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.