Category Archives: David Sher posts

Why is Mountain Brook so polarizing?

Mercutio Southall Jr., being escorted out of Donald Trump rally in Birmingham
Mercutio Southall Jr. being escorted out of Donald Trump rally in Birmingham

Last week Blake Scott Ball, a doctoral student in history at UA, wrote a scathing piece attacking Mountain Brook for al.com titled A brief history of Mountain Brook picking on Birmingham.

He talked about Mountain Brook’s history of ‘establishing segregation laws‘ and ‘moving children out of Birmingham school systems.’

Then there was the national news story in November when Mercutio Southall Jr. was attacked at the Donald Trump rally at the BJCC and complained,“Birmingham is 75 percent black, so why did he (Trump) choose to come here?  He could have gone to Mountain Brook…”

Why is Mountain Brook such a lightning rod?
Continue reading Why is Mountain Brook so polarizing?

Did Birmingham blow its one big chance?

Alabama's four largest cities
Alabama’s four largest cities–Birmingham’s population has been in free fall

I got into a heated conversation with a good friend.

She told me she read that Huntsville may soon pass Birmingham as the largest city in Alabama–and was sure Birmingham would soon be relegated to second place.

This made no sense to me.

Who really cares if the City of  Huntsville is bigger than the City of Birmingham because Metropolitan Birmingham is nearly three times as large as Metropolitan Huntsville.

Huntsville’s not even in the same league as Birmingham.  Continue reading Did Birmingham blow its one big chance?

Nick Saban proves we in Birmingham are a bunch of suckers

Coach Nick Saban
UA Football Coach Nick Saban

I must be nuts.

I’m actually writing an article that might be perceived as negative about the most popular and respected man in Alabama—maybe in Alabama history.

This story broke January 9th; about the same time Nick Saban and the UA football team won the National Championship—but wanting to show sensitivity to Saban worshipers (which include me), I waited until this week to publish. Continue reading Nick Saban proves we in Birmingham are a bunch of suckers

The fairy tale story of Ray Watts and UAB football

Drawing Aly Martin-6 years old--who loves fairy tales
Drawing by Aly Martin-6 years old–who loves fairy tales & UAB

Don’t you love stories with  happy endings?

Once upon a time in the sleepy village of Birmingham, Alabama, an evil UAB President Ray Watts (or his Trustee Roundtable) made the decision to terminate UAB football.

The UAB students took up arms, the faculty revolted, and the townspeople arose.

Chicken Little ran through the streets yelling, “The sky is falling—the sky is falling.” Continue reading The fairy tale story of Ray Watts and UAB football

No need for Birmingham to be a media laughingstock

Even Vulcan is embarrassed--drawing by Adam Stermer
Even Vulcan is embarrassed–drawing by Adam Stermer

I’ve agonized whether to publish this piece about our region’s propensity for humiliation.

One of my best friends warned me, “Why bring it up?…move on and forget it.”

I think we can be fairly certain, however, we are just around the corner from another embarrassment, and another, and another.

You probably think I’m going to write about fights at City Hall, pricey cell phone bills, or unexpected City Council pay increases, but Birmingham politics is only the tip of the iceberg. Continue reading No need for Birmingham to be a media laughingstock

Birmingham NOT one of the most dangerous cities in America

Sometimes I feel invisible.

No one seems to hear me when I insist that Birmingham is NOT one of the most dangerous cities in America.

We hear that Birmingham has historically been a rough and tumble town.  Our media bombards us with one homicide story after another.

Every year respected publications like Forbes include Birmingham in its list of one of the 10 most dangerous cities in America.

Our propensity to crime is just accepted as part of our DNA.
Continue reading Birmingham NOT one of the most dangerous cities in America

Mountain Brook points fingers at Birmingham

Mountain Brook Village
Mountain Brook Village

I love to write about Mountain Brook.

People are interested in Mountain Brook and I know a lot about the subject matter–since I’ve lived much of my life and raised my children there.  (I now live in Vestavia Hills)

When I write about Mountain Brook— I’m mostly talking about the three dozen municipalities that surround Birmingham—so you folks in Mountain Brook—please don’t take this personally.

I was recently talking with a good friend (which I will call ‘Bob’) from Mountain Brook. Continue reading Mountain Brook points fingers at Birmingham

5 Points South landlords are dumb

Grafitti at 5 Points South
Graffiti all over 5 Points South

My wife and I and two other couples were going out to eat one evening.

I suggested one of my favorite restaurants–Surin West in 5 Points South.

One of the women said, “I don’t feel safe around some of the people who hang out at 5 Points.”  The other woman quickly agreed.

So we chose another restaurant in a different neighborhood. Continue reading 5 Points South landlords are dumb

Even insiders screw Birmingham

David Bronner, CEO RSA
David Bronner, CEO RSA

I’ve written repeatedly how Birmingham’s always been dominated by outsiders.

U.S Steel headquartered in Pittsburgh, once Birmingham’s largest employer, controlled our economy.

Montgomery, our state capital, has historically treated Birmingham like a step child.

The UA Board of Trustees in Tuscaloosa calls the shots for our now largest employer UAB.

And through recent acquisitions many of our largest companies and banks are now managed from out of state. Continue reading Even insiders screw Birmingham