I looked upon the
passing year and decade with
a hint of contempt.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Bad craziness.

That was the all-purpose phrase my college roommate used to describe the odd goings-on of life. And for Birmingham in 2009, it is all too fitting.

The city’s casualties of 2009 include a crooked mayor, three magazines, the high school football playoffs, the city budget, the county budget, trust in elected officials, two music festivals, thousands of jobs,

In many ways, Birmingham is broken. Education, transportation, the economy and government continue to be hurdles to greatness. How can this city make progress if it can’t pay its bills, educate its citizens, move shoppers and workers from point to point or inspire residents to take action?

It is also broken in the sense that no one community unites us. We are tribes at odds over territory, pride or mistrust. But who will reach out first to end the stalemate?

That’s not to overlook the efforts of volunteers striving to make a difference. Or businesses who remain stubbornly open and within the city limits. Or the occasional bright spot that reminds us of why we stick with Birmingham even in these dark hours.

Would the city make a New Year’s resolution, it should simply be this: Birmingham resolves to deal honestly and fairly with any and all challenges.

In a year of bad craziness, we must push past to face these mounting crises with boldness, with insight and with humility.

Birmingham can be better in 2010, if only a little bit.

Wade on 2009

JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC

A look back at all things and people and events 2009 …

Video: William Bell and Patrick Cooper
head to mayoral runoff election.

Dec. 1 | Our never-ending Vote 2009 coverage of the Birmingham mayoral runoff continued with a forum and a town hall, the sudden death of a candidate from Hoover, our final assessment of the contenders and the anti-climatic Election Night 1-2 finish of runoff hopefuls William Bell and Patrick Cooper. One debate will be Jan. 10 at Alys Stephens Center, airing on ABC 33/40 and WBHM (90.3 FM); another will be 9 p.m. Jan. 14 on Fox 6 and MyFoxAL.com.

Look for more Vote 2009 stories in … 2010.

Dec. 1 | The Birmingham Leadership Awards winners? We have ’em.

Dec. 1 | Birmingham’s Bobby Bowden announced his retirement from Florida State football, wrapping a 44-year career in coaching. His final game will be the Gator Bowl taking on No. 18 West Virginia. The game airs noon Friday from Jacksonville, Fla., on CBS 42.

Dec. 5 | More football news: Alabama wins the SEC Championship to advance to the BCS National Championship game. The next week, the school would have its first ever Heisman Trophy winner thanks to running back Mark Ingram.

Dec. 15 | In economic news, Birmingham and Alabama have endured tough times, indeed, with the highest unemployment rate in more than 25 years. A study found that the state’s low tax burden doesn’t really trickle down to the poor. The Birmingham Business Alliance sought input through an online survey for the next step in its economic development plan, Blueprint Birmingham.

Hyundai in Montgomery built its 1 millionth vehicle. And Birmingham’s McWane Inc. plead guilty to violations of the Clean Water Act, resulting in a $4 million fine.

Dec. 17 | The newly seated Birmingham school board selects Craig Witherspoon, superinten­dent of Edgecombe County Public Schools in Tarboro, N.C., as the new superintendent. The board had previously had problems picking a president, then faced accusations of bias during the superintendent search.

Dec. 18 | The feds take over New South Federal Bank in Irondale after big losses in loans. A Texas bank has taken over operations.

See all of our December coverage.

• • •

Haiku flashback

predictions for the next decade [Dec. 8]

Flying cars, yoga
weddings, telepathic phones,
wars without borders.

• • •

365 days of Birmingham’s best and worst: Wade on 2009

A look back at all things and people and events 2009 …

Video: Mary Buckelew gets probation
instead of jail time: “Justice was served today.”

Nov. 2 | Our Vote 2009 resumed coverage as a special election for mayor of Birmingham was set. As each of the 14 candidates announced, as each forum and town hall emerged, we had the info. And still, the campaign continues …

Nov. 3 | Birmingham looks to Austin for a way to spur badly needed economic development. Can the city and the Birmingham Business Alliance match the Texas metropolis’ success?

Nov. 4 | Do Birmingham’s nonprofit organizations and their volunteers deserve awards? YP Roundtable thinks so, but we call it “selfishly egotistically uncharitable.”

Nov. 6 | A Wade on Birmingham exclusive: How Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival went from being in debt to $20,000 in the black. All it took was budget cuts, fast fund-raising and more ticket sales.

Nov. 6 | ABC’s “Supernanny” visits Hayden to help a family of five with discipline problems. One household down, many many more to go.

Nov. 12 | Speaking of discipline … Former Jefferson County Commission president Mary Buckelew escaped with a slap on the wrist, or 3 years probation and $20,000 fine for lying to a grand jury. She had faced 12 to 18 months in prison.

Nov. 18 | HealthSouth chief executive officer Jay Grinney says the way forward for the city and county is combined government, along with the Birmingham Business Alliance’s economic development plan. He was a keynote speaker at the Birmingham Economic Summit.

Nov. 18 | Birmingham took a big bite out of crime in 2009, with a 12 percent drop in the first three quarters. Despite the effort, the city still placed seventh nationally in city crime rankings.

Nov. 23 | Campaign oddity exhibit A: “Cooper Rap.” Exhibit B: Candidate arrested for disorderly conduct at a bar.

Nov. 24 | A council coup, of sorts. Roderick Royal becomes incoming city council’s new president and interim mayor, ending Carole Smitherman’s short tenure.

Nov. 30 | Two calendars, A Picture of Health and Brave Beauties, raise money for charity. Two weeks later, the cover model for “A Picture of Health” died from ovarian cancer.

See all of our November coverage.

• • •

Haiku flashback

the iron bowl in 17 syllables (Nov. 26)

Tradition, empty
malls, rivalry, crimson white,
orange blue, braggin’ rights.

• • •

365 days of Birmingham’s best and worst: Wade on 2009

The fireworks and
black-eyed peas can’t wait for the
calendar to change.

• • •

Read more haiku.

A look back at all things and people and events 2009 …

Video: The Birmingham Museum of Art
unveils “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Oct. 1 | The Birmingham Museum of Art showed its new exhibit, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” to the media. We gave you a sneak peek. Heads up: The exhibit closes in 10 days …

Oct. 6 | This site turned 4. We remembered. On time.

Oct. 6 | One in seven registered voters showed up for the city runoff election. We almost counted the votes by hand. The new city council and board of education is set, but not without controversy weeks later, with political maneuverings for the presidency of both bodies.

Oct. 9 | This site became a nominee for Birmingham’s Best 2009 in the Local Web Site category. Our plea for no votes is a raging success, as we finish as a runner-up.

Oct. 19 | We begin daily coverage of The Trial of Larry Langford, as Birmingham’s mayor has his day in Tuscaloosa federal court. Wade on Birmingham covers the trial on this site and through a special Twitter account, including live coverage on Day 5.

Oct. 20 | Arrest warrants are issued for two City Stages officials, George McMillan (at left) and Denise Koch, for bad checks. And the band played on.

Oct. 25 | HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy was back in town answering questions about his assets to help repay the $2.87 billion fine for a civil suit. You have to read it to believe it.

Oct. 28 | Birmingham mayor Larry Langford is convicted on 60 counts of bribery, money laundering, fraud and conspiracy. It brings an abrupt end to his 2 years in office, a term marked by hubris, financial woes and hypocrisy. Langford’s conviction turns council president Carole Smitherman into interim mayor, the first woman to hold the office.

Oct. 29 | We review Chris Thile jamming with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.

Oct. 30 | One of Birmingham’s biggest sporting events, the Magic City Classic, saw Alabama A&M defeat Alabama State in the 68th match. More than 55,000 fans attended, and we had the preview.

See all of our October coverage.

• • •

Haiku flashback

birmingham renewed: baby steps (Oct. 30)

Who we are as a
city comes not from who leads
but who does the work.

• • •

365 days of Birmingham’s best and worst: Wade on 2009

A look back at all things and people and events 2009 …

Video: Gov. Riley attends the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival
closing film, “Alabama Moon.”

Sept. 11 | September in Birmingham means two things in downtown culture: Artwalk and Sidewalk. For Artwalk, we presented an hour-by-hour guide to the two-day art festival.

Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival | All eyes were on the 11th annual film festival with a new executive director in place and sizable debt to overcome. Our contributing reviewers watched 11(!) movies to size them up for you in advance, including the opening night documentary feature, “Best Worst Movie.” How do we do it? Volume, volume, volume.

See all of our September coverage.

• • •

Haiku flashback

at the drive-in [Sept. 8]

I declared my love
over shakes and a burger,
hold the mushiness.

• • •

365 days of Birmingham’s best and worst: Wade on 2009

A look back at all things and people and events 2009 …

Video: Bill Blount joins Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks
with a guilty plea.

Aug. 1 | We counted down the days to former mayor Larry Langford’s original Aug. 31 trial date with our greatest series ever, Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks. Seriously, look how many criminals we stuffed into one month …

• Mary Kay Beard | James Bevel | Bill Blount | Mary Buckelew | Rube Burrow
• Gregory Clarke | Matthew Cloyd, Russell DeBusk and Benjamin Moseley | Jeff Germany | Dedrick Griham | Richard Hawes
• The HealthSouth 16 | Virginia Hill | Troy Ingram | John Katopodis | Al LaPierre
• Don MacDermott | E.B. McClain | Jeff and Jessica McCord | Chris McNair | Danny Ray Miles
• Jack Montgomery | Samuel Pettagrue | Richard Scrushy | Don Siegelman | Lakendall Sims
• 16th Street Baptist Church bombers | Simon Speights | J.B. Stoner | Marvin Warner | Gary White

Who didn’t make the list? Langford, convicted Oct. 28. And pipe maker McWane Inc., whose latest fine is $4 million.

Aug. 10 | A juicy morsel: Wade on Birmingham had the exclusive scoop on the exclusive screening of the documentary “Food, Inc.” P.S. We love our news tipsters.

Aug. 11 | The dirge continued as we presented the Birmingham Heritage Festival lineup and demise in the same day. P.S. Never piss off Ludacris. Ever.

Aug. 25 | Our Vote 2009 coverage kicked into high gear with our extensive look at the Birmingham city council and board of education races. Later, we had results from all 18 races, nine of which were headed to runoffs.

Aug. 27 | The end of August also means the start of our monthlong coverage of the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, with an in-depth look at the local films plus the opening night documentary, “Best Worst Movie.”

See all of our August coverage.

• • •

Haiku flashback

football season: dear coach (Aug. 31)

Please take us to the
national championship
(or else, you’re fired).

• • •

365 days of Birmingham’s best and worst: Wade on 2009

The busiest street
in town sees a car or two,
maybe a lost dog.

• • •

Read more haiku.

The promise of a
new 24 hours wears
thin in just a day.

• • •

Read more haiku.

A look back at all things and people and events 2009 …

Video: Birmingham moves closer
to building a domed stadium.

July 1 | John Katopodis, former politician and founder of a bogus children’s charity, not to mention a pal of former Birmingham mayor Larry Langford, was found guilty of fraud in federal court. He was originally to be sentenced in October, but that was delayed as he testified in Langford’s trial. And the dominoes continued to fall …

July 13 | Dr. Regina Benjamin becomes the nominee for surgeon general. We provide 10 facts about the Mobile native and UAB grad.

July 14 | The long-debated domed stadium received an annual $8 million boost from the city council, despite no approved 2010 city budget or even concrete figures. The $630 million project is scheduled to open in 2014.

July 31 | Area crime continues unabated, as Jefferson County is found dead, lying face down in a broken sewer. At this time, police have hundreds of suspects. The commissioners continue to wrestle with the occupational tax, despite numerous court rulings against it.

See all of our July coverage.

• • •

Haiku flashback

secured blanket (July 14)

Her red cape simply
a blanket wrapped as tightly
as a fond embrace.

• • •

365 days of Birmingham’s best and worst: Wade on 2009

Metal monster sends
leaves flying into messy
piles with much thunder.

• • •

Read more haiku.

A look back at all things and people and events 2009 …

Video: City Stages files for bankruptcy.

June 15 | Wade on Birmingham takes the spotlight in Birmingham Magazine’s June issue. Also featured, the Birmingham Blogging Academy and five urgently needed blog topics for the city.

June 18 | Annual downtown music festival City Stages asks for a bailout before the gates even open. And we take a hard look at the numbers.

June 18 | A big fine for a big crook: HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy is ordered to pay a $2.87 billion fine in a civil suit. Much of his estate has been sold at auction, including his Vestavia Hills mansion and his car collection.

June 25 | Twenty years down the drain: City Stages ends more than $1 million in debt, failing to pay its vendors tens of thousands of dollars. Organizers filed for bankruptcy in July.

See all of our June coverage.

• • •

Haiku flashback

appetite for deduction [June 8]

As my friend told me
about the cancer, I tried
to eat my sandwich.

• • •

365 days of Birmingham’s best and worst: Wade on 2009

A look back at all things and people and events 2009 …

Video: Samson native James “J.T.” Thomas Jr.
wins “Survivor: Tocantins.”

May 6 | A look at two scourges hitting Alabama hard: lost jobs and swine flu. U.S. Steel began a temporary shutdown of its 2,000-worker Fairfield plant that has lasted till now. And swine flu has spread statewide.

May 17 | How does scoring a 39-day trip to Brazil and $1.1 million in cash sound? Cattle rancher James “J.T.” Thomas Jr. of Samson did it in the 18th season of “Survivor.” More below in “Survivor” at a glance.

May 21 | I finally gained proof that I have a face made for radio, as I talk blogging on WBHM (90.3 FM). It was one of many broadcast interviews I did in 2009.

“Survivor” at a glance | May 7: Family visits; is Debbie done for? … May 8: Debbie talks about her experiences after finishing sixth … May 14: J.T. makes a play for the final four … May 17: The crazy 3-hour finale live blog … May 18: How J.T. became a millionaire in 39 days.

See all of our May coverage.

• • •

Haiku flashback

streetlights (May 28)

The little town street
fills with ghosts of laughter. A
shimmer lights our way.

• • •

365 days of Birmingham’s best and worst: Wade on 2009

A look back at all things and people and events 2009 …

Video: Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham segment on the city’s future in 50 years, produced by Mike Cunliffe and Wade on Birmingham contributor Jennifer West

April 11 | A tremendous milestone for this site: post No. 2000. Another 2,000 posts, and that free breakfast at Denny’s is mine!

April 20 | The way Birmingham works takes a step forward with the opening of Shift Workspace downtown. Our sneak peek showed professionals what to expect from the new coworking space, including room for classes from the Birmingham Blogging Academy.

April 22 | Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival hires Chloe Collins as its new executive director, and we told you first. Plus, we had the exclusive interview with Collins on her plans to pull the film festival out of debt.

April 27 | We glimpsed into our crystal ball to see the city 50 years from now, with a little help from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Given the challenges this year, looking forward seemed to be the only hope left. (The video above has a shout out to this site at 0:53.)

April 29 | Swine flu arrived in Alabama, as two cases were reported in the Huntsville area. In 2009, 37 people in the state have died from H1N1.

“Survivor” at a glance | April 2: Debbie chows down for a reward, while J.T. casts a deciding vote … April 9: J.T. and Debbie make it to the merge, only to face a surprising elimination … April 16: Debbie and J.T. share a reward, and J.T. casts another pivotal ballot … April 23: More rewards for J.T. and Debbie, and yet again, J.T. decides another’s fate … April 30: Debbie has a showdown with Sierra.

See all of our April coverage.

• • •

Haiku flashback

concrete savanna (April 20)

From on high, urban
structures kneel to the crushing
sky, brick versus steel.

• • •

365 days of Birmingham’s best and worst: Wade on 2009