I’ve spent a great deal of time and effort trying to educate one of my best friends, who I will call Bob, about the problems created by our segmented and dysfunctional governments.
But Bob loves to complain about the City of Birmingham—even though he knows it makes my blood pressure explode. Continue reading Should Birmingham have to pay for everything?
Usually when someone makes a brash statement that something is the best in the world, its considered hype or exaggeration.
However, we can say with complete confidence that Birmingham has the biggest and best civic clubs on earth.
Our Birmingham Kiwanis Club is the largest in the world.
Our Birmingham Rotary Club is the largest in the world.
Our Birmingham Rotaract Club is the largest in the world. Continue reading Birmingham is best in the world
“I’m Jewish.”
There, I said it.
This may not seem like a big deal to you, but I’ve never actually said those words publicly to a broad audience. (Please note I’ve never hidden my Judaism and most of my Christian friends know my religion.)
But when I began elementary school, my parents gave me one clear piece of advice. “Don’t under any circumstance discuss religion or politics.” Continue reading Being Jewish in Birmingham
Look at the magnificent picture that leads this blog. This is the Wells Theatre in Norfolk,Virginia. It’s one of only a few theaters that still exist which was specifically built to maximize the acoustics and close seating needed for vaudeville shows.
The Lyric Theatre located in our downtown is a carbon copy of the Wells. Built in 1914 major stars such as the Marx Brothers, Mae West, Sophie Tucker, Will Rogers, and Milton Berle played the Lyric. Berle said it was “as fine a theater as any in New York.” Continue reading Birmingham is unique in so many ways
Here’s a comment I received on my post, Let’s move to the suburbs and attack the City of Birmingham. I was trying to make a point that our region has suffered because many of our affluent and well educated citizens have abandoned Birmingham—and then they amplify their abandonment by attacking the city for being poor and uneducated.
Our BBA (Chamber of Commerce) takes a trip to Washington every year to visit our Alabama Senators and Congressmen and to lobby for legislation and money.
The BBA prepares a priority agenda and typically a small group of business leaders, politicians, and staff fly to DC to make their request. Continue reading Go home and get your act together!
I was eating lunch at Rotary and I couldn’t believe the table conversation.
A Rotarian who is also a business owner said, “I am so disappointed in Birmingham. I hope when my children graduate college they’ll move to another city where they have greater opportunities.”
Another responded, “I feel the same way. In fact, if I could move my business, I would move tomorrow.” Continue reading We’re losing our children
On August 5, 2011, Standard & Poor lowered the U.S. debt rating saying, “The downgrade reflects our view that the effectiveness, stability, and predictability of American policymaking and political institutions have weakened at a time of ongoing fiscal and economic challenges.”
On November 9, just three months later, our Jefferson County filed the biggest U.S. municipal bankruptcy in history after an agreement among elected officials and investors to refinance $3.1 billion in sewer bonds fell apart. Continue reading What’s killing America is killing Birmingham
I’m absolutely thrilled we are building a new baseball stadium downtown. When I was a child my dad took me to see the Barons play at Rickwood Field. Watching baseball with my dad created memories I will never forget.
I saw the Barons play teams like the Nashville Vols, the New Orleans Pelicans, the Memphis Chicks, and the Atlanta Crackers. Continue reading Look how far we’ve fallen
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