Hoover Couple Launches AI Tool to Boost Civic Access

Attend a Hoover City Council meeting and one detail stands out. The room is full, but Millennials and Gen Z residents are largely missing. For some local leaders, that absence is no longer just noticeable. It is alarming.

“That silence should scare us,” said Tanveer Patel, a former Hoover City Council candidate and civic advocate. “I’ve been to council meetings, hearings, and forums. I can count on one hand how many young adults I’ve seen. That’s not apathy. That’s a system that no longer works for them.”

Patel and her husband, Dr. Maqbool Patel, are launching what they describe as essential civic infrastructure for the city. The platform, called “Ask Hoover,” uses artificial intelligence to help residents understand and engage with local government on their own time.

The platform is live at tanveertalks.com and is free to use.

The Patels argue that younger residents are not disengaged, but locked out by a civic process built decades ago. Council meetings held at fixed evening hours, long agendas, dense language, and family or work conflicts all limit who can participate.

“A 6:00 PM weekday night meeting works if you’re retired or have a traditional schedule,” said Hunter Terryn, a young professional who works downtown. “It does not work for a 33-year-old or someone juggling two jobs, or a young parent without childcare. When participation requires sacrifice, most people are excluded.”

The result, the Patels say, is a growing gap between those making decisions and those who will live with them the longest.

“This generation runs their entire lives on their phones,” Patel said. “Banking. Healthcare. Education. Work. If we want civic participation to survive, local government access must meet the same standard.”

“Ask Hoover” allows residents to ask plain-language questions about city business at any time. Examples include recent council decisions, public safety spending, upcoming agendas, and zoning rules.

The system is trained on Hoover government data and provides answers with citations to official sources. Built-in safeguards include source transparency, bias controls, and user privacy. No accounts, tracking, or data collection are required.

“This is not social media,” Patel said. “This is civic infrastructure.”

The Patels have invested $120,000 to build and launch the platform. With future updates, the total investment is expected to reach $250,000. They are offering the platform to the City of Hoover at no cost.

“This is not a business venture,” Patel said. “It’s a commitment to Hoover’s future. A democracy that excludes young people is not sustainable. Access is not a luxury, it's a requirement.”

City officials have been invited to take ownership of the platform and help expand it for residents.

Supporters say the platform does more than save time. It lowers barriers for first-time participants, reduces intimidation, and allows for ongoing engagement rather than one-night attendance.

“Democracy doesn’t fail all at once,” said Hoover resident Raymond Osbun. “It fails when participation becomes inaccessible. This platform reopens the door.”

Planned upgrades to the platform include voice features, mobile app integration, and topic-based alerts.

“We’re not just building a tool,” Patel said. “We’re rebuilding access. Every young person in Hoover deserves to understand and influence the decisions shaping their city. Now, they can.”

“Ask Hoover” is available now at tanveertalks.com, free and always on.