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Civic-minded
No this post is not about the Honda Civic as I no longer have one in my driveway, and this post is not categorized under Dork stuff : Cars…
I’ve been thinking of starting a website to give the citizens of Birmingham a peek into the minds and intentions of those running for City Council.
Our City Council has a long and storied past of corruption, bickering, and backstabbing. But WE elect these people. They somehow convince us that they will be different. They will help to turn this city around and make it better. It seems, especially lately, that nothing our government (city, county and state) does actually benefits this place we call home. Any of the recent developments that actually can/will benefit our city have been the result of private entities.
Anyway, back to my idea….
I want to create a website where the people running for city council can tell us what they stand for, and what they will do to end the debacle we call a city council.
I am concerned about a few things, however. Like not getting any of the candidates to respond because they don’t take me seriously.
Maybe I should try to get the backing of an organization like Catalyst for Birmingham but I’m honestly not sure if that would fit in with their mission.
I also have zero experience as a “reporter” or interviewer.
Who knows maybe I can get some people interested in this plan that do have experience where I don’t. I just have an idea, and a desire to change the way Birmingham works.
August 17th, 2005 at 1:17 pm
I think your idea sounds good and I would read it.
Unfortunately, though, I can’t vote. I’m not a resident of the city, but I pay the occupational tax. That’s called “Taxation Without Representation”. I’d love to have a few (very unkind, uncouth and unladylike) words with the @#$#@%es who did this.
August 17th, 2005 at 1:41 pm
I totally agree with your disgust of the occupational tax. I think it keeps many business out of the city.
August 17th, 2005 at 3:33 pm
If I were a business owner in this metropolitan area, I would rather locate my business on a dead end street 50 miles from any other retail business than inside city limits.
The majority of the folks who work downtown are lawyers because they are exempt from the occupational tax.
The rest of the office space is empty.
Guiliani removed punitive taxes when he became mayor of NYC. Then business inside city limits started booming.
August 17th, 2005 at 3:36 pm
Yeah, it’s amazing how that works, huh?
I’m ready for some PROGRESSIVE leadership in this town!
August 18th, 2005 at 8:36 am
I read something online yesterday about the bus system and the DART may stop running…?
Good idea, Nate.
September 22nd, 2005 at 9:55 am
Catalyst is hosting an event after the first round of elections… check catalyst4birmingham.blogspot.com for details soon. It’ll be a forum for people like you to ask the candidates what they stand for before the runoff. You don’t have to be registered to vote in the city limits to attend… this is a chance for those of us who care about this place to voice what matters most to us.