Birmingham Coffee House

[kayman]

Real talk: It is not sitting very well with me on how Charlotte and its cpntinuing monopolizing corporations and companies continue to want to control Birmingham and its business community. Honestly, I am sick and tired of this occuring. Birmingham based corporations need to realize they are an asset to this region and community not just trying to line their pockets with money. This city has too much potential to be overshadowed and constantly pushed over by Charlotte.

Edited August 3, 2006 by Leonard23

[DruidCity]

This city has too much potential to be overshadowed and constantly pushed over by Charlotte.

One odd bit is that the Retirement Systems of Alabama arguably has more investment in Charlotte than in Birmingham:

http://www.rsa.state.al.us/Investments/investment_links.htm

http://www.raycommedia.com/companies/raycomsports.htm

http://www.raycomsports.com/companyhistory.htm

"Based in Charlotte, (Raycom Sports) has provided employment to over 400 employees and income for hundreds of other freelance employees."

[kayman]

One odd bit is that the Retirement Systems of Alabama arguably has more investment in Charlotte than in Birmingham:

http://www.rsa.state.al.us/Investments/investment_links.htm

http://www.raycommedia.com/companies/raycomsports.htm

http://www.raycomsports.com/companyhistory.htm

"Based in Charlotte, (Raycom Sports) has provided employment to over 400 employees and income for hundreds of other freelance employees."

And see that is why I am convinced they are another Atlanta-wannabe like Nashville. I hope they enjoy and reap the positives as well as the negatives of copying the path of one of the biggest sprawling regions in the world.

[kayman]

I for one applaud Larry Langford for addressing the homeless problem in the region. UAB has shown that Birmingham is home to some 3,000 (more per capita than any city its size in the country) on any given night. It's good to see that he is stepping up and saying something when our other lame-duck commissioners Collins, White, and Buckelew does nothing but complain (like usual).

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/inde...&thispage=2

Edited October 31, 2006 by Leonard23

[rivercity123]

I for one applaud Larry Langford for addressing the homeless problem in the region. UAB has shown that Birmingham is home to some 3,000 (more per capita than any city its size in the country) on any given night. It's good to see that he is stepping up and saying something when our other lame-duck commissioners Collins, White, and Buckelew does nothing but complain (like usual).

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/inde...&thispage=2

[kayman]

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/inde....xml&coll=2

Bernard Kincaid needs STFU! He is such a piece of useless junk just like police chief Annetta Nunn. They are like the most inept duo I've seen in my history of observation of the city's problems. UGH!

[kayman]

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/inde....xml&coll=2

This is so unnecessary. Why did Bernard Kincaid make this promise to pay the city law enforcement and fire departement employees but won't follow through with? The City Council overrode his veto and that is legal and Kincaid needs to once again STFU.

[GaryP]

Hello everyone! I just moved here from Grand Rapids, where at times I've been an active poster. I've only been in Birmingham for about a week and a half, so I'm still learning my way around. I've got an apartment in the Mountain Brook/Vestavia area, but so far I really like the Southside. I plan on posting photos from time to time and hopefully you guys can educate me on the local urban issues!

[convulso]

Hello everyone! I just moved here from Grand Rapids, where at times I've been an active poster. I've only been in Birmingham for about a week and a half, so I'm still learning my way around. I've got an apartment in the Mountain Brook/Vestavia area, but so far I really like the Southside. I plan on posting photos from time to time and hopefully you guys can educate me on the local urban issues!

[kayman]

Hello everyone! I just moved here from Grand Rapids, where at times I've been an active poster. I've only been in Birmingham for about a week and a half, so I'm still learning my way around. I've got an apartment in the Mountain Brook/Vestavia area, but so far I really like the Southside. I plan on posting photos from time to time and hopefully you guys can educate me on the local urban issues!

[kayman]

An interesting resolution is being drafted and voted upon today in regular City Council meeting condemning discrimination. It would make all forms of discrimination (race, gender, sexual orientation, ect.) illegal and to be held liable to civil suit within city limits. Here is a column from today's News discussing this resolution and other factoids about Birmingham's gay population:

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/jarc....xml&coll=2

You learn something new everyday especially from this article.

[kayman]

Council rejects resolution affirming inclusiveness

That council meeting is what I call a "political amusement park". Miriam Witherspoon, Roderick Royal and Steven Hoyt was just so stuck on the part about sexual orientation that they couldn't see the forest for the trees.

Royal said,

"I'm concerned with the lobby for gay and lesbian rights that somehow or another this group insists on equating their movement with the movement for civil rights," he said. "This is not to say that their movement is not legitimate, but it is to say that to equate it with the noble movement of civil rights does not compare."

[convulso]

god, this was so effing dumb. probably the dumbest thing i've seen coming from the city, primarily because passing it would have been so painless. there are some portions of bham that are very welcoming of gays - but the city as a whole, being hijacked by both its in-town population (and their crappy representation) and its metro population (rapists), will not admit that truth to the rest of the world. failing to pass what ought to be boilerplate measures such as this one are great indications that sitting bham council members, as well as those to come, will not go gently into a prosperous future.

[Justiceham]

"I think we did more harm than good by not passing it," he said. Still, some council members said they were offended by the proclamation, calling it a backhanded endorsement of gays and lesbians rather than a broader statement against bigotry.

And that's what will keep couples like my boyfriend and I away from Birmingham.

[Blazer85]

The unwillingness to pass that may have some impact on some folks, but most won't think of it and it will soon be forgotten. Why? Because passing that resolution really means nothing. Anyone who has been around this state long enough will realize that Birmingham is about the most accepting community of all types of people of anywhere in Alabama. Certainly there are more accepting places in other states, but Birmingham is still the most accepting, liberal part of Alabama and is becoming increasingly accepting all the time. I don't like it necessarily, but I don't think it's nearly as horrible as some want to make it.

[Owsley9]

I don't like it necessarily, but I don't think it's nearly as horrible as some want to make it.

[kayman]

What's good for the goose is ... diversity

John Archibald told the truth in Thursday column on the failure of passage of this resolution. Miriam Witherspoon has A LOT of audacity to be against anything discouraging discrimination when she is a black, wheelchair-bound lawyer.

Also, I find it mighty funny how the Central City district councilman the infamous William Bell was absent from this meeting all together. This is considering his district is the home to the majority of the city progressive population aside from Valerie Abbot's district.

[kayman]

Davis hears college crowd sound off on dome, health

A large crowd of college students gathered at the Birmingham Museum of Art last night to sound off their concerns and fustrations to Artur Davis. I applaud them because it seems there are a lot of concerned people in my age group that share the same concerns about Birmingham's future, healthcare, the education system, why in the hell UA spent so much money on getting Nick Saban but keep rising tuition annually.

If area leaders would spend more time listening to what we have to say then there may be some major changes for the better occurring.

[kayman]

I just found out that Birmingham City Councilman Joel Montgomery was arrested for public intoxication. This is the smae fool who was blocking the opening of The Furnance nightclub/gentlemen's club the year before last and touting that Birmingham should have any more bars and clubs. More information is coming....

[convulso]

interesting...anyone seen this store yet? it's an ultra-cheap grocery on green springs, near publix. german efficiency to the extreme.

story:

http://www.al.com/business/birminghamnews/....xml&coll=2

wiki info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldi

...i just want a legitimate grocery either downtown or somewhere between downtown and UAB. compared to many cities, though, i'm glad we have at least a couple. the western on highland avenue used to be a daily stop (along with tom & jerry's chevron) when we lived in highland.

[convulso]

oh, and here's joel montgomery's bad-ass mug shot:

http://bhamweekly.com/blog/2007/04/07/apb-...gomery-pinched/

[convulso]

workplay heading the way of the dodo? i hope not:

http://bhamweekly.com/blog/2007/03/22/venu...or-sale/#more-7

[kayman]

interesting...anyone seen this store yet? it's an ultra-cheap grocery on green springs, near publix. german efficiency to the extreme.

story:

http://www.al.com/business/birminghamnews/....xml&coll=2

wiki info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldi

...i just want a legitimate grocery either downtown or somewhere between downtown and UAB. compared to many cities, though, i'm glad we have at least a couple. the western on highland avenue used to be a daily stop (along with tom & jerry's chevron) when we lived in highland.

[rolltide35401]

Aldi rocks!!!!

We use them in Charlotte for our bulk grocery buying, since they do have the lowest prices and best quality at lower prices. Much better than stuff like Sams Choice...

Its a cool place that does things like charges for bags ($.05 for paper and $.10 for strong plastic) and for carth rental (a refundable $.25). This store should do real well in Birmingham

[kayman]

Montgomery will remain chairman of public safety

This clown needs to be ousted from the City Council, period. He is such a hypocrite because he was breathing down Gwen Sykes back when she gotten in legal trouble, now he is act like all is right. PLEASE!