Wade on December 2006
By Wade KwonA last look at the ’06 …
Then and now
Annetta Nunn and the deathly hallows: Fairly or unfairly, the police take a beating when crime goes up. The buck stops with Birmingham police chief Annetta Nunn, whose four-year tenure has taken a deadly turn.
Crime in Birmingham is up. Homicides are up. This year will mark two in a row with 100-plus murders — 105 in 2005, 109 this year. The city is third in the nation in homicides per capita. Merchants are forced to hire their own security personnel. “Lesser” crimes — muggings, car break-ins — go unsolved.
Mayor Kincaid still backs her, despite her ineffective leadership and platitude-driven solutions. Will those body bags sink his re-election bid next year?
And while Birmingham burns, Nunn sings. She plans to release a gospel CD, donating proceeds to a Birmingham YWCA domestic violence program. Her performance at a slain officer’s funeral inspired the disc.
We humbly suggest that she save her voice. If 2007 holds to form — and we’ve seen nothing from her to suggest otherwise — perhaps she could sing at the 100-plus funerals to come. Maybe then Nunn would change her tune.
United we stand: United Way of Central Alabama brought in close to $35 million in its annual fund-raiser, despite the Regions-Amsouth merger. The combined bank gave $3.22 million, topping the combined totals from the two banks in 2005.
The United Way assists more than 80 area nonprofit agencies. The annual campaign relies heavily on corporate support and beat its goal. For every dollar raised, an impressive 91 cents goes directly to programs and services.
Haiku flashback
faded yellow ribbon (Dec. 21)
In case you didn’t
remember, we’re still at war
somewhere over there.
Best of the month
• A review of Taylor Hicks’ first major label CD
• The wrap-up of Birmingham’s team on “The Amazing Race”
• How the board plans to change the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival
• • •
Archives: December
Special report: The ’06 … a last look
