Red Mountain Cut idea goes viral (New video)

Red Mountain Cut at night
Vision of Red Mountain Cut (Photo courtesy of Red Mountain Cut Foundation)

By David Sher

Two weeks ago Bryson Stephens grabbed Birmingham’s attention with a brilliant idea for a lighted bridge alongside the Red Mountain Cut–an idea that could change the face of Birmingham.

The response has been positive and overwhelming.

Called “Gateway to the City, Bridge to the future,” a new website and video have just been launched. Continue reading Red Mountain Cut idea goes viral (New video)

Unprecedented $50M grant huge boost for Birmingham

Dontrelle Young Foster
Dontrelle Young Foster

Today’s guest columnist is Dontrelle Young Foster.

A once vibrant community, full of life and promise, now sits quietly in a forgotten area.

Located just a stone’s throw away from Legion Field and steps from A.H. Parker High School is the once bustling neighborhood known as Smithfield. Continue reading Unprecedented $50M grant huge boost for Birmingham

New partnership marks stunning victory for our parks

Thomas Spencer
Thomas Spencer

This week’s guest columnist is Tom Spencer.

This month, the Jefferson County Greenways Commission is launching a national search for a superintendent to lead the development of a system of large-acreage public parks, bringing together Red Mountain Park, Ruffner Mountain, and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. Continue reading New partnership marks stunning victory for our parks

A one-of-a-kind world-class asset could change the face of Birmingham

Bryson Stephens
Bryson Stephens

Today’s guest columnist is Bryson Stephens.

(Illustrations below show what is possible for our Red Mountain Cut)

On a chilly winter day in 2015, my 11-year-old daughter and I climbed the eastern wall of the Cut in Red Mountain.

A few months prior, a businessperson had told me that the Cut “looked like crap.” The last time I had physically been there was on an elementary school field trip in the early ‘80s, so I wanted to see it for myself. And it seemed like a good father-daughter excursion. Continue reading A one-of-a-kind world-class asset could change the face of Birmingham

French gal’s love affair with Birmingham

Claire Le Clech
Claire Le Clech

Today’s guest columnist is Claire Le Clech.

Bonjour!

I am Claire Le Clech, a French law student from Paris who spent two months in Birmingham for an internship with a Judge-Judge Patricia Stephens at the Domestic Relations Court-and I want to share with you a little bit about my experience. Continue reading French gal’s love affair with Birmingham

Pelham, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook flimsy excuse to raise taxes

Pelham Civic Center
Pelham Civic Complex

By David Sher

I don’t get the logic.

I read the headlines and excuses, but they make no sense.

Read this recent headline.

Pelham raises sales tax for the first time since 2013 Continue reading Pelham, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook flimsy excuse to raise taxes

Is Jefferson County about to lose #1 license plate?

Alabama License Plate
Jefferson County license plates begin with the number 1.

By David Sher

I’m going to talk about Alabama’s  license plate codes to  belly-ache about our Birmingham regions lack of growth.

When I was a child traveling out of state and I saw an Alabama license plate beginning with the number 1, I would proudly proclaim to my family that the folks in that car were from Birmingham, and I would think to myself: Birmingham, the #1 city in Alabama.
Continue reading Is Jefferson County about to lose #1 license plate?

To begin a conversation about a better Birmingham