Today’s guest columnist is Bucky Wood.
I was born and raised in Birmingham.
I currently live in Mountain Brook.
Some of you may jump to conclusions about people who live in Mountain Brook.
But I want to make it clear that me and many of my neighbors care about Birmingham, would like to make a difference, but feel powerless.
I have been thinking about two things recently:
1) The mass shootings in 5-Points South and…
2) How those of us that live in the communities around Birmingham feel so impotent to help.
We care about Birmingham, of course. But since we are not directly affected, and do not feel at risk, we just pass it off in casual conversation.
But things are changing rapidly, and it is time to re-think our indifference.
It prompted me to wonder if, and how, local citizens could help. Getting the right people involved has resulted in dramatic changes before, witness the restoration of UAB Football and the Woodlawn Dream Center.
Crime in general, and murders in particular have become a regular diet in our great city. Most of us who live outside the city-limits view it as a tragic occurrence, but it is not really on our radar.
That is because we do not (yet) feel directly affected. We feel safe and sound in our little suburb and do not really feel at risk. I am as guilty as anyone else. But we have all walked the streets of the Southside with our wives, children and grandchildren hundreds of times.
When someone asks us where we are from, we say Birmingham, even though only 17% of those in the Metro area truly are. This is not a “Birmingham problem”, it is an “all of us problem”.
Many may now restrict going into Birmingham. Soon applications to our UAB University and Medical School may be affected. I trained in my profession at UAB from 1966 through 1975. Students, employees, nurses, professors, doctors…all of us felt safe on the streets back then. It has changed now. And I would ask those students/professionals this: do you still feel safe in our streets?
Solutions escape us, but at the very least, we could and should mobilize our thoughts toward thinking about it in a more personal way. The “City”, “Our City”, cannot do this alone or else they would have solved the problem already.
Getting our citizens more motivated to voice opinions and ideas would be a good starting point. Solutions are tough to find, and there may not be one at all. But rather than giving up, it is time that we express ourselves. We care about greater-Birmingham, not just our small vestibules.
There is nothing to gain, and no progress can be made, by simply blaming someone else (the Mayor or police e.g.), but certain things are more obvious:
- Open Carry Law: In Alabama now, a person over 19 can carry a gun without a permit. This impedes the police activity. The visible presence of a gun is no longer a premise of unlawful behavior.
- Lack of Prosecutions: There is a growing reluctance to prosecute criminals. Reasons may include prison overcrowding resulting in early release without bail. But criminal activity must be deterred by fear of consequences.
- Politics and Emotion of Race: This is both a cultural and criminal problem, but when someone tells us that mass shootings are only a cultural problem, it destroys the motivation for citizens to become involved.
I am a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and a proud gun owner. But Open-Carry is absurd. Most, if not all, Chiefs of Police agree. Reversing the “Open-Carry” law will be hard, because so many think of it as a 2nd Amendment issue.
Motivating prosecutors to become more active and optimistic about getting the criminals off our streets may be difficult but must happen.
And until we can openly discuss the disparity of crimes by race, progress will be difficult. It is more than simply a “cultural problem”. Correcting a cultural issue will take time. Solving a criminal issue should be faster.
We all have viewed Birmingham as “our city” and we must remain attentive and vigilant to the effects that crime is having on all of us.
There are many other factors, of course, that should be addressed. The school system, educating our inner city kids, the poor economics of certain areas, and the continued need for the election of honest brokers to lead us forward. By working together, we can make all of this happen.
Bucky Wood, retired Surgeon, proudly born and raised in Birmingham.
David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).
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Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. dsher@comebacktown.com
Well Bucky Wood I will say this community warts and really needs more men like you to stand in the public square! We have 33 cities and 13 school systems in Jefferson County. That makes no sense, but hey race and politics and economics have never made sense in this city or county or state. I have some thoughts on how the citizens of Mountain Brook and the citizens of Birmingham might can work together on project or two.
Thanks George. I’d love to hear your ideas about projects that would benefit us all. I also have a few and would like to implement them.
Bucky, thank you for speaking up. I live in Tuscaloosa, while certainly not the size of Birmingham, is slowly moving up the crime charts and not in a good way. I know Birmingham is trying to hire more protection as is Tuscaloosa but criminals have greatly outnumbered our police protection. You are right in saying since it doesn’t affect me then it’s not a problem. We’ll, we had a murder just one mile from me so it is my problem. Best of luck to you and the citizens of Birmingham.
As a former resident of Birmingham, Ala for 27 years both in Homewood and the Southside area, your well written comments hit home for myself as I now live in San Diego, CA. I wish for the days I lived back in your wonderful city among the finest set of friends I ever had in my long life. Bucky, you have made a point for all of us in America, that the issues Birmingham now face are the same throughout the major cities of America. By working together and getting involved a crime ridden area of one area of a major city needs to be a priority for all the suburbs of that same city ! Thank you for reminding me that every citizen has a responsibility for our fellow man ! And doing nothing is just that doing nothing !
Russell Smith
San Diego, CA
Roll Tide
Boomer Sooner
Bucky,
Thank you for sharing your observations concerning the crime trend in “Birmingham.” While it is a sore subject it must be addressed and corresponding actions taken., I remember when downtown Birmingham was robust with shopping activity. And during the Christmas season store windows gathered crowds of onlookers. I miss those days and the nostalgia that accompanied them. All rooted out by crime? I have been observing the homeless situation in Birmingham too. Am appalled at watching people eat from garbage on City Streets.
In reference to Birmingham’s treasure, let’s not omit UAB in this! It’s the number one employer in the area. And a great learning institution producing the highest level of education possible.. We are blessed to have UAB at our door but also need to protect its presence as a great asset to our City. One of those shot in Five Points was a UAB football player.
I recommend a new task force be created that directly addresses crime and the authority to implement actions that would make Birmingham Great again. There is a horrific problem with leadership in the City of Birmingham but those voting continue to vote the same people back into office., Therefore there is never any progress. This has to be remedied or Birmingham will continue to die.
I disagree. City leadership should certainly be looking for new ways to address this epidemic of violence but city leadership is certainly not “the problem”. There are about 12 initiatives in place right now to address all kinds of things like violence, homelessness, conflict resolution, blight, housing, transit, and achievement in schools, among other things. Despite increasing gun violence the city has been on a decidedly upward trajectory for years. The city budget and business receipts in 2023 were the largest in its history. There are 11K people living in the city center, the most ever and one of the only city neighborhoods increasing in population. That is not a “dying” city. It is a city in a state of rebirth with a tiger in the room called gun violence that must be tamed before it can realize its potential. I know this does not fit the preferred narrative of many here but it has just as much validity as any “dying city” narrative would.
JR, you say you disagree. I did not say that leadership “was the problem”. I love my city and expressed my pride in what it has accomplished. I love, and come to the downtown area weekly, and have many friends who live there. I never said that it was a “dying city”, only you said that. You agree that gun violence is “a tiger in the room”, just as I have said. I am speaking up (and out) because we all can see that the city cannot do it alone. I’m encouraging others to become a part of the solution, not simply critics.
So you disagree, with what? What was written that you do not agree with? My history has been lived inside our city, and rather than sit back and claim that everyone outside is against us, why not become a part of a team that can cooperate to find solutions to the obvious problems?
Thank you Russell….we need you back in Birmingham! Your thoughts and actions would be a huge benefit to us now!
Ray it saddens me each time a murder happens!
These communities are more connected than most people realize! Get engaged please.
We can’t just wait until the wolf is at your door but please know we are our neighbors keepers.
You guys in Tuscaloosa are not yet immune from criminal and gang activity.
Bucky: While do not agree with everything you say (I support open carry), the central point in your thesis is sound. I am reminded of a bit of Birmingham ancient history — around 1910, the city was being strangled by “suburbs” surrounding it. The state legislature stepped in and consolidated the area into the city proper. The current situation has many similarities; the surrounding communities view Birmingham as “foreign turf”, not realizing that we must all sink or swim together. We can all pull together if we will without requiring legislative action.
Hi Jack. I may have missed my point about “open carry”. I have now talked to 4 Police Chiefs, and each of them say that this “law” prevents them from using guns as “reasonable suspicion” when trying to deter the bad guys from their bad actions. Like you, I strongly support the right to own and carry, but permits allow for background checks that both deter and prevent the bad guys from having guns. I’m sure that you would agree that they should NOT have the guns, and certainly not have the right to carry them openly?
Thank you, Bucky. I agree with everything you’ve said—and I’m afraid it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
We don’t like to admit our many flaws and mistakes in this country. We’re the best country in the world, but are a long way from perfect. One of those flaws is that the U.S. has always been a violent country. And, as John Archibald recently pointed out, Birmingham has an extremely violent legacy.
We’re facing an epidemic—locally and nationally. This crisis requires a massive alliance of multiple sectors: law enforcement, universities, healthcare, criminal justice, all levels of government, and God knows who else.
As a physician, I think you will understand this perspective. I would love to get your thoughts!
Thanks again!
Thank you Bill, and I agree completely with your notion that we improve, first by admitting to our flaws. But no purpose is served by dwelling on them ad infinitum. Solutions are all that matter today. You hit the nail on the head about the need for an alliance of multiple sectors, and that is the direction we should head. The worst possible response is to simply become aggressively defensive and incorrectly assume that those who want to help are not genuinely concerned and willing to help.
Thanks for your thoughtful response, Bucky. And I don’t want to beat anyone up about our flaws—just simply acknowledge them.
Please keep up the good fight
I agree with you Bucky and it is a now or never moment for Birmingham to take back Southside. I lived and worked many years in that Magical area. It was kind and accommodating to everyone, I hope it isn’t forgotten into a state of let people do what they want, there are areas of town that were once beautiful welcoming show places. No one goes into them anymore and it is a shame, I was raised in such an area. Why was the Police sub station removed with nothing else put in it’s place? I CHOOSE SOUTHSIDE!
Thank you PMc, and like you, I love Southside. I lived there while in school. We need desperately a strong and renewed commitment to deter crime and rejuvenate that part of our great city.
Thanks Bucky! More has to be done to save this place and it’s unique history.
Bucky…there are at least two national organizations to be aware of. Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms for Gun Sense in America.
There’s also a nice article on the City of Birmingham’s Gun Violence Intervention Program in the October 9 Alabama Political Reporter. (Or is it named the Violence Intervention and Prevention Partners program?)
Hello Bucky,
I appreciate your story about the Southside and Bham in general. I was born on the Westside at Holy Family Hospital in 1957. I graduated from Ensley High School and the University of Alabama. I am Bham!
While the Southside has always been an area once considered off limits or immune to vicious crimes, i used to frequent the nightspots there as a young man. I knew when the crimes happened there, more focus or stories like this would appear. We need a city-wide revitalization in all of the communities. We need more programs for the youth. We need more skip level meetings with leaders to get down to the real reasons for the increase in crimes throughout the city. When I was a kid, we settled everything with a good fist fight. The next day everyone was friends again. There are zero de-escalation thoughts running through anyone’s mind these days. They are strapped. It’s just fire away. The freeways are like the autobahn in Germany. Don’t try to get over, you might get shot. It’s sickening.
The open carry bill signed off by Governor Ivey has my emotions all over the place. How can you curb crime in a state where there are economic factors such as jobs, homelessness and housing, racism and too much focus on what certain politicians opinions are. We know who they are. Put the people first and politics second. That sounds impossible I’m sure. One person replied that we have a leadership issue. I agree and it starts at the top in Montgomery. I heard a popular caller on WJLD say “he would rather have crumbs with bums instead of steaks with snakes. “ Think about it.
I recently retired and moved back to Bham Metro after being gone for 10 years. I followed AL.com and WJLD from Atlanta, Dallas and Knoxville. I was hesitant about moving back due to the criminal elements plaguing this city I love. So I moved to Trussville but I can’t shelter in place. I have relatives, friends, church and restaurants I have to visit in Bham. I was in a mentoring programs to help the youth prior to moving back home. There were 43 kids and only two had their fathers in their lives. That’s probably unheard of in certain suburban areas of Bham. No question this exist in Bham and contributes to the issues at hand.
Possible Solutions:
– Change the open carry-no permit law.
– Speed the process up in the courts so that criminals don’t think that jail is a time-share.
– Tired of hearing about initiatives. Where are they? Who’s leading them?
– Hold our leaders accountable. Hold them responsible for their agendas or vote them out.
– People-first and Servant-leadership before “Profit.”
– Help the police department. What happened to the Neighborhood Watch Programs. Can’t be afraid of the neighborhood criminals. Unplanned checkpoints during peak hours randomly and when necessary in the recognized hotspots.
– Get church leaders together from cross-denominations.
– Bucky and Dr. Munchus, let’s get those communities together to share ideas to bring back the missing magic in this city.
Peace and safety to all!
Mr. A.R. Rich,
If we had more folks like you, we could begin to make progress much faster! I appreciate your thoughts and ideas, especially those relating to our legal process needs. We must find a way to apply the necessary incentives to our elected leaders (losing an election, e.g.). There is much going on now that could make a difference, but progress will be slower than we desire.
Thank you Mr Rich, you make a lot of sense. in your roadmap of immediate steps to take. Should there be a gathering of concerned citizens prompted by Mr Wood’s timely article and Comebacktown diligence, please let us know.
Thank you, Bucky, for your passion, advocacy, and commitment to standing up for our community! Imagine the impact if UAB and Comeback Town could spark the creation of a Task Force that unites citizens and organizations across the greater Birmingham area. By establishing a system for meaningful recommendations and in-person committees, we could extend our reach far beyond the city limits and drive real change. I’ve always found Comeback Town inspiring, but we should also figure out together how to bring so many great ideas to life!
That is a great point, and idea Lis. Communicate that to David Sher as well, since he is THE driving force to a better Birmingham, united together across the entire county.
BW
What a great article by my old med school drinking buddy. You need to get in touch with David Thrasher MD who is working tirelessly here in Montgomery for same goals. Bubba
It’s people like this who you want leading a steering committee. I am impressed.
But I also cound’t resist in touting what is happening in Georgia right now. There was a 134% increase in day 1 voting, a record. 2020 was the previous record. Change begins at the ballot box.
I hope Alabama will join us and go vote. Every vote counts.
Bucky I agree with everything you said, I’m from Jasper but I live in Fultondale and I also have several family members and friends who live in Birmingham, I absolutely love the city, it’s beautiful and it’s lots of attractions, restaurants and destinations. This is an us problem and it saddens me to see the gun violence that’s taking place. We need more people like you who are solution based, I’m a firm believer in the 2nd amendment but I never believed that open carry was part of any solution, in my opinion it somewhat thwarts the ability for law enforcement to do their jobs. Most of the gun violence is perpetrated by young males, Black Males in particular that are not valued in their communities. It’s so unfortunate, I am a middle age Black Man and some of the conversations I’ve had with these young folks is pretty sad. There are opportunities for them but a lot of these young people aren’t aware of them, perhaps the Schools can focus a bit more on these opportunities and less time on punishment.