Our goal: Better government for our region.
Birmingham’s an amazing community in many ways.
It’s difficult to explain, but we have the largest and most successful civic clubs on earth.
Our Birmingham Kiwanis Club, our Birmingham Rotary Club and our Birmingham Rotaract Club are the largest in the world. You wouldn’t think that it could be mathematically possible. Continue reading A community leader gives Rotarian types hell
Comebacktown published by David Sher & Phyllis Neill to begin a discussion on how to fix our segmented-dysfunctional regional governments.
Today’s guest blogger is John Lauriello of Southpace Properties
I’m an early bird. I come into our downtown office around 7:00 or 7:30 every morning. I see people of all ages out walking their dogs or just enjoying the morning. They live in condos or lofts, and most likely they work nearby, too. Those scenarios were unimaginable in this town 30 years ago. Continue reading Downtown Birmingham makes a huge comeback
Local governments continue to steal businesses from one another and brag about the economic benefits.
Take this June 26th Birmingham News article about the new Target being built in Homewood.
“The city of Homewood approved more than $10 million in incentives for the project in September 2010, and it is expected to be a huge economic boost, said Mayor Scott McBrayer.
What the new Target will do is draw in shoppers from other cities, namely Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills…” Continue reading Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining*
This headline is not true.
It could have proclaimed, “Democratic National Convention to be held in Birmingham in 2016,” but for sure no one would have believed that one.
Of course most of you didn’t believe the headline anyway since, even though we are a Republican state, it seems so far fetched.
Yet, the national conventions this year were held in Tampa and Charlotte. Continue reading Republican National Convention to be held in Birmingham 2016
I’m feeling pretty beat up as I write this post.
I was just called a “moron” by a commenter on al.com.
I guess I can’t take the comment personally because the commenter doesn’t know me.
I write this blog with the sole purpose of creating a conversation on how to fix our redundant, fractured, dysfunctional government. I post it on Comebacktown.com and then it is republished on al.com. I get no financial gain; I’m not running for office. I benefit just like you. If our region does well then businesses and jobs will be created and we can take pride in our community. Continue reading Why do we allow “meanies” to own al.com?
Where do communities get money?
Often from successful business people.
So what Birmingham needs is more successful businesses so there will be more successful business people. Continue reading No Bill Gates, but George Barber and Don Logan
(The Jefferson County Commission decided to close in patient services at Cooper Green Hospital . This post is about the awful government structure that created this kind of problem in the first place)
The headlines of the Birmingham New on August 11, 2012 screamed “City sues over Cooper Green.”
But here’s what the headline really says..
City of Birmingham sues Jefferson County
We’re suing ourselves. Continue reading We’re a bunch of goof balls for allowing government like ours
I grew up in Mt. Brook.
My children went to Mt. Brook schools.
I now live in Vestavia Hills.
I belong to the Rotary Club of Birmingham.
Dr. Ed Richardson spoke recently to our Rotary Club. There was a huge corporate crowd cheering Dr. Richardson as he explained how our State Department of Education is going to fix Birmingham’s dysfunction school system. Continue reading Clueless community leaders cheer Birmingham School seizure
I feel like a jerk when I write a negative piece about Birmingham.
It pains me to criticize the community I love so much.
And it’s particularly hurtful when I get an e-mail from a community leader and friend chastising me like this one… Continue reading I hate being a jerk
I continue to get e-mails and blog comments from folks who live outside Birmingham and Jefferson County and wish the worst for us.
Here’s a comment I received from a prominent Shelby County business person…
“We make money when businesses move from Jefferson to Shelby.” Continue reading Why would a leech kill its host?