The primary objective of ComebackTown is to create a conversation on a “better Birmingham.”
We often talk about what’s great about our metro, but we also want to identify our shortcomings so we can begin to propose solutions.
Many are quick to blame our politicians or corporate leadership, but the root cause of our frailties is poor government structure. Continue reading Why Birmingham’s government is so screwed up
Comebacktown published by David Sher & Phyllis Neill to begin a discussion on better government for our region.
Today’s guest blogger is John Northrop.
If Birmingham is a “comeback town,” what do we want to come back to? Surely not the days and ways of Bull Conner. Nor of chain gang labor in coal mines. Nor as a mere colony in a 19th-century steel empire.
Birmingham’s “good old days” were better for some than others. The same can be said of Alabama as a whole. Continue reading How 155 white guys are ruining Alabama
I received an e-mail from a good friend, Henry Long, with a link to an article about Birmingham that made me sick to my stomach.
It was an American Thinker piece titled “Civil Rights and the Collapse of Birmingham, Ala.” written by John Bennett.
It made me ill not only because the article was being read all over the world, but the author totally mangled the facts. Continue reading Article on Birmingham will make you vomit
“We’re going to fix it where they can’t get permission to go to the bathroom.”
This is State Representative John Roger’s warning to Jefferson County Commissioners in retaliation for their decision to discontinue in patient services at Cooper Green.
I’ve published 66 blogs this past year to begin a discussion about our dysfunctional government structure, but this trumps them all. Continue reading Is John Rogers a nut?
I hear it everywhere, “Metro Birmingham’s doing fine; it’s the City of Birmingham that has problems. Life is great in the suburbs; if the City implodes, that’s not my problem.”
If we’re all doing so great, how do you explain that the Milken Institute just named metro Birmingham one of the worst performing large cities in America? Continue reading Metro Birmingham ranked 197th out of 200
As you may have heard a petition filed by a Chuncula resident seeking Alabama’s withdrawal from the U.S. reached 25,000 signatures and now requires a response from the White House.
The petition asks the administration to “peacefully grant the state of Alabama to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own new government.”
Well, if this is a good idea, I’ve got an even better one. Continue reading Metro Birmingham should secede from Alabama
ComebackTown: To create a discussion on creating better government for our region.
According to an article on al.com on October 11, “A rift developed between the city and county after Birmingham filed a lawsuit to keep open the inpatient care unit at the county owned hospital for the poor. The county responded by withholding chairs and tables for the city’s referendum…”
I only know what I read on-line, so I don’t know the real story, but I have three and four year old grandchildren who get along better than our politicians. Continue reading Birmingham sues Jefferson County–na na na na na na
Ever since I began posting blogs with the intent to begin a community conversation on better government, I’ve received my share of criticism.
I was probably a little bit naive, but it came as a surprise.
I have a passion for our Birmingham region and I thought I was doing a good deed.
I’m not running for office and as best I can tell, I’m not benefiting financially. If anyone has any money making ideas, please let me know. 🙂 Continue reading Why many are criticizing David Sher
(The Jefferson County Commission decided to close in patient services at Cooper Green Hospital . This post is about the awful government structure that created this kind of problem in the first place)
The headlines of the Birmingham New on August 11, 2012 screamed “City sues over Cooper Green.”
But here’s what the headline really says..
City of Birmingham sues Jefferson County
We’re suing ourselves. Continue reading We’re a bunch of goof balls for allowing government like ours
I grew up in Mt. Brook.
My children went to Mt. Brook schools.
I now live in Vestavia Hills.
I belong to the Rotary Club of Birmingham.
Dr. Ed Richardson spoke recently to our Rotary Club. There was a huge corporate crowd cheering Dr. Richardson as he explained how our State Department of Education is going to fix Birmingham’s dysfunction school system. Continue reading Clueless community leaders cheer Birmingham School seizure