Guest blogger, Race relations

Birmingham: “City of Churches”?

2 Comments
Peter Leithart
Peter Leithart

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a more prosperous Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is  Peter Leithart.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Between 1947 and 1965, white vigilantes dynamited fifty black homes and churches in Birmingham.

On one ghastly night in May 1963, assassins tried to kill Martin Luther King, Jr. by bombing his brother’s home and the Gaston Motel, touching off an all-night riot. Continue reading Birmingham: “City of Churches”? →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

Why would anyone want to vacation in Birmingham?

28 Comments
The Vulcan statue--largest cast iron statue in the world
The Vulcan statue–largest cast iron statue in the world

I get jealous when I visit other cities with major tourist attractions.

Birmingham just doesn’t seem to be competitive.

But with a little imagination, we could do much better. Continue reading Why would anyone want to vacation in Birmingham? →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Millennial has love affair with Birmingham

5 Comments
Jessica Poor
Jessica Poor

Today’s guest blogger is Jessica Poor.

If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

I’ve been a Birmingham resident for a little over four years.

I did not grow up in the Birmingham area and I’d really never visited the city until I decided it was going to be home a few years ago.

Like most recent college graduates at the time, I thought Birmingham would be a nice two-year stop on my way to the next big thing. Continue reading Millennial has love affair with Birmingham →

David Sher posts, Guest blogger, UAB

Gun violence epidemic in parts of B’ham: View from UAB Trauma Center

2 Comments
Dr. Jeffrey Kerby, Director of the Division of Acute Care Surgery and Chief of the Trauma Service at UAB Hospital
Dr. Jeffrey Kerby, Director Division of Acute Care Surgery and Chief of Trauma Service at UAB Hospital

Today’s guest blogger is Dr. Jeffrey Kerby.

If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Something needs to be done for the communities in or around Birmingham experiencing a dramatic increase in gun violence. Continue reading Gun violence epidemic in parts of B’ham: View from UAB Trauma Center →

Birmingham Schools, David Sher posts

Has my Mountain Brook friend lost his mind?

19 Comments
Mountain Brook Board of Education
Mountain Brook Board of Education

I was startled when I received the following e-mail from a young Mountain Brook friend…

“How do you think it would go over if I suggested an alternative proposal to direct the proposed Mountain Brook property tax increase to Birmingham City Schools?”  Continue reading Has my Mountain Brook friend lost his mind? →

Guest blogger, Regional collaboration

Jefferson County mayor does the right thing

4 Comments
Mayor Hoyt Sanders of Pinson
Mayor Hoyt Sanders of Pinson

Today’s guest blogger is  Hoyt Sanders.

 If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

A number of Jefferson County mayors signed a pact this year to combat “poaching” of businesses between cities and to pursue long-term economic growth for our region. Continue reading Jefferson County mayor does the right thing →

David Sher posts, Government structure, Regional collaboration

Birmingham mayors prove to the world we’re not bonkers

7 Comments

BonkersPaying attention to feedback from others with a broader point of view often offers insight.

That’s particularly true when it’s The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Brookings Institution, and the Milken Institute. Continue reading Birmingham mayors prove to the world we’re not bonkers →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Mountain Brook parent thankful for living in Birmingham

5 Comments
Trotter Cobb
Trotter Cobb

Today’s guest blogger is  Trotter Cobb.

 If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

As parents, we worry about this every day.

How will our special needs son react as his life unfolds and those close to him die?

This lingering anxiety came riveting home to me not too long ago when my brother-in-law, who was one of my son’s favorite uncles, died. They were together a lot. My brother-in-law Andrew was a formative influence on Trot, who is 22 years old. Continue reading Mountain Brook parent thankful for living in Birmingham →

To begin a conversation about a better Birmingham