Category Archives: Guest blogger

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Mountain Brook gal: Continued adventures in Birmingham

February 1, 2017 David Sher 1 Comment

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Mimi Shannon. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Last year you may have read my piece on how I moved from Mountain Brook to downtown Birmingham—Mountain Brook gal: Achieving my dreams in downtown Birmingham.

In that piece I wrote that in 2012 I was living in my hometown of Birmingham in Mountain Brook and I was desperate to leave. I felt I needed to reach outside to accomplish my goals and achieve my dreams.

Continue reading Mountain Brook gal: Continued adventures in Birmingham →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham: A lot more than Roll Tide fans and BBQ

January 18, 2017 David Sher Leave a comment

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Casey Howard. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Ok, so I have to come out and admit this up front – when my husband, Robert, mentioned that there was an opportunity at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, my first thought was, “Why on earth would we move to Birmingham, Alabama?” Continue reading Birmingham: A lot more than Roll Tide fans and BBQ →

Government structure, Guest blogger, Population

Jeffrey Bayer announces another preposterous project

January 10, 2017 David Sher 23 Comments

Jeffrey Bayer, Bayer Properties — Jeffrey Bayer, President & CEO of Bayer Properties

Today’s guest blog was written by Jeffrey Bayer.

If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

When we proposed the Summit Shopping Center, folks told us we were insane and the City of Birmingham was accused of being irresponsible for advancing us $5 million.

We paid back that loan within two years and currently the Summit pays the City of Birmingham over $15 million a year in taxes. Continue reading Jeffrey Bayer announces another preposterous project →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Why would anyone from a cooler place want to live in Birmingham?

December 20, 2016 David Sher 4 Comments

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Stephanie Salvago. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

“How did you end up in Alabama?”

It is a question I ask people all the time.

I use to ask it with a tone of disbelief. Yet, I would meet people from New York, California, England, South Africa, and many other places, all of whom wound up in Birmingham. Continue reading Why would anyone from a cooler place want to live in Birmingham? →

Guest blogger

Birmingham real winner in I-20/59 decision

December 6, 2016 David Sher 8 Comments

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blog was written by Will French as response to Heavy handed tactics lead to regrettable I-20/59 decision.

If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

I am relieved by Judge Ott’s recent ruling in favor of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) regarding the rebuilding of I-20/59. I am excited that the ruling will allow the project to go forward, and I think the people of Birmingham are the real winners here. Not losers.

Is it a perfect project? Of course not. Will it solve all problems with the current road? No. Is it the ultimate solution? Again, no. But will it be a substantial improvement over what we have now? Absolutely, emphatically, YES! Here’s what will be better: Continue reading Birmingham real winner in I-20/59 decision →

Guest blogger

Heavy handed tactics lead to regrettable I-20/59 decision

November 28, 2016 David Sher 8 Comments

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest bloggers are Temple Tutwiler, III and Dixon Brooke. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

We are disappointed in Judge Ott’s recent ruling in favor of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) regarding the rebuilding of I20/59.

While the plaintiffs lose this round, it’s the citizens of Birmingham who are the true losers. It is a sad day for our community to have such a huge missed opportunity to make our community better for everyone. Continue reading Heavy handed tactics lead to regrettable I-20/59 decision →

Guest blogger

Birmingham suffering from a leadership crisis

November 21, 2016 David Sher 1 Comment

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Andrew Edwards. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Many people were unnerved when the Birmingham Board of Education fired Superintendent Kelley Castlin-Gacutan. Others were shaken last year when the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority essentially pushed out well-respected Ann August, its Executive Director.

There are deep leadership problems in play in our Birmingham area. Continue reading Birmingham suffering from a leadership crisis →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham: Silicon Valley ‘eat’ your heart out

November 9, 2016 David Sher 4 Comments

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Joshua Jones. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

I’ve considered myself lucky to have spent most of my life traversing different cities, countries and cultures.

As a teenager, I started and sold a series of companies while exploring and working in Latin America. Later, my wife and I moved with our children to Japan, where I worked for a non-profit organization as their Asia Director. Continue reading Birmingham: Silicon Valley ‘eat’ your heart out →

Government structure, Guest blogger

Homewood kicked to the curb for trying to do the right thing

October 26, 2016 David Sher 5 Comments

Peter Wright, President Pro Tem Homewood City Council

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blog was written by Peter Wright as response to “Sometimes you have to laugh at Homewood.

If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Thanks for all you do for the City of Birmingham, but as a member of Homewood City Council, I have to respond to your most recent article about “laughing” at “dumb” ‘ol Homewood for looking at a bus service of its own. Continue reading Homewood kicked to the curb for trying to do the right thing →

Guest blogger

Birmingham parent: How to save our children and our schools

October 12, 2016 David Sher 2 Comments

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Tae Alexander. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

I’ve not been to space, nor have I solved the pressing issues of our today. It would be great to discover a simple cure for that which physically ails and handicap some of those dearest to us. I am simply a random 30 something, wife, mother, daughter, and friend.

I’m a product of school systems throughout western Birmingham, Al and surrounding areas. Continue reading Birmingham parent: How to save our children and our schools →

To begin a conversation about a better Birmingham