Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Parents’ anxiety eased by living in Birmingham

June 19, 2019 David Sher 4 Comments

Today’s guest blogger is Trotter Cobb.

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

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 Parents’ anxiety eased by living in Birmingham →

David Sher posts, UAB, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham not worst place to live in America

June 11, 2019 David Sher 13 Comments

View of Homewood from the top of the Mountain in Vestavia Hills — View of Homewood from Vestavia Hills overlook

I’m sick and tired of some people saying how bad Birmingham is.

I love our Birmingham region!

I constantly meet folks, who move here ‘kicking and screaming,’ but later refuse out of state job opportunities and retire here. Continue reading Birmingham not worst place to live in America →

Alabama, Alabama Constitution, Guest blogger

Alabama cities suffocated by a system designed for failure

June 5, 2019 David Sher 9 Comments

Today’s guest blogger is Bill Ivey.

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For a moment, let’s assume a few things about the Birmingham metro area.

That the Birmingham mayor and council are the best we’ve had in generations.

That the Jefferson County Commission is in peak form. Continue reading Alabama cities suffocated by a system designed for failure →

Guest blogger, UAB, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham: The next ‘it’ city by thinking small

May 28, 2019 David Sher 1 Comment

Today’s guest blogger is V.J. Graffeo.

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Birmingham’s homegrown success stories like Shipt and large-scale development investments such as the new Amazon fulfillment center in Bessemer deservingly gain headlines due to the excitement of the massive economic benefits created. Continue reading Birmingham: The next ‘it’ city by thinking small →

David Sher posts

YMCA stabbed Vestavia Hills in the heart

May 22, 2019 David Sher 22 Comments

Empty table at Vestavia Hills YMCA where older adults gather for fellowship. — Empty table at Vestavia Hills YMCA where older adults gather for fellowship

This is a tough time.

I’m hurt, disappointed and am feeling pain like many of my Vestavia Hills YMCA friends. Continue reading YMCA stabbed Vestavia Hills in the heart →

Alabama, David Sher posts, Population

Alabama: Stagnant and poorly educated (3 creative ideas)

May 14, 2019 David Sher 20 Comments

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Alabama grew by about 12,751 people last year.

That’s less than a sellout crowd at Coleman Coliseum where Alabama plays basketball.

Continue reading Alabama: Stagnant and poorly educated (3 creative ideas) →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

What I didn’t expect to find when I moved back to B’ham from New York

May 8, 2019 David Sher 1 Comment

Today’s guest blogger is Barbara Burton, President of Chalker Group, a talent acquisition firm.

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

After 30 years in New York City, I had no idea what I would find moving back to Birmingham.

But what I found was totally unexpected. Continue reading What I didn’t expect to find when I moved back to B’ham from New York →

David Sher posts, Government structure, Population, Regional collaboration

Gardendale, Irondale, & Fultondale: The devil made us do it!

April 30, 2019 David Sher 5 Comments

The national media continue to beat us up–First The New York Times and now The Wall Street Journal.

In December of last year, The New York Times wrote a piece subtitled, “Nashville and others are thriving…while cities like Birmingham, Ala., fall behind.”

Continue reading Gardendale, Irondale, & Fultondale: The devil made us do it! →