Wade on Birmingham

The Birmingham channel: Electric dreams

Thursday, April 19th, 2018

A look at Birmingham in videos …

Members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on becoming an electrician. From CHK Marketing.

Stand battle: Dancing Dolls of Birmingham vs. Divas of Olive Branch (Miss.). From Dancing Dolls.

A windy day at the Birmingham Zoo (our vertical video of the week). From the X Brothers.

Up close with animals and birds at the Birmingham Zoo. From Galaxy Cat 4242.

Dothan artist OG Biggie performs at Zydeco on Southside (our other vertical video of the week). From OG Biggie.

Time-lapse dashcam footage of driving from Birmingham to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. From Relative Rest.

Time-lapse dashcam footage of driving from Columbus, Ga., to Sloss Furnaces and downtown Birmingham. From Relative Rest.

Jefferson County Commission member Sandra Little Brown on local TV show “Our Issues Birmingham.” From Our Issues Birmingham.

Playing “Grand Theft Auto V” as a Birmingham police officer. From Ray J Gamer.

The Glow app launch party in 2016 at Cahaba Brewing Company in East Avondale. From TNR Creative.

The finish line for March’s Rumpshaker 5K at Regions Field downtown. From Best Times Event Timing.

College ultimate: Ole Miss Hydra vs. Alabama Yellowhammer at March’s Magic City Invite tournament at Sports Blast in North Shelby County. From Hydra Ultimate.

How to sign up for the Birmingham Marriott Business Council’s Relay for Life team. From Jonathan McKinney.

Lots of bricks at the Lego Store at the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover (our other other vertical video of the week). From Coldwater Bricks.

Rodney Watson, Jefferson County Commission candidate: “This is poverty. … Birmingham, it’s a mess.” From District Three.

Baseball: Birmingham Thunderbolts 06 vs. Premier Fastpitch 12U at the USSSA St. Patty’s Day “Pot of Gold” Invitational in Atlanta. From Dwayne Hubbard.

Promo for lofts at the Iris at City Federal downtown. From Danny Kang Austin.

Celebrating becoming a home owner. From TNR Creative.

Driving along I-65 and I-20/59 through downtown (our other other other vertical video of the week). From Mateo Alvaromateo Mateo.

After a screening of “The Conscience of America: Birmingham’s Fight for Civil Rights,” New York’s Hunter College holds a discussion with David Hodges, anthropology professor, and Brent Leggs, director at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. From Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College.

Birmingham Giants’ Brody Flack at bat. From Gotta Luv 48.

Feature on TEDxBirmingham in March at Alys Stephens Center on Southside. From Alabama NewsCenter.

Train in Trussville. From Carson Bean.

Train downtown. From Julio Almeida.

Trains in Irondale. From Carson Bean.

Another train. From Rhett Robinson.

A fun trip to our city, including Sloss Furnaces, Red Mountain Park and the Birmingham Zoo. From Who Liaa.

Commercial for Service Tech in Glen Iris. From Thryv Video Channel.

Singing at the March for Our Lives protest in March downtown. From Hunter Coke.

Cross-country cycling at Oak Mountain State Park. From Head Snap.

Singing praise (our other other other other vertical video of the week). From Wendy S. Tuck.

Attorney Brian Law gives tips for employees. From Noble Law.

How to take part in the 2018 Fox 6 Kids and Jobs program. From the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services.

A class on “The U.S. Civil Rights Movement and Its Place in History,” focusing on events including the bombing of Birmingham’s Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. From Human-Kind Productions.

Scott Douglas of Greater Birmingham Ministries speaks in November at a stop on the Alabama Learning Tour at City Hall downtown. From Neighborhood Funders Group.

Hanging at March’s Alabama Comic Con at the BJCC South Exhibition Hall downtown. From Cody Gremlin.

A birthday outing to Alabama Comic Con. From Whitaker Family Vlogs

Cosplay at Alabama Comic Con (our other other other other other vertical video of the week). From Jordan Franklin.

Scenes from Alabama Comic Con. From Alabama NewsCenter.

Actor Jason David Frank meets fans (our final vertical video of the week). From Greg Peak.

Checking out the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Lobotomix’s Monthly Showcase in February at the Syndicate Lounge on Southside. From Jay Dexter 2.

Commercial for Gardendale real estate agent Kelley Shaw Smith. From Kelley Shaw Smith.

Speakers on German company Evonik’s $50 million expansion in Birmingham. From Alabama NewsCenter.

Independence Day fireworks on Red Mountain. From Outlaw Films.

• • •

Send us links to your videos. | More videos on the Birmingham channel.

The Birmingham channel

The Birmingham channel: Making tracks

Monday, May 25th, 2015

A look at Birmingham in videos …

Rethink 20/59 video on proposed overhaul of interstate stretch through downtown. From James Clark.

Time-lapse video of artist Michael Fischler injecting paint into bubble wrap to create a portrait of Birmingham native and singer Beth Thornley. From Michael Fischler.

Birmingham mayor William Bell interviewed on business news site TheStreet about downtown’s building boom. From TheStreet.

Rock band the Pixies performs “Dead” earlier this month at Iron City on Southside. From treser62.

Challenger Hellcat parade lap at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds. From jeffscot26.

Service project by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta-Birmingham branch to add playground mulch at Mitchell’s Place in Irondale. From skipdidit.

The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham presents a proposal for a bus rapid transit system. From South East Lake Neighborhood Association.

Skateboarding on First Avenue South downtown. From David Sheetz.

The “Ballad of Birmingham,” as told through Minecraft. From istone111.

Narrating a drive through Birmingham. From the Jade and John Show.

A promo for “Sweet Home Railroad,” one man’s journey to becoming a train engineer. From Daniel Hill.

“Heads,” a weekend spent in eight downtown barber shops. From Dillon Hayes.

Preparing for the Summer Flash Mob at the June 4 Birmingham Art Crawl. From Sanspointe Dance.

Christian Hill highlight reel, Holy Family Cristo Rey High School basketball. From Street Light Recruiting.

Scott Douglas, executive director of Greater Birmingham Ministries, on elevating the quality of life for working-class residents. From Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation.

See Noah Galloway in the “Dancing with the Stars” finals.

• • •

Send us links to your videos. | More videos on the Birmingham channel.

The Birmingham channel: What so proudly we hail

Monday, March 16th, 2015

A look at Birmingham in videos …

The Ian Sturrock Memorial Pipe Band and Special Patrol Group at the 31st annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Southside. From David Gunnells.

Otterbein defeats Birmingham-Southern 12-8 over spring break in men’s lacrosse. From Otterbein Athletics.

The Black Jacket Symphony performs the Allman Brothers’ “Jessica” earlier this month at WorkPlay in Lakeview. From ugacrow.

The closing seconds of UAB’s win over Western Kentucky in the Conference USA Tournament Thursday at the BJCC Legacy Arena downtown. From BlazerGrad88.

Friends of Old-Time Music and Dance event Saturday at YWCA Birmingham downtown, with caller Naomi Anderegg and Red Mountain White Trash. From Tom Gordon.

Your Birmingham Blitz. From Chelsey Bailey.

The Birmingham Sunlights performs at the 2014 Kentuck Festival in Northport. From Alabama Music Office Video.

The 27th annual Service Guild of Birmingham Gala. From Seed Digital Media.

Gina Love tries out on the National Anthem at Regions Field. From Gina Clark.

Inviolate’s sword dance from October 2013 at the High Note on Southside. From Inviolateband.

Waka Flocka Flame performs last week at Zydeco on Southside. From hester2.

Roadtrip to First Avenue Rocks downtown. From Nathan Hill.

Nashville band Wilderness Alive hit the Nick last summer as one of its tour stops. From Corey Kundert.

The Seasoned Performers present “A Slippery Slope: The Consequences of Hate” Jan. 25 at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church downtown. From Birmingham Holocaust Education Center.

Chicago’s Neckbeerd Skateboard Supply parties in Birmingham. From Dan Drews.

Scott Douglas, executive director of Greater Birmingham Ministries, explains how the Alabama Constitution is an impediment to progress. From Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation.

Highlights from the Southern Invitational track meet at Birmingham-Southern College. From Sharks Soccer.

• • •

Send us links to your videos. | More videos on the Birmingham channel.

Scott Douglas discusses HB56 on ‘The Colbert Report’

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Video: Scott Douglas spars with Stephen Colbert
on the Jan. 16 “Colbert Report.”

“The Colbert Report” took up Alabama’s immigration law, HB56, once again. Monday, host Stephen Colbert “debated” Scott Douglas, executive director of Greater Birmingham Ministries.

The law has stirred debate over federal enforcement of immigration, labor rights, employment and more. Douglas spoke out against the law, saying the federal government should enforce a rewritten national law, rather than having local law enforcement uphold up to 50 separate state laws.

The comedy show had done a segment on HB56 in October, focusing on the law’s impact on state agriculture.

Video: “The Colbert Report” on Alabama’s immigration law
in October. 

Vote 2009: Last-minute thoughts on a hurry-up mayoral election

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Birmingham to choose from 13 candidates Tuesday

For the third time this year, Birmingham voters will visit the polls. Tuesday’s special election focuses on mayor, an office suddenly open after Larry Langford’s federal conviction in October.

Wade on Birmingham - Vote 2009We have found that 6 weeks is barely enough time to have an election, much less evaluate more than a dozen candidates.

Even though the winner will hold office for less than 2 years before the next election, much is riding on the outcome.

For starters, the city is in jeopardy. Bernard Kincaid seemed glacial in doing anything to move Birmingham forward. That stasis seems preferable to the rapid plunge into financial chaos and political embarrassment wreaked in just 2 short years by Larry Langford.

His reign of error ended only with the say of 12 jurors. But City Hall is in shambles, as is the public trust.

We’re building a dome, renovating Fair Park Arena and beginning to successfully fight crime. And yet, the budget has been criminally neglected (and perhaps, deliberately fudged). Carole Smitherman spent less than a month as interim mayor before the newly seated council tapped Roderick Royal as council president, thus taking over the interim mayoral duties.

In short, much confusion, little time and wary voters.

‘The candidates have failed
to distinguish themselves.’

The candidates have failed to distinguish themselves. The much heralded Patrick Cooper has raised (and spent) a lot of cash, but by doing so seems to be influenced by out-of-town interests. He missed high-profile forums, which has the odor of the artful dodge. While he made a splash in 2007 by receiving almost 30 percent of the vote, Cooper has done little since then to demonstrate his capacity for leadership.

With Smitherman and William Bell, we have two seasoned politicians who have served as interim mayor, albeit briefly, and lost in a combined five campaigns for the top office. Smitherman, a self-described mother figure, voted with Langford on many budget busters and wants to continue his projects, even as the city goes broke.

Bell, who picked up Langford’s unsolicited endorsement, also seems enmeshed in old school ways, both in campaigning and in office. He needs to continue and finish his work on the Jefferson County Commission: fixing its $3 billion sewer debt calamity.

Steven Hoyt is serving in his second term on council and recently was voted president pro tempore under questionable circumstances (the new acting mayor Royal voted, even though he was not allowed). When given the chance to fix things, he declined. Imagine what he’d do with real power.

Scott Douglas, one of the outsiders, has a good record of service to the city. And while his green platform might work in a more progressive and more solvent city, he seems to have no solution on getting the city’s finances back on track.

Emory Anthony ran twice against longtime mayor Richard Arrington in the early 1990s and lost. The defense attorney wants to bring the city’s finances in order, with transparency and accountability. The question is: Can he back it up?

We aren’t certain. We’re picking a mayor at gunpoint Tuesday, and chances are, we’ll still end up taking a bullet or two.

• • •

Voting takes place from 7 a.m. till 7 p.m. A runoff, if needed, will take place Jan. 19.

Q: Where do I vote?

A: The answer is a call away. Jefferson County: 325-5550.

Or try AlabamaVotes.gov and click on “Search for My Polling Place.”

Join us Tuesday for election results
on Wade on Birmingham.

Remember, if you have problems at your polling place:

  • Notify a poll worker immediately.
  • Obtain a complaint/evaluation form (or download jpgs of pages 1 and 2). Print it, fill it out, copy and mail it.
  • Call the state attorney general at 1-800-831-8814 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Wednesday or fill out this online form.
  • Call the secretary of state at 1-800-274-VOTE (8683) or visit her site, StopVoterFraudNow.com.
  • And tell the probate court for Jefferson County (325-5203).
  • Leave a comment below.

Q. Who’s running for mayor?

A. The 13 candidates …

Emory
Anthony
William
Bell
T.C.
Cannon
Patrick
Cooper
Scott
Douglas
Steven
Hoyt
Stephannie
Huey
Edith
Mayomi
Carole
Smitherman
Jimmy
Snow
Jason
Sumners
Jody
Trautwein
Harry “Traveling
Shoes” Turner

Note: Ernie Dunn died on Thursday.

Also:

  • Birmingham News editorial board endorsement: “(Emory) Anthony brings a regional approach to governing that has been in far too short supply.”
  • Kyle Whitmire of the Birmingham Weekly on the financial crisis: “Few candidates in the special-called mayoral election have demonstrated an understanding of what faces the city.”
  • One blogger’s take? None of the above.
  • Patrick Cooper leads fund-raising, but also campaign debt.
  • Pavo Magazine podcast discusses the candidates.
    [audio:http://www.pavomag.com/sites/default/files/audio/Mayoral%20Race%2012_2_09%20Edit%201.mp3]

Are you voting? Who has your vote? Vote in the poll above, and leave a comment below.

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.

Vote 2009: Up close with Scott Douglas

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

Scott DouglasScott Douglas, executive direc­tor of Greater Birmingham Ministries, is running for mayor of Birmingham.

WBHM (90.3 FM) interview:
[audio:http://www.wbhm.org/songs/scottdouglas.mp3]

More interviews with all the candidates will be added daily. Election Day is Tuesday.

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.

Vote 2009: Mayoral town hall wrapup

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

Birmingham mayoral town hall - Emory Anthony, William Bell, Scott Douglas

Birmingham mayoral town hall: from left,
Emory Anthony, William Bell and Scott Douglas.

Five candidates for mayor of Birmingham came to Tuesday’s town hall. The event, sponsored by progressive young professional group Catalyst, took place at WorkPlay before hundreds of attendees.

Topics ranged from the budget to the arts to local food, with questions from audience members and the moderator.

The participants:

  • Emory Anthony;
  • William Bell;
  • Scott Douglas;
  • Steven Hoyt;
  • Carole Smitherman.

(Organizers invited Patrick Cooper, who did not attend citing previous commitments. At the beginning of the event, T.C. Cannon asked to participate but was denied.)

Birmingham mayoral town hall - Steven Hoyt, Carole Smitherman, Natalie Davis

From left, Steven Hoyt, Carole Smitherman
and moderator Natalie Davis.

Included below are audio clips of the candidates’ responses.

1. Candidate introductions
Order: Anthony, Bell, Douglas, Hoyt, Smitherman.
[15 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralTownHall12-01-09/BirminghamMayoralTownHall2009-1.mp3]

Moderator questions

2. Fixing the city’s financial mess
Order: Bell, Douglas, Hoyt, Smitherman, Anthony.
[9 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralTownHall12-01-09/BirminghamMayoralTownHall2009-2.mp3]

3. Where to cut city budget
Order: Douglas, Hoyt, Smitherman, Anthony, Bell.
[4 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralTownHall12-01-09/BirminghamMayoralTownHall2009-3.mp3]

4. What do you want to be your biggest accomplishment in 2 years as mayor?
Order: Hoyt, Smitherman, Anthony, Bell, Douglas.
[5 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralTownHall12-01-09/BirminghamMayoralTownHall2009-4.mp3]

Audience questions

5. How can the mayor facilitate partnerships among families, schools and communities?
Order: Smitherman, Hoyt, Douglas, Bell, Anthony.
[7 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralTownHall12-01-09/BirminghamMayoralTownHall2009-5.mp3]

6. Air pollution
Order: Hoyt, Douglas, Bell, Anthony, Smitherman.
[7 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralTownHall12-01-09/BirminghamMayoralTownHall2009-6.mp3]

7. Supporting local food initiatives / community gardens
Order: Douglas, Bell, Anthony, Smitherman, Hoyt.
[6 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralTownHall12-01-09/BirminghamMayoralTownHall2009-7.mp3]

8. Arts funding
Order: Bell, Anthony, Smitherman, Hoyt, Douglas.
[5 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralTownHall12-01-09/BirminghamMayoralTownHall2009-8.mp3]

9. Making it a “Magic City” / attracting young people
Order: Anthony, Bell, Douglas, Hoyt, Smitherman.
[6 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralTownHall12-01-09/BirminghamMayoralTownHall2009-9.mp3]

10. If you don’t win, how will you make Birmingham better during the next 2 years?
Order: Bell, Douglas, Hoyt, Smitherman, Anthony.
[6 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralTownHall12-01-09/BirminghamMayoralTownHall2009-10.mp3]

11. Closing statements
Order: Douglas, Hoyt, Smitherman, Anthony, Bell.
[9 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralTownHall12-01-09/BirminghamMayoralTownHall2009-11.mp3]

Also: a town hall report from the Birmingham News.

The election takes place Dec. 8.

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.

Vote 2009: And two more candidates for mayor make 14

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Two more candidates are in the race for mayor of Birmingham bringing the total to 14.
Wade on Birmingham - Vote 2009

  • T.C. Cannon — retired bar owner and former president of the Southside neighborhood association. He placed eighth in the 2003 mayoral election.
  • William Jason Sumners — no information available.

Also, Natalie Davis, political science professor at Birmingham-Southern College, and André Natta, publisher of the Terminal, discuss the candidates and themes so far in this election.

Here’s the final list of candidates:

The election takes place Dec. 8.

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.

Vote 2009: William Bell to join mayoral race

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Scott Douglas to announce his candidacy also on Thursday

William Bell has entered the race for mayor of Birmingham, or at least, has announced his media conference for 10 a.m. Thursday in Linn Park. The Jefferson County commissioner and former city councilor announced his intention via media release [pdf].

William BellBell served briefly as interim mayor following the retirement of Richard Arrington. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1999, 2003 and 2007, coming closest in 2003 until the runoff election against incumbent Bernard Kincaid. He began his service on the city council in 1979 and was the first black council president.

He devised the Bell Plan, selling the Birmingham Water Works for $200 million that went to school improvements.

Bell’s campaign Web site, WilliamBellForMayor.com, appears to be under construction.

• • •

Scott Douglas also intends to run. His conference will also be at 10 a.m. Thursday, but at Kelly Ingram Park.

Scott DouglasDouglas announced via a media release [pdf] (written in the past tense) on his campaign site, DouglasForMayor.org, defining his platform as “green jobs, green schools, green transportation, green communities.”

He has served since 1992 as executive director of Greater Birmingham Ministries, an interfaith group that serves the underprivileged and functions as community organizer.

The number of mayoral candidates has reached 11.

Hat tip to The Terminal for breaking stories on both candidates.

Also:

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.