Good Ideas are a Dime a Dozen; People Who Can Implement Them Cost a Pretty Penny More

I have watched a disturbing pattern develop in greater Birmingham the last few years that does not bode well for the future.
It is a pattern of “good ideas” that are poorly implemented. Take the noble Visionland experiment of local municipalities cooperating to create an amusement destination to attract tourism and outside dollars to a section of Birmingham that needs a shot in the arm.
Problem was this “good idea” did not work for the municipalities involved, and ended up being sold to a private party at about 1/4th the value of its hard assets.
Jefferson County needed to solve some sewer problems, but did so with poor advice from questionable advisors. Now the County struggles with questions of bankruptcy.
Next consider the implementation of increased business license fees and increased sales tax in Birmingham to fund a domed stadium. Add to that a project to provide free laptop computers for school kids. There is always someone paying for FREE, and in this case, it is the City of Birmingham and in the collateral damage area the Birmingham Schools. These schools are dealing with a major downsizing required by a shrinking student population, and the personal pain that accompanies such. The city schools can not afford the distraction or the money that accepting the laptops and keeping them up requires.
These projects have two things in common – a partially thought out plan for success – which greatly increases the chance for failure, and a common catalyst, Larry Langford.
While Mr. Langford means well, his inability to study and think through a project before jumping headlong into it often proves ultimately embarrassing for those left holding the financial bag when he moves on to his next position.
Where ever Mr. Langford “lands” to promote his next “vision” for success seems destined to become the next “Visionland”.
Birmingham would be well to consider importing some other leadership from Hoover besides their new Police Chief.

Protecting Young People, Means Protecting Ourselves

They sometimes come in clusters, and lately there's been a steady stream of them. Young people who die in traffic related accidents.
While us older folks seem to be able to select from a variety of ailments, mental states and mishaps that can lead to our demise, young people tend to lose it more often on the highway.
Since life is such a precious gift maybe it behoves us Alabamians to look at ways to protect our young people and ourselves in the process.
Recently a young man died in our area as his car sped along at about 100 miles per hour. That was a witness' estimate, as the witness mentioned they themselves were going about 85 miles per hour, and this is part of the way they guaged the victim's speed. This was in a 70 mph speed zone.
We all seem to condone the speed and irreverance with which many of us drive. If we didn't condone it, would we not demand tighter enforcement of speeding laws?
While we may hear a broadcast of how fast some teenager involved in an accident was driving, or think this or that driving action was 'bone-headed" on their part, how do we and many adults around us contribute to this problem.
Set a teen driver lose on the interstates around Birmingham, and they are sure to observe someone far exceeding the speed limit, someone weaving in and out of traffic or engaging in some other such risky behavior behind the wheel. It is not always speed related. An impatient driver on Valleydale Road heading east near Hoover's Veterans Park, pulled onto the dirt shoulder to pass a long line of cars stopped for a red light. The driver then turned right at the red light, made a u-turn on the side street and came back out to beat the line of cars back onto Valleydale before their light turned green.
I've got to think we can demand more strict enforcement of our driving laws. Would we not prefer the young 100 mph driver get a speeding ticket and lose their license rather than lose their life? It will take a pattern of strict enforcement in Birmingham and around Alabama over a steady period of time to bring about changes in driving habits.
Good luck on your way to work or school tomorrow, you may need it.