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
Let’s blame Jim Carns for our occupational tax disaster.
Or how about other local House members who voted to pull the tax bill– Reps. Mary Sue McClurkin, Mary Moore, Arthur Payne, or Elwyn Thomas. Continue reading Let’s blame Jim Carns for our occupational tax disaster
The Birmingham News convened a panel of community leaders in April of 2011 to discuss the future of Birmingham. Included were corporate CEO’s, non-profit professionals, and top political leaders.
Each panelist made his/her remarks and then questions or comments were solicited from the audience. Continue reading Four unsettling comments
February 19, 2012
Everyone from Birmingham should read this this piece from the New York Times: “In Alabama, a County that fell off the Financial Cliff.”
As the article states, government structure, as usual, created this mess. Continue reading In Alabama, a county that fell off the financial cliff