By David Sher
I recently met with the CEO of a large private company to discuss how greater Birmingham might progress. He’s a well-known name from a well-known firm.
He was totally engaged in our conversation. He took copious notes and asked thoughtful questions about what I presented.
At the conclusion, I felt good about our discussion. Then he said something that caught me off-guard: “This is very interesting, but Birmingham is a great place. Why would we want to change?”
I can understand his satisfaction. He lives in a beautiful Mountain Brook home. His children attended excellent schools. He has good neighbors who share his worldview. He plays golf at a fine country club. He owns a second home at Lake Martin and a third in North Carolina. His children joined the family business, keeping his grandchildren nearby.
I don’t blame him. From where he sits, it doesn’t get much better.
I’ve lived much of my adult life in Mountain Brook and currently reside in Vestavia Hills. I enjoy a great quality of life in a nice neighborhood with good neighbors.
Recently I had some concerns about my blood pressure. I drove to my nearby Vestavia Hills Fire Department to have it checked. Before I could even get out of my car, three firefighters rushed out to help. They brought the blood pressure cuff to my car and took my reading right there.
Recently, our garbage pickup was missed. My wife called the City of Vestavia Hills to report it. They logged the information and promised to handle it. The garbage was picked up promptly. But here’s the remarkable part: a city employee called my wife back to confirm the problem had been resolved.
Customer service doesn’t get any better than this—particularly from a government entity.
This is the Birmingham experience for those of us living in the suburbs. And it’s wonderful.
A Great Option for Birmingham—No, It’s Not Consolidated Government
For years, I’ve argued that our fragmented government entities need to collaborate. My original hope was for some form of county-city consolidation, but it’s clear that won’t happen in my lifetime.
And so, I’ve shut up about that.
However, there’s a second option I’ve been writing about recently that requires no government consolidation.
We must have a strong county government.
Jefferson County has a legislative and judicial branch, but no executive branch.
Our U.S. Constitution requires three branches for our federal government. Most local governments in America have an executive branch, but not Jefferson County.
An executive branch would strengthen county government and create at least one elected official accountable to all of Jefferson County—someone with the clout and resources to move our region forward.
Just like Jefferson County, Allegheny County Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh) did not have an executive branch, but it created an elected County executive in 2000 and this one act helped turn the Pittsburgh region around.
What’s remarkable is Allegheny County is far more segmented than Jefferson County. Jefferson County has 35 municipalities. Allegheny has 130.
Why It Matters
Our CEO above asked the question—”Why would we want to change?”—reveals our challenge.
Those of us living comfortably in the suburbs of Birmingham have little personal incentive to push for regional progress. Our garbage gets picked up. Our blood pressure gets checked. Our children attend good schools.
But Birmingham as a whole is losing young talent. We’re not creating the jobs and careers that keep the next generation here. We’re not building the kind of dynamic regional economy that attracts investment and opportunity.
We certainly do NOT want to become like Atlanta, Nashville, Austin, or Charlotte—where growth is out of control. But don’t worry, we are at no risk of that happening here.
Those cities are growing because they’re creating opportunities. They’re keeping their young people. They’re attracting new residents and businesses.
The uncomfortable truth is that Birmingham’s comfortable class has the least incentive to demand change and the most power to create it.
Creating a county executive would give Jefferson County a leader with the mandate and resources to think regionally, to coordinate across our patchwork of municipalities, to compete for the jobs and investment that keep families here.
We would not lose our way of life. Our cities would maintain control. We would all benefit.
Our CEO was right about one thing: Birmingham is a great place.
The question is, are we okay with losing our children and grandchildren for lack of opportunity here?
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
