Tag Archives: Birmingham Business Journal

Time for our old Birmingham leadership to croak

The above title is not my quote because I would be one of the “croakers,” but it’s something I hear from the younger generation regularly.  Okay, they may not use the word, “croak,” but they say it’s time for our old leadership to step aside.

The next generation of Birmingham leaders does not understand our racial divide.  They grew up in a different time and they see the possibilities and advantages of a common vision.

Steve Boswell, a young professional, in his guest blog characterized our older citizens and leaders as ‘doubters’—“a group who believe the racial divide has evolved into an immortal chasm that will not be bridged.” Continue reading Time for our old Birmingham leadership to croak

WOW! The response took my breath away

Lee Thuston
Lee Thuston, Managing Partner, Burr & Forman
Ty Dodge
Ty Dodge, President & CEO, RealtySouth

I never could have predicted this would happen.

When we started talking about a better metropolitan Birmingham with an emphasis on government structure, no one took us seriously.

Now in a short 30 months, dialogue about government structure and particularly government consolidation has moved to the top of the list.

The Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ) recently unveiled its list of Birmingham’s most influential executives and ran the following poll, “Which issue should Birmingham’s Most Influential Executives address? Continue reading WOW! The response took my breath away

An idea that would transform Birmingham

Sam Addy
Sam Addy, Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama

How about an idea most people think would transform Birmingham–but they will not consider because they think it would be impossible to implement?

You may say we don’t need to do anything different because we’re making progress.  We are making progress, but let‘s look at how metro Birmingham compares to our regional rivals in several key areas. (Birmingham Business Journal January 10, 2014).

Comparison of eight peer cities:  Birmingham, Austin, Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City: Continue reading An idea that would transform Birmingham

Birmingham’s 50 most influential execs—maybe not?

David SherOn August 30, 2013, The Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ) published a list of Birmingham’s 50 most influential executives.  (Click here to see BBJ list of 50 most influential executives)

The BBJ tried to answer the question, “Who holds the power in the Birmingham business community?”

The list includes the absolute top corporate and political leaders including Birmingham Mayor William Bell and Jefferson County Commission President, David Carrington;  Jay Grinney, President and CEO of HealthSouth, and Grayson Hall, Chairman, President, and CEO of Regions Financial Corporation.  Continue reading Birmingham’s 50 most influential execs—maybe not?

Judge Scott Vowell tells it like it is

Judge Scott Vowell

Birmingham’s always been called the “city of potential promise,” but our metro area continues to struggle.

Our children are leaving.  Our largest companies are abandoning us.   And we’re experiencing little or no growth.

Birmingham is beautiful; we have smart and generous people; and we’re located in the heart of the South.

How can we fail? Continue reading Judge Scott Vowell tells it like it is

I did a back flip when the BBJ ran this piece

We started publishing the ComebackTown blog nearly a year ago to begin a discussion on improving government for metro Birmingham.

We had become completely frustrated because no community leader was willing to discuss better government.  The response was always, “That’s impossible…so let’s concentrate on something that’s doable.”  Of course, it’s impossible to achieve anything meaningful because of poor government structure.

I was beginning to think we were all alone when this editorial appeared in the Birmingham Business Journal. Continue reading I did a back flip when the BBJ ran this piece

This should make the Birmingham haters salivate

When I first started writing these blogs, I was immediately introduced to the Birmingham haters.

You know the Birmingham haters. They are the stars of talk radio and the first to comment on al.com. They hope Birmingham’s annihilated by the Bubonic Plague, that Vulcan suffers from herpes, and that the Mayor gets dandruff. Continue reading This should make the Birmingham haters salivate

How can we have UAB and suck?

 

UAB has an annual  economic impact of  $4.6 billion

When 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? Continue reading How can we have UAB and suck?

BBJ Readers support unified metro government–two to one

 

I was dumbfounded when I saw the results.

The Birmingham Business Journal ran a poll the week of February 29, 2012.

Readers were asked, “Would you be in favor of a unified metro area government for Birmingham?”

The response was more than two to one in favor. Continue reading BBJ Readers support unified metro government–two to one

Birmingham rated one of the poorest sports cities in U.S.

Legion Field has lost its magic

 

It seems like a distant memory, but in the 70’s and 80’s, Birmingham leaders were plotting to recruit an NFL football franchise to Birmingham.  I don’t know how close we came, but we obviously felt there was a possibility.

Of course, we weren’t successful while other Southern Cities like Jacksonville, New Orleans, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville recruited teams. Continue reading Birmingham rated one of the poorest sports cities in U.S.