Well, well, well. Guess who made the NYT today? None other than former AL governor Don Siegelman.

Siegelman was in the news as the 11th Circuit overturned his bond ruling. So he's a free man for the time being. You remeber why he was htrown in jail right? Good ol' NSN favorite Richard Scruschy had given him $500,000 as a bribe...I mean "donation" to Siegelman's campaign. In exchange...I mean, just by happenstance, Scruschy got appointed to the State hospital liscencing board. Pretty convenient for a guy who was building a "digital hospital" at the time.

Of course, all that is brushed aside by Siegelman. The real reason he was thrown in jail was "partisan politics." And the Grandmaster Vizier of partisan politics, Karl Rove himself, was behind it. Nevermind that everyone and everything Scruschy came in contact with has come up rotten. Juest a bit of advice Don, we can call you Don right? Don, you got out of prison and pretty much everyone in Alabama has forgotten about you.

Quit while you're ahead.

Interesting story in the Birmingham news today. And by interesting I mean an example of the rampant cronyism that is loose in the Magic City.

The Headline:

• "Half of taxpayer contribution to computer charity diverted for Katopodis' use"

That would be John Katopodis, former city councilman and Jefferson County Commissioner, now involved in a civil suit against none other than local robber baron, Richard Scrushy. Katopodis and Scruschy formed a charity called "Computer Help For Kids" back in 2001 with none other than, wait for it, current Birmingham mayor Larry Langford.

It comes to light in the article that Katopodis pretty much used the charity account for his own benefit. You know, casinos, hookers, blow - the usual. Of course, the best part is that $200,000 of it was your tax dollars! Woohoo! Look, I don't mind you blowing my money in casinos guys, but at least invite me and the rest of the taxpayers with you.

At the end of the article is a laundry list of other things that the $200,000 was used for (other than you know, helping kids). A few of highlights:

• $16,000 in annual rent payments from Computer Help to the Council, even though both were housed in offices HealthSouth provided rent-free
• A $10,000 check to the Holy Family Foundation run by Langford's wife. Katopodis said it was a "loan repayment" <-air quotes added by me
• A $10,000 check to Bettye Fine Collins(look who shows up again!), currently the county commission president, for consulting with the Council of Cooperating Governments.

The grand total from everything listed is.....$104,000 in "payments,"  "loans," and "consulting." Combine that with the money blown on casinos and everything else, probably something like 20% of that $200,000 actually went to help kids in any shape or form. Although i wouldn't be suprised if the number was closer to zero.

But of course, the people of Birmingham are either willfully ignorant, complacent, or just don't give a damn about any of it. Meanwhile, all the Over the Mountain business types shake their heads when they read this in the paper, show it to their friends, and continue to move further away from this city. Good job guys! thanks for making Birmingham grow!

In its most recent issue, Birmingham Weekly published the 1^st part of a new ongoing series entitled: "Pieces of the Puzzle: Conversations on the Future of Birmingham." The format consisted of a round table conversation between the following:

• Bettye Fine Collins, President of the Jefferson County Commission (this means she goes to meetings and that's about it)
  John Lauriello, a principal in Southpace Properties (this means he’s a real estate shark)
• Sandra Storm, ex-Circuit Judge turned consultant for Clarus Consulting (this means they cut her checks so they can say they have a judge on board)
  Deborah Vance, chief of staff for Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford (this means she runs around in circles doing interviews like this pretending the mayor’s office is relevant)
  Charlie L. Williams Jr., and I’m going to quote here: "one of 18 elected Jefferson County Constables, as well as the longtime president of Birmingham’s Druid Hills neighborhood" (this means he’s essentially irrelevant)
• Mark Kelly, an editor at BW, moderated the whole she-bang (they give Over the Mountain people something to read so they feel like they are part of the city)

I’d like to say it was an interesting article, but it was the same thing people like this always say in summits/luncheons/"conversations"/neighborhood meetings/association gatherings/etc in Birmingham:

• "Too many poor people."
• "Too much crime."
• "Business doesn’t care about the city."
• "People have re-segregated themselves."

However:

• "There is hope."
• "Young/affluent/childless people are moving into loft district/refurbished building/one small section of the city."
• "But Mayor <insert name here> and City Councilman <insert name here> are committed to turning things around."
• "The solution is to have more meetings like this!"

Way to go guys! Next time you’re wondering why people want to put businesses in office parks outside of the city, drive around the Summit, Liberty Park, the Galleria, or the 280 corridor at about 7 pm on a Tuesday. Now drive around downtown Birmingham at the same time. Yeah, that’s why.