Category Archives: David Sher posts

David Sher posts, Government structure

What folks in Mt. Brook and Vestavia are losing

8 Comments
Mountain Brook
Mountain Brook

I’m uniquely qualified to write about living in Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills.

I grew up and raised my children in Mountain Brook and about ten years ago my wife and I moved to Vestavia.

People in Birmingham– whether they live in Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, or in Trussville–want the same thing—to be around family and to have good jobs.

However, that’s more difficult in metropolitan Birmingham than in many other Southern cities. Continue reading What folks in Mt. Brook and Vestavia are losing →

David Sher posts, Government structure

Council pay increase may be good for Birmingham

22 Comments
Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council

I’m confident this opinion piece will make many of you crazy.

But before you beat me up, please take a moment and read what I have to say.  If you still disagree, then feel free to respond.

Our Birmingham City Council increased its pay from $15,000 to $50,000 a year–plus expenses, effective 2017.

The public and media response has been ugly.

I’m not saying $50,000 is the right amount and I’m not comfortable with the way the legislation was passed, but it’s possible a pay increase is the right thing for Birmingham. Continue reading Council pay increase may be good for Birmingham →

David Sher posts, Government structure, Population, What's great about Birmingham

Atlanta more screwed up than Birmingham

22 Comments

I have mixed emotions about Atlanta.

There’s no doubt I feel a certain amount of envy —probably because I grew up in the ‘50’s when Birmingham and Atlanta were about the same size. I have fond memories of my dad taking me to Rickwood Field to root for the Birmingham Barons when we played the evil Atlanta Crackers in Southern League baseball. Continue reading Atlanta more screwed up than Birmingham →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

2010—the year that changed Birmingham forever

5 Comments
Birmingham Southside pre 2010
Birmingham Southside lot pre 2010

There are two important dates in the history of Birmingham:  1871 when Birmingham was founded and 2010 when Birmingham found itself.

I’ve lived in Birmingham my entire life.  I’ve always hoped for a better Birmingham, but I never imagined the Birmingham that is being created today.

Five years ago, except for UAB, Birmingham was frozen in time.

It was generally accepted that we could do nothing right—so why try?
Continue reading 2010—the year that changed Birmingham forever →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

Zombies spotted in Birmingham

Leave a comment

I’m currently binge-watching The Walking Dead.”—the TV series about a small band of survivors struggling to live day to day in an apocalyptic world overrun by flesh-eating zombies.

The survivors are strong-willed, tenacious—and optimistic.  The zombies are vicious, unrelenting and intent on destroying all that is good. Continue reading Zombies spotted in Birmingham →

David Sher posts, Population, Race relations

Alabama: A great State unless you are black, gay, or Hispanic

5 Comments
Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore
Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore

I recently wrote a piece, “Birmingham punished for being in Alabama,” where I pointed out that job growth in Birmingham and around the state has been relatively flat while other cities in the South are flourishing.

Our Birmingham-Hoover seven county metropolitan area has fewer people working now than we did at the beginning of the recession.

I regularly blame Birmingham’s lack of job growth on too many competing governments, but being located in Alabama is not a positive. Continue reading Alabama: A great State unless you are black, gay, or Hispanic →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

Glenn Beck: Birmingham will restart America

Leave a comment

On the evening of June 17, 2015, a mass shooting took place at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston.  Nine people were shot and killed.

You can’t help but wonder, ‘What if nine people had been executed in a church in Birmingham?’

Would there be rioting in the streets of Birmingham like there was in Ferguson–or would we come together as a community as they did in Charleston? Continue reading Glenn Beck: Birmingham will restart America →

Alabama Constitution, David Sher posts, Government structure, UAB

Birmingham punished for being in Alabama

4 Comments

One of the greatest obstacles to metropolitan Birmingham’s growth is too many competing governments, but that’s not the only deterrent.

Being located in Alabama is also an obstacle.

The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) publishes a report that compares key economic figures of metropolitan Birmingham to eleven peer cities.

In my opinion, the most important of these key metrics is job growth.  And metropolitan Birmingham has no more jobs than they had before the recession. Continue reading Birmingham punished for being in Alabama →

David Sher posts, UAB

UAB deserves better from Birmingham

18 Comments

UAB MascotWhen our Chamber of Commerce (BBA) visited Charlotte in 2004, we were greeted by the President of the University of North Carolina Charlotte.

Charlotte’s a city on fire, but the first words out the President’s mouth were, “We don’t have anything like UAB.”

Can you believe a great city like Charlotte is jealous of us?

But it appears by recent events we may be taking UAB for granted.

It’s been a few weeks since UAB decided to retain its football program, so I thought it might be healthy to take a moment to reflect. Continue reading UAB deserves better from Birmingham →

David Sher posts, Government structure

Grinney and Krulak agree on how to fix Birmingham

2 Comments
Jay Grinney, President & CEO HealthSouth Corporation
Jay Grinney, President & CEO HealthSouth Corporation

Metropolitan Birmingham is the only one of our peer cities to lose jobs from 2001-2010 and from 2011-2013 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Many folks feel the reason for our poor job performance is too many competing  governments.

Why don’t we do something about it?

Because most people feel some sort of government consolidation is impossible.

However, two of Birmingham’s most respected leaders agree that change is critical to our future.   Continue reading Grinney and Krulak agree on how to fix Birmingham →