Tag Archives: Birmingham

Government structure, Guest blogger

Jeffrey Bayer: An idea that could fix Birmingham

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

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

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

Haven’t we had enough?

Aren’t we tired of falling behind our peer cities?

Cities such as Charlotte, Nashville, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Louisville have created their opportunities for growth because they have consolidated municipal services–not just collaborated, but changed their method of governance.

We say it can’t be done here because the cities of Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Hoover and Mountain Brook, Continue reading Jeffrey Bayer: An idea that could fix Birmingham →

Corporate community, David Sher posts, Government structure

Birmingham powerless again

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View of I-20/59 built at ground level
View of I-20/59 built at ground level

Let’s talk about the Alabama Department of Transportation’s controversial plan for expanding and reconfiguring Interstate 20/59 through downtown Birmingham.

My understanding is the plan calls for limited access to our downtown and for the continuation of 20/59 to cut through the heart of our city.

This controversy is a case study on why our metro area is powerless
Continue reading Birmingham powerless again →

Alabama Constitution, David Sher posts, Government structure, Guest blogger

Birmingham screwed up–Will we get a 2nd chance?

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Mark Kelly, Publisher of Weld for Birmingham
Mark Kelly, Publisher of Weld for Birmingham

The objective of ComebackTown is to create a conversation on a “better Birmingham.” We focus on what’s great about our region, but it’s important to identify our shortcomings.

Many are quick to blame our politicians or corporate leadership, but the root cause of our frailties is poor government structure.

Poor government structure leaves our Birmingham region with no one in charge and everyone frustrated.  Recently, Mark Kelly, Continue reading Birmingham screwed up–Will we get a 2nd chance? →
Alabama Constitution, David Sher posts, UAB

How badly is the Univ. of Ala. hurting Birmingham?

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I graduated from U of A, love Bama football, and wish I could be paid a dollar every time I yell, “Roll Tide!”

Many of my friends are just like me; except the ones that do that “War Eagle” thing.  Living in Birmingham is all about the Tide and the Tigers.

I believe it’s written in our State Constitution  Continue reading How badly is the Univ. of Ala. hurting Birmingham? →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Montgomery girl has love affair

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Amanda Weil Sokol

Comebacktown published by David Sher & Phyllis Neill to begin a discussion on better government for our region.

Today’s guest blogger is Amanda Weil Sokol. (We love when young professionals are guest bloggers)

“Once Dying, Birmingham Suddenly Hot,” was the title of an Associated Press story that appeared recently in the New York Times and other newspapers nationwide. The well-written piece, by longtime AP writer Jay Reeves, highlighted how far Birmingham has come since the turmoil-ridden days of the Civil Rights era.

It is a refreshing read. As someone who loves this “Magic City,” it is exciting Continue reading Montgomery girl has love affair →

David Sher posts

Langford and Bell may have saved Birmingham

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Sunday, June 9th, I was watching TV when suddenly my cell phone lit up with e-mails from people everywhere.

They couldn’t wait to tell me about the positive story about Birmingham in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press, Yahoo News, etc. Pretty darn exciting when media everywhere are screaming, “(Birmingham) has a new vibe that’s generating buzz.”

Every major newspaper in the U.S.must have posted the AP piece, “Once dying Birmingham is suddenly hot.”  

I certainly loved the article, but was somewhat stunned Continue reading Langford and Bell may have saved Birmingham →

David Sher posts, Government structure, Race relations

Did Mt. Brook blow up Birmingham?

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(Editors note:  This article is not about Mt. Brook–it’s much broader than that.  It’s also not about the City of Birmingham–it’s about our metro. Today we examine the topic no one wants to discuss.)

A young, well-respected business man approached me after a civic club meeting. He wanted to talk about our region’s lack of progress.

Soon the conversation turned to our 37 municipalities in Jefferson County.

He said he understood how competing cities hurt our region, but as a Mt. Brook resident he was not about ready to sacrifice his children’s education for better government. Continue reading Did Mt. Brook blow up Birmingham? →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

Thousands will move to downtown Birmingham

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It’s easy to predict the future of Birmingham.

Birmingham’s usually the last to do just about everything.  So if you want to see what’s about to happen, all you have to do is look elsewhere.

When I was Chairman of Operation New Birmingham (ONB) in 1995, CBS42 was desperately trying to build viewership for their newscast.  They were practicing “guerilla journalism” to try to shock and surprise people to build audience.

One day at a public ONB function, a news reporter from TV42 unexpectedly thrust a microphone in my face and asked, Continue reading Thousands will move to downtown Birmingham →

Guest blogger, Race relations

Warning: Blacks—be careful when moving to Birmingham

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Comebacktown published by David Sher & Phyllis Neill to begin a discussion on better government for our region.

Today’s guest blogger is Donna Francavilla.

What will it take for Birmingham to remove the tarnish of a half-century ago?

Whenever images of Birmingham’s tumultuous past are flashed before viewers, the black and white footage and photographs of attacking police dogs, of fire hoses blasting teenage demonstrators, and peaceful protesters being hauled off to jail are shown.  You’ve seen those indelible images repeatedly.  They continue to stigmatize our community in the eyes of the nation and the world. Continue reading Warning: Blacks—be careful when moving to Birmingham →