Tag Archives: jefferson county

David Sher posts, Government structure, Race relations

Birmingham: No one wants to talk about race

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David SherRecently, I authored an artcle titled, “Surely this article will get me sued.”

It was about the daughter of a friend of mine who while studying abroad was asked by a fellow student why Birmingham had a separate bar association for African-Americans.  (Her friend had discovered on the Internet)

I wrote specifically that I was not knowledgeable about our bar associations and I wasn’t being judgmental, but I was concerned with the perception of Birmingham since historically we have had a poor reputation for race relations.

I was immediately accused by commenters of “race baiting”… Continue reading Birmingham: No one wants to talk about race →

Corporate community, David Sher posts, Government structure

Birmingham’s 50 most influential execs—maybe not?

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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? →

David Sher posts, Government structure

Good-bye Birmingham Schools?

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Tommy Bice
Tommy Bice, State Superindent of Schools

You’ve seen the headline, Retaining accreditation will be difficult for Birmingham city” schools.

“Birmingham City Schools will have a hard time remaining accredited if board members don’t…start thinking of the system as a whole, said the president of the accrediting agency that recently announced it was placing the district on probation…

… A review team from AdvancEd who was in Birmingham for several days in May found
…that individual board members were not looking out for the best interests of the system as a whole…

“The ramifications are dire Continue reading Good-bye Birmingham Schools? →

David Sher posts, Government structure

Unexpected response: Combine Jefferson County with City of Birmingham

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

We were totally surprised to the response to Jeffrey Bayer’s idea to combine Jefferson County with the City of Birmingham.

Jeffrey Bayer, President and CEO of Bayer Properties, suggested in a recent guest blog that…

“We forget about these surrounding pristine municipalities, and focus on an initial step to bring together the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County. They are the two largest governments, have the most in common, could generate the most in operational economic savings, and could probably eliminate the need for occupational taxes due to operational efficiencies–thereby ridding an economic model that impedes the very growth they both covet… Continue reading Unexpected response: Combine Jefferson County with City of 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? →
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? →