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A New Day in Birmingham? We Can Only Hope…

By TWAY Kris

I have avoided extensive comment on the saga and ultimate federal conviction of former Mayor Larry Langford in Birmingham because I viewed it as just another in a long line of terrible tragedies endured by the people of Birmingham and all of Alabama.  It is long past time for the people of Birmingham to turn the page.  If any city in America needed a new generation of leadership to step forward, it is the largest city in our state.

Two names I have heard that may fit the bill are a brand new member of the Birmingham City Council Jay Roberson and the current head of the city’s Department of Youth Services Cedric Sparks.  Cedric was mentioned in the list of potential candidates at Left in Alabama (and I have been told he is seriously considering a run), but Jay was not.

Jay Roberson is currently the associate director of athletics at Samford University, along with having won a special election to city council district 7.  He is a graduate of Alabama A&M and Homewood High School.  While he lives on the west side of Birmingham, he obviously has ties to the suburbs, which gives him a different viewpoint on the challenges the city faces in approaching problems on a metro-basis.

Cedric Sparks was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 by the Birmingham Business Journal in 2006.  He is a graduate of the Miles College School of Law, the University of Alabama and West End High School.  His brother is municipal judge Andra Sparks.  Cedric is extremely bright and well-regarded, but has previously turned down the opportunity to run.  Will this finally be the time he chooses to step forward?

These are by no means the only two people that have the potential to lead the city forward, but what I don’t want to see is a continuation of the same old business as usual.  And that means, Richard Arrington Jr. need not return to the post, nor would I like to see Carole Smitherman ascend to the post.  The time for a new generation of leader has come and I hope that the people of Birmingham are able to see that as well.

As always your comments are invited and appreciated below.

October 30th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Birmingham, Politics | 3 comments

Where Are Strange’s Cuts Going to Come?

By TWAY Kris

Todd Strange will be sworn in as Montgomery, Alabama’s next mayor on Monday and he already knows he wants more police presence and he needs to cut the city’s budget. It will be very interesting to watch where he pulls that rabbit from…

I’m meeting with (the finance director) to get a better understanding of what the 2 percent budget cut will get us and what the candidates might be for a $20 million (cut). And I’ll ask him to get the department heads and begin to focus on the 2010 budget.

I might ask some of our accounting firms to lend us some of their good minds to help us look at that. And maybe even go to what we call a zero-based budget and budget functionality, and from that, build it up.

Traditionally, government looks at, “Well, we spent $227 million this year. Let’s only spend $220 million. Or let’s cut it 2 percent or let’s add 2 percent.” The reality is you may not need $220 million as a budget. So you go in and start at baseline one. We’ll probably spend the summer doing that.

Sounds good, but that still means something gets left behind…what’s it going to be?

Police, budgets top Stranges to-do list | montgomeryadvertiser.com | Montgomery Advertiser.

March 17th, 2009 | Tags: , , , | Category: Montgomery, Politics | One comment

Too Many Mayoral Forums

By TWAY Kris

There are so many mayoral forums between now and the March 10th special election, that they are competing with each other for candidates.

Two debates are planned for tonight.

One will be held at the McIntyre Community Center. Billed as one of the “Super Tuesday Power Debates,” the forum takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The Rev. Albert Sankey and former City Council candidates James Brown and Guertline Miles will serve on a panel.

The Hampstead Institute is sponsoring the other debate, titled “Growth and development issues in the city of Montgomery,” at 7 p.m. at Flowers Hall on the Huntingdon College campus.

Also this week, Building Our Neighborhood for Development and Success (BONDS) will sponsor a forum from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in downtown Montgomery.

Another “Super Tuesday Power Debate” will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Sheridan Heights Community Center.

Faulkner University is sponsoring a forum called “Freedom from Fear: A Mayoral Candidates’ Forum on Crimes Against Women.” The event is set for 6 p.m. March 6 at the E.L. Cullom Rotunda Auditorium.

via Mayoral forums increasing in frequency | montgomeryadvertiser.com | Montgomery Advertiser.

February 17th, 2009 | Tags: , | Category: Montgomery, Politics | One comment

Montgomery Mayoral Forum

By TWAY Kris

The Montgomery Advertiser has a synopisis of the mayoral candidate forum yesterday. I won’t attest as to its accuracy of each candidate’s positions, but so far it seems hard to distinguish between what the different candidates will bring to the table.

Strange said he would “go block by block” to improve the city. He also discussed developing affordable housing and increased communication with the Board of Education to sustain quality schools.

Briddell said Montgomery will have to tighten it’s purse strings, and he is ready to lead a city that cuts out waste and builds on education and infrastructure. He said the recent decision to close three elementary schools in Montgomery was tough, and it’s time for the city to invest in its existing institutions before building new ones.

King would reallocate resources to make Montgomery stronger, added that the city must examine existing resources to increase revenue. He said any development in west Montgomery would come only after public safety in that area is addressed.

“A person won’t come in to a store and shop if they are worried about being robbed on their way out,” he said. “The city needs more police in neighborhoods, to attract business and boost the economy.”

Dow said he’d work to make neighborhoods more attractive by increasing public safety and bringing in new businesses.

Simmons said he’d like to clean up Fairview Avenue and make the transit system free.

Cook said he would allocate funds to economic development and education

via Mayoral candidates face tough questions | montgomeryadvertiser.com | Montgomery Advertiser.

February 16th, 2009 | Tags: , | Category: Politics | One comment
 
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