prices] will impact the industry. "

Garrison, who serves as the finance chairman, said the tax increase is necessary and said it will still keep Tuscaloosa competitive with other Alabama cities.

"In order to keep improving the riverfront and the downtown Tuscaloosa area we must have money," Garrison said. "We have received federal and state grants, but we need more, and I think this is the way to go to reach our goals."