In its most recent issue, Birmingham Weekly published the 1st 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:
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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)
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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)
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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:
However:
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"There is hope."
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"Young/affluent/childless people are moving into loft district/refurbished building/one small section of the city."
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"But Mayor <insert name here> and City Councilman <insert name here> are committed to turning things around."
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"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.
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