A look at Birmingham in videos …

Visiting the African Village in America display in the Woodland Park neighborhood. From Komodosnow.

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Flying to Birmingham for a fun outing. From David Granberry.

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Taking the Tour de Hops brewery bike tour on Sept. 5. From Nathania Nhouyvanisvong.

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A nighttime trip to Vulcan. From Spa Guy.

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Basketball workout at Samford’s gym. From Derrick Jones.

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Birmingham-Southern College cross country season opener in September. From Sharks Soccer.

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Britain’s Oxford Pharmaceuticals breaks ground in Birmingham on its U.S. headquarters. From Alabama NewsCenter.

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Chicago singer-songwriter Jennifer Hall sings “Baby, It’s You” in August at the Nick on Southside. From JennHallMusic.

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California norteño band Los Tigres del Norte performs at Rancho el Centenario in Mt. Olive. From tdb313.

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“What Do You Think of the Fountain?” asks people about Frank Fleming’s sculpture the Storyteller in Five Points South. From AlexanderSoundsLike.

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Atlanta singer-songwriter Liz Brasher performs “Old Bones” at Renaissance Records in Five Points South (our vertical video of the week). From Liz Brasher.

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Downtown dancing. From Wally Chung.

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Hoop for Fitness holds a September Flow Fusion event at Veterans Park in Hoover. From Carron Bullard.

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The first round of the Magic City Mega Bowl disc golf tournament in June at the Inverness Disc Golf Course in Hoover. From the Disc Golf Channel.

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Chris Brown performs “Take You Down” in September at Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham. From Chris Brown.

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Staring down Satchel Paige from the plate at the Negro Southern League Museum. From Alabama NewsCenter.

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Nashville Americana band Runaway Home performs “Dreams” in August as part of the Small Stages concert series. From Runaway Home Band.

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A 10-mile bike ride through downtown Birmingham. From Katie Boyd.

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Welcome to fall, inside the car (our square video of the week). From Otis Bridges.

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Cars and Coffee at Brookwood Village (our other vertical video of the week). From ZachPlaysPC.

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Drone footage of Railroad Park. From Paul Cammarata.

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The Brickyard: “Lester Kasai and Jim Gray were in town for a Gotcha street demo (in 1988) at a local mall, and we took them out to the ramp afterwards.” From Andrew Birdwell.

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Birmingham city council member Steven Hoyt criticizes al.com community coverage. From citycouncilbham.

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A look at the civil rights movement called “Battle for Birmingham.” From Christopher Carmody.

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New York singer-songwriter Prince Royce opens for Ariana Grande last week at Legacy Arena. From Maria Avellaneda.

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Chimney swifts downtown. From Ray Howze.

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Promo for the Slay the Runway Total Look Competition fund-raiser for Pathways in November at Boutwell Auditorium. From Mimi Luvshair.

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A slice of life, including a trip to the top of the Children’s of Alabama parking deck. From allGODbuddy LLC.

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Birthday party, complete with DJ and dancing. From Bill Prince.

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Hanging out at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. From Mindless Reviews.

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Promo for Saturday’s Fiesta. From Orlando Rosa.

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Music video for “Patient Time” from Birmingham alt-rock band Nat B. and the Boys. From Kilzo Films.

• • •

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

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.

We 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.

Steven Hoyt, recently made president pro tempore of the city council, is one of 14 candidates running for mayor of Birmingham.

Video: CBS 42 interview

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

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

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.

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.)

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.

The Birmingham Business Alliance put on a mayoral forum Monday at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. Nine candidates answered questions submitted ahead of time and from the moderators on economic development.

About 150 people attended the nighttime event at the Alabama School of Fine Arts.

The participants:

• William Bell;
• T.C. Cannon;
• Steven Hoyt;
• Stephannie Sigler Huey;
• Edith Mayomi;
• Carole Smitherman;
• Jason Sumners;
• Jody Trautwein;
• Harry “Traveling Shoes” Turner.

Included below are audio clips of the candidates’ responses.

1. Candidate introductions (up to 60 seconds each)
Order: Cannon, Bell, Hoyt, Huey, Mayomi, Smitherman, Sumners, Trautwein, Turner.
[10 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/MayoralForum11-30-09Part1/MayoralForum11-30-09Part1.mp3]

2. How to encourage entrepreneurship and small business development (up to 90 seconds each)
Order: Bell, Hoyt, Huey, Mayomi, Smitherman, Sumners, Trautwein, Turner, Cannon.
[12 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/MayoralForum11-30-09Part2/MayoralForum11-30-09Part2.mp3]

3. How to attract and retain young professionals
Order: Hoyt, Huey, Mayomi, Smitherman, Sumners, Trautwein, Turner, Cannon, Bell.
[13 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralForum11-30-09Part3-9/MayoralForum11-30-09Part3.mp3]

4. Candidates’ financial experience
Order: Huey, Mayomi, Smitherman, Sumners, Trautwein, Turner, Cannon, Bell, Hoyt.
[12 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralForum11-30-09Part3-9/MayoralForum11-30-09Part4.mp3]

5. Move forward with domed stadium?
Order: Mayomi, Smitherman, Sumners, Trautwein, Turner, Cannon, Bell, Hoyt, Huey.
[13 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralForum11-30-09Part3-9/MayoralForum11-30-09Part5.mp3]

6. Airport expansion
Order: Smitherman, Sumners, Trautwein, Turner, Cannon, Bell, Hoyt, Huey, Mayomi.
[12 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralForum11-30-09Part3-9/MayoralForum11-30-09Part6.mp3]

7. Legion Field (up to 30 seconds each)
Order: Sumners, Trautwein, Turner, Cannon, Bell, Hoyt, Huey, Mayomi, Smitherman.
[3 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralForum11-30-09Part3-9/MayoralForum11-30-09Part7.mp3]

8. City takeover of Birmingham school system?
Order: Trautwein, Turner, Cannon, Bell, Hoyt, Huey, Mayomi, Smitherman, Sumners.
[5 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralForum11-30-09Part3-9/MayoralForum11-30-09Part8.mp3]

9. Support Gov. Riley’s plan for turning U.S. 280 into toll road?
Order: Turner, Cannon, Bell, Hoyt, Huey.
(Due to technical error, audio ends without 30-second responses made by Mayomi, Smitherman, Sumners and Trautwein.)
[2 min.]

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BirminghamMayoralForum11-30-09Part3-9/MayoralForum11-30-09Part9.mp3]

Also: Birmingham News summary of the forum.

Video: NBC 13 report on the forum

The election takes place Dec. 8.

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.

The timeline of mayors …

• Oct. 28, 2009: After less than 2 years in office, Birmingham mayor Larry Langford loses office upon conviction in federal court. City council president Carole Smitherman automatically becomes interim mayor until …
• Today: The new council is sworn in. First task: Pick a council president. The council chooses Roderick Royal over Smitherman, which now makes him interim mayor for the next 2 weeks until …
• Dec. 8: Special election day to pick a new mayor. Since Royal isn’t running, the voters will choose the fourth mayor in 6 weeks.

Whew.

Also, Steven Hoyt was selected council president pro tempore over Johnathan Austin. Hoyt and Smitherman are both running for mayor.

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.

Two more candidates are in the race for mayor of Birmingham bringing the total to 14.

• 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:

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

The election takes place Dec. 8.

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.

City council member Steven Hoyt is joining the crowd, specifically the 11 already declared candidates running for mayor of Birmingham. Hoyt announced his candidacy at a Leadership Birmingham meeting Thursday.

His platform focuses on business development and neighborhood rejuvenation, specifically recruiting 10 new businesses annually and building 7,000 houses in 7 years.

He began serving on city council in 2005. Before, he was president of Belview Heights neighborhood association and was a member of the Jefferson County Economic Development and Industrial Authority.

Video: Steven Hoyt discusses current city projects

The election takes place Dec. 8. Candidates have until Wednesday to file paperwork for eligibility.

Also:

• Two candidate forums announced.

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.