Young Professionals (YPs) want more say in the city's future

[Blazer85]

The place to be

Birmingham is itching to be cool for people like Thomas Carnahan.

The 25-year-old Dallas native moved to Birmingham last year to design job applicant tests for the Jefferson County Personnel Board. He and his twentysomething co-workers, other brainy out-of-towners doing the same work, are regulars at international restaurants, art exhibitions, plays and live music venues around town - and they aren't shy about spending money.

"It's surprising to find the amount of cultural experiences," Carnahan said at the WorkPlay Theater bar in Southside during free movie night. "For a mid-sized city, they do a good job."

For the rest of the article, continue reading here http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/inde....xml&coll=2

[bobliocatt]

Thanks for the info on B-ham, its an interesting city I'm looking forward to seeing first hand on a planned visit next month. Hopefully, we can get a Mid-South forum up and running soon that will make it more accessible for members to find information concerning Alabama.

Btw, can you provide the link to the article? Because of copyright issues, Urban Planet doesn't allow posting full articles word for word. Instead its suggested that forumers only post a link and a brief summary of the article.

[Blazer85]

Thanks for the info on B-ham, its an interesting city I'm looking forward to seeing first hand on a planned visit next month.  Hopefully, we can get a Mid-South forum up and running soon that will make it more accessible for members to find information concerning Alabama.

Btw, can you provide the link to the article?  Because of copyright issues, Urban Planet doesn't allow posting full articles word for word.  Instead its suggested that forumers only post a link and a brief summary of the article.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No problem... here's the link: http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/inde...6360.xml&coll=2

[bobliocatt]

Thanks!

[Rock2uf]

Excellent! I have heard nothing but good things about BHM lately. I will be moving on from college next May, and I will definitey check out BHM when that time comes.

[kayman]

Young professionals want new mayor to involve them in city

Many including myself, have argued that Birmingham hasn't reached its full potential as a place to attract more young, educated persons under 40 compared to other Southern cities. Well, it seems that now more than ever (regardless of the turnout the most recent mayoral election) that many YPs want a say in the city's future. They also want to see the City Center become a place that is just as lively after 5PM with more restaurants, bars, clubs as a safer city as a whole with more knowledge-based job opportunities. Regardless of the outcome of the most recent election, the YPs in the city wants to work with Langford to make Birmingham a better place.

I think this is the type of progressive thinking that will help the city make that turn. I personally would like to see Birmingham make these pivotal steps to stop the Brain Drain so-to-speak that we have and bring in more young people into this city. We have all the infastructure there with an abundance of older structures waiting to be redeveloped, a well developed urban core, and a huge young population via UAB to bring this city back to life.

[Alabadrock]

Let's not forget that having a nightlife actually reduces crime. One huge reason young people go out and do bad things is cause they're completely bored. You give them something to do that they can access, tada! they aren't bored enough to go and try their luck at breaking into a condemned house down the street just because they don't have something to do. So, kills two birds with one stone. You improve the economic atmosphere while at the same time giving these younger adults something to do, which in turn drives the crime rate down.

Oh yea, did I mention that a lower crime rate makes the city more appealing to outsiders that want to move here? And I bet you can't guess what happens after that. YES! The city grows!

[bhamsly]

I agree with both of you guys. The city leaders need to listen to young adults for fresh, innovative ideas that would make the city better for everyone. Birmingham needs to step out of the ordinary, and work on bringing things that would be different from neighboring cities. We do not need to be Atlanta, Nashville, or any other city...especially in the South. It is fine to have some things that those cities have that many people around here go there to enjoy like an aquarium, a downtown mall, casinos, etc.

I realize this particular discussion is about young professionals, but entertainment should be for everyone. I believe since 20th Street is pretty much the "back bone" for Birmingham, the entire street should be lined with a movie theater, an ice skating dome/rink, a roller skating, fun centers for children, restaurants, hotels, and a few shops. Bars and nightclubs should remain in 5 Points South, Lakeview, and BJCC Entertainment District. An adjacent street could be for other shopping(a supermarket,a bookstore, office store,etc.) and living.

As for crime, more people would force more protection, and better transit would be a must as well. Of course, we would like all of the city to be great places for not only young adults, but older adults and families too.

Are there meetings held for people to express their opinions?

[kayman]

^^^^The Catalyst group holds meetings and events throughout each month. I don't know all the details of Catalyst other than they are quite a large and influential civic group of YPs, but that's all I only know this through friends and coworkers b/c I've never attended a Catalyst event. But here is the link to their website: http://www.catalyst4birmingham.org/