Wade on Birmingham

Heads and tales: Making the scene

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nashville postcardCopycat: So often, we read about how Birmingham wants to be more like Atlanta, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Nashville … Well, hold up. Our pal Ailene writes about how Birmingham’s Hope VI project has inspired Nashville (one of several cities) to go after federal dollars to revamp decaying public housing. In fact, Nashville has completed or nearly completed three Hope VI communities and has plans for a fourth. Critics say such renovations merely chase away the poorest residents. In Birmingham and in Nashville, it’s still too early to tell.
• Birmingham success story inspires other cities [(Nashville) Tennessean]

Labor lure: Alabama is attractive to industry, not because of currently unemployed workers, but because of workers willing to leave their jobs for a better opportunity. So says the state department of industrial relations, especially as the state unemployment rate remains very low. Or those business could just be holding out for big economic incentives that’s all the rage with the kids these days.
• Alabama touts its strengths [Birmingham Business Journal]

Oink oink: Alabama’s congressional delegation landed $345 million in pork-barrel projects, 16 times the amount corralled 10 years ago. Remember: It’s pork if other states steal it; it’s targeted economic development if we earn it.
• Alabamians in Congress adept at securing cash [Birmingham News]

Track of focus: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is “truly one of the great museums of the world, with almost 900 bikes and a few cars lavishly displayed over 80,000 square feet.” At least, that’s what they say in one British newspaper. Even if you’re not into racing (Yankee), it’s still worth a Saturday afternoon visit.
• Man and machines [(London) Telegraph]

Also:

  • Vulcan changes name to ‘Bama_Stud75’
  • In Birmingham, urge to kill rising, fading, rising, fading
  • Water meter reader: Sometimes, we ‘just wing that mother’

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4 Yips for “Heads and tales: Making the scene”

  1. Curtis
    Wednesday, March 29, 2006, 9:45 pm
    1

    FYI: the Barber facility needs our civic support… check out this action alert from the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce to support the “Barber Motorsports Bill” (HB309) in the state legislature. It’s been passed by the House unanimously, but held up in the Senate.

    It’ll take you a total of 2 minutes to blast an email supporting this bill to all of the right people. Give it consideration…. I did.

  2. Wade
    Wednesday, March 29, 2006, 10:01 pm
    2

    Hmm: civic support, or corporate welfare?

  3. Curtis
    Thursday, March 30, 2006, 1:01 am
    3

    As long as the land is “leased” from the City, it can NOT be subdivided and sold for manufacturing concerns that would generate jobs because of the proximity to the track. The tax abatements that Kyle describes within the article are mostly statutory and would be granted under current law without the new legislation if the companies were to be locating in targeted zones anyway.

    ‘Corporate Welfare’ is how Mercedes was recruited to Alabama, setting off a wave of automotive jobs being created in the state. My understanding is that there are manufacturing concerns (like the recently relocated Birmingham Speed of America with their unique motorcycles) that wish to eventually co-locate near the track.

    The ability for the land to be bought from the City and resold makes good financial sense, IMHO. Think of it as one big industrial park focused on motorcycles and racing surrounding a front door to one of the world’s greatest road tracks. But hey, that’s just me dreamin’.

  4. Wade
    Thursday, March 30, 2006, 1:27 am
    4

    It’s one thing to put together a financial incentive package to lure a manufacturer here to the state. If they don’t want it, they can go elsewhere (and often do).

    It’s another thing to willingly take the lease deal from the city, then push through a special bill in the Legislature to skip out on taxes. Sorry, but I ain’t gonna lose sleep if Mr. Barber has to continue to pay what he owes. If the boys in Montgomery want to give exempt me from taxes, too, sign me up.

    Considering the clout he wields with the powers that be, I’m surprised he can’t work out a new deal with the city of Birmingham to help lure industry and turn a profit.

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