On Birmingham...

Well, to make a long story short, Birmingham was driven over the cliff by the likes of Scott Beason and William Bell.  The blame goes both ways with whites and blacks in Birmingham.  I lived there for enough years to realized that the people of Birmingham (yeah, I mean all of you in the region not just within Birmingham city limits), lack discerning abilities to wise decision on whom will represent you a local leadership or the Alabama Legislature.  It just seems there is no real willpower on the part of a significant portion of the citizenry to care enough to want to make an effort to progress the city forward rather than hobble along the way.  

Even more embarrassing is the filing for bankruptcy for Jefferson County, but this is a result of urban sprawl without any regard to negative effects to the surroundings, the idiocy within the Jefferson County government, and the city of Hoover.  Hoover was the ones whom owned the sanitary sewer treatment facility on Shades Creek that overflowed and wind up with the DOJ forcing Jefferson County to take control of all the sewer lines within the immediate Greater Birmingham area. 

As today, Birmingham has become battleground for where the Alabama immigration law debate will take place with leadership from congress meeting the local leadership about how it has negatively affected the city's  resources.  All I have to say is good luck because we all know that the reason why the Congressional Republicans haven't take up the immigration debate there in DC is because they know they will be exposed for the due-nothings they are in the US House.

UPDATE:  The latest developments with Birmingham itself is the creation of its first citywide, long-range, comprehensive plan since 1961 called "The Plan Birmingham".  Yeah, I'm like COME AGAIN?  Yeah, this is the first comprehensive plan they have created since post-integration period.  This alone is an embarrassment to humanity and anyone that has worked in the planning, economic development, and public policy making in Birmingham.

On the welcome page of The Plan Birmingham, there is a picture of Birmingham's mayor, William Bell's goofy, gap-toothed smiling face with a "message" about what he feels is the vision for the future of Birmingham.  Right below, his message was Roderick Royal, the current Birmingham City Council president with his statement as well.  Why is it this is the most substance of detail about this website's home page is beyond me?  The site details including the "Birmingham Resource Book" which is most GIS maps by census tract or overall area assessments of land usage, public facilities, water & watersheds, parks & recreations, personal vision statements by citizens, etc.

Overall, it is a well put-together site, but the GIS maps need major improvement like the parks and recreation map that doesn't label or has arrows that doesn't even point to the actual location of these facilities.  That is embarrassing, and should have been done better, Barry William, who is the city's GIS manager...

Finally, why is the city of Birmingham wasting taxpayer funds for outsourcing to a Boston-based firm for consultant work when you have full-time planners that handle community planning and development at the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) right there on 1st Avenue North in downtown?   That is just plain STUPID and WASTEFUL on the mayor and city council part's not to take advantage of a free or nearly free resource of staff planners at the RPCGB, whom have done comprehensive plans for Bessemer among other area municipalities.  Also they can work on a regional scale and is very well capable of administering the regional initiatives such as the Green Birmingham, Prosperity and Opportunity economic development, and Getting from Here to There transportation and mobility initiatives with other area governments.

The decline of Jefferson County, yet again

As of yesterday (June 18th), Jefferson County placed 547 employees on administrative leave without pay, i.e., they are laid off.  It's another sad chapter in the history of the most populous county in Alabama.  It seems the same character that produced one of the most bigoted pieces of legislation in modern history, has single-handedly blocked any chance of the citizens of Jefferson County any opportunity to vote upon their own future.  Instead of proving a point, he is going to cause his own constituents that reside in unincorporated Jefferson County irreparable harm via lack of basic services following a natural disaster, public protection, or reduction of public nuisances.

It's funny how history repeats itself with this place and why I'm not longer a resident of Alabama or Greater Birmingham.

In related news, Scott Beason, the bastard that is the cause of both the racially bias Alabama immigration law and Jefferson County government's decline, proved that he is also a rabid racist, whom harbors personal animus against blacks, especially the ones that votes and likes to gamble at electronic bingo casinos.  During the federal corruption trial involving a number of current and former Alabama Legislative officials, audio from Beason himself where he called blacks "Aborigines" and said they are so illiterate and ignorant they have to be bussed to the polls and enticed to vote with free food and entertainment.  


It's obvious that asshole doesn't like blacks or other people of color, so the question is will the constituents in Alabama's 

What the hell?

The dispute between the newly elected (uh why is this an elected position again?) Jefferson County treasury, Jennifer Champion and the Jefferson County Commission has gone too damn far.  According to the Birmingham News, now their dispute is apparently holding up the dispersing of payroll for those whom receive their salary via direct deposit.  It's getting to the point of disillusion because Champion, a Republican, and Jeffco Commission President, Bettye Fine Collins, a Republican as well have been butting heads since last spring over funds.  I swear there needs to be total, I MEAN TOTAL, overhaul of the Jefferson County government from elected officials such as treasury, sheriff, etc. to only being appointed by a county executive (whether it is county mayor, president, or executive) and approved by the Jefferson County legislative branch (whether it is a commission, board of legislators, council with at least 2 at-large elected seats).  I'm dumbfounded at how ignorant these individuals are about their stances on fighting and effecting others payroll in the process.  SMH

What did I miss?

I guess back in the Greater Birmingham area, there has been the continual battle amongst Jefferson County Commissioners over the 2011 general budget.  It's mostly been over whether or not they should allocate funds to open the Bessemer branch of county jail and paying the federally-appointed receiver a $1 million annual salary for the overseeing of the sewer debt.  We also have to throw in the future of the existence of the occupational tax administered on all incomes generated from Jefferson County.  Cruella de Ville, Jim Carns, and George Bowman voted to do neither, but sooner than later they will have to do these tasks...

Also suburban Bessemer voters has ousted two-term mayor Ed May from office on October 5th for Kenneth Gully.  I guess the incident of firing the Bessemer city clerk the night before the election was the straw that broke the camel's back...

Meanwhile, the Alabama legislators and lobbyists that went down over stalling the regular session in the spring over the gambling bill vote has cause all the leadership and their sycophants of the ADP (the Alabama Democratic Party for outsiders) to call foul over the case.  Many are claiming this is partisan and an "October Surprise" to ruin any chances of the idiot on the Democratic side of the gubernatorial ticket, Ron Sparks, of winning come November 2nd.  (Oh hell, oh well.  They brought that shit on themselves because those assholes in that damn party do right by Artur Davis then will continue to suffer from a bitch named "karma".  In the words of Cadillac Kimberly, "They all need to hold hands and kiss his muthafuckin' ass..."

I'm just plain blank staring at this mess because it's just aggravating watching this mess occur here.

If we didn't already know, Joe Reed is a JACKASS!

It just seems like that splaboo doesn't spare any clockwork when he proves to the entire world along with the entire the Alabama Democratic Party (ADP) that he is one.  Instead of having some dignity and showing that he isn't a pompous egregious bigot about race (and sexuality), NO!!!!  He had to prove that he likes to be all about race and direct representation of it.

In the curious case of the replacement of Kenya Lavender Marshall, a lawyer whom was suppose to be the Democratic nominee for the Jefferson County Circuit Court seat come November (since there is no Republican competition), whom wind up disqualified and disbarred for using clients funds for personal usage.  The Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee had to appoint a replacement in time for the August 27th deadline, which is 45 days after the run-off.  Meanwhile, where comes the mighty splaboo, Joe Reed, to sweep in with his usual brand of down-home splabuvian ignorance that has been recorded time and time again on this blog.  Instead of appoint the runner-up in the Democratic race, Nicole Stills, the ASDEC (lead by that splaboo) appoints Elisabeth French, some random lawyer whom happens to be black, to the seat because Reed wants a black person to represent since a black woman won over a white woman (Stills).

If we have learned anything from all this crap is that playing racial politics in the South never bodes well for anybody especially progressives.  Reed is so ignorant and pathetic because all this type of buffoonery is going to lead to is destruction.  It's like Reed wakes up in the morning and says, "I wonder how in the world can I screw up the possibility of Alabama ever getting a decent black politician elected from a statewide office?"

I'm too through with this crap and the ADP because they gave him the keys to its destruction when they let his racially bigoted ass into the executive committee nearly 4 decades ago...

The only upside to this story is that the Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC) and the Birmingham chapter of the SCLC called out this foolishness.

On the Jefferson County issues...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, former Jefferson County Commissioner Gary White is finally going to the chokey, but what does this mean to the constituency?  I'm honestly wondering what type of outlook does this leave for the citizens of Jefferson County on the county governmental structure, particularly the elected representation...

All of the current sitting commissioners are going to be gone in November regardless of how the election turns out since the only one running for reelection (Bobby Humphryes) lost his primary about 4 weeks ago.  It just seems to anti-climatic for the citizens to continue to see this status quo exist with the county government.  Although they want to reintroduce merit raises for county employees, for now...

All I can say is, OH BROTHER!!!!

Uh ok...

So there is a heaping load of craziness in the Greater Birmingham area to keep me looking at the region with a blank stare.

For starters, the jackal for mayor, William Bell, has proposed cutting city employee salaries by 10%, closing 5 public libraries, community and recreation centers, and killing funding to non-profits to "close the financial gap".  Meanwhile, he along with the City Council has given the A'OK to the entertainment district near the Birmingham-Jefferson County Convention Complex (BJCC) anchored by a Westin hotel.  The kicker is the Birmingham City Council is basically alright with funding the entertainment district via the tourism tax money (aside from the 2-member oversight board consisting of Birmingham's mayor and a member of the BJCC board to issue the bids and planning process).  Of course, the City Council would be up in arms about the cuts in services and salaries, but not for the reasons one would initially believe.  It's about the fact that it essentially cuts their slush fund they have sitting around and ability to do what they want with it.  IMHO, this is a huge clusterfuck screwing over everybody except the elected officials and their appoint staffers who are practically immune to this since they will always find a way to pay those overpaid fools a salary as long as they are in power.  Meanwhile, the average city employees are going to have a chunk taken out their asses along with that jackal proposing to leave a number of areas of Birmingham without a public library or community center for months.  It just shows that idiot shouldn't have been elected as mayor in January or allowed to wreak havoc on the populous.

Then on to the ongoing saga known as the Jefferson County occupational tax and its now-defunct predecessor.  Apparently, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled last week that Jefferson County must refund taxpayers $37.5 million of their money from the now-defunct Jefferson County occupational tax which levy 0.5% of each check.  However, the Ala. Supreme Court also ruled that Jeffco could get back that money via usage of its current occupational tax statute and to give those greedy ass bastard lawyers who sued to remove the tax $13 million.  HUH?  In other words, they want to tax the taxpayers after they were just told their former tax was illegal.  Just another bizarre lesson in Alabama's warped legal code that makes no sense at all.  This is main reason why I don't care for the lawyers or Jeffco Commission for this bullshit that has basically destroyed the reputation of Jefferson County worldwide in the media.  It's like the greedy just can't stop on either side of the foolishness.

UPDATE: After being ridiculed by City Councilors, citizen, and other groups, the jackal suspended the vote on the extension of the tourism tax and its allocation towards the entertainment district and hotel on Tuesday.  Now the BJCC board and the full Birmingham City Council will make to discuss the contract details.

Oh no! It's going to happen again!

Well, the long and drawn out narrative of Jefferson County government and its plethora of problems have a new chapter.  This time it could be a repeat of last year's shortfall during a fiscal year, but the results will be more permanent.  Bettye Fine Collins told the Birmingham News that she has already asked county officials to prepare 2 sets of FY 2011 budgets.  The current occupational tax that was passed into law last year during the special session is being threatened by yet another lawsuit by the same duo of greedy lawyers that brought down the original occupational tax that had been in placed since 1987.

Meanwhile, I'm more puzzled at the hysteria that a number of individuals are stirring about the county-run indigent Cooper Green Mercy Hospital.  These people are acting as if the existence of the hospital and county-ran nursing home is the pillage of the county government's existence.  Now personally, the county nursing home should be closed because most patients at other private nursing homes are on Medicare.  On the other hand, the county-run hospital isn't any different than the indigent care facilities like Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, or the Regional Medical Center of Memphis.  The fact that other non-profit facilities like UAB Hospital in Birmingham are essentially publicly funded like Cooper Green, but they will basically bankrupt uninsured individuals.  Also Cooper Green at least offers a reasonable plan for the uninsured than UAB which is operates as a for-profit hospital on taxpayers expense.

Cruella Deville will not run for a fifith term on the Jeffco Commission

Congrats Cruella, I mean, Bettye Fine Collins for having the common sense to realize that you have a better chance of going to hell than being reelected to the Jefferson County Commission.  It's not a surprise considering under her tenure as Commission President, i.e. pretty much the head fool who runs the county government, that there have been more meltdowns at Jefferson County than the 3-Mile Island in Pennsyvlania.  Now if we could tell Shelia Smoot to realize that about running for Alabama's 7th Congressional district race and William Bell about running for Birmingham mayor then we will be on to something.  IT'S OVER, FOLKS!  TIME FOR YOU ALL TO GO HOME AND GET REGULAR JOBS THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE MAJOR DECISIONMAKING THAT AFFECTS ANYBODY BUT YOURSELF AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD!

Gary White's federal conviction reinstated

After months of uncertainty whether or not former Jefferson County commissioner Gary White would receive a new trial in federal court are over.  The three-judge panel ruled that White waived his right to be tried in the federal court district in which the alleged offenses were committed because he didn't raise the issue before the trial.  The Federal Court of Appeals in Atlanta reinstated the conviction of bribery and conspiracy along with sending it back to the federal circuit of North Alabama to either the Birmingham or Tuscaloosa federal courthouse. 

Well, that makes 5 former Jeffco commissioners that have been convicted in federal courts for bribery, conspiracy, or corruption charges.  What a damn shame, and embarrassment for Jefferson County government, but it's the government we as the citizen pay for since we don't seem to have the will to push for a reformation of the county government from a district-based system without an executive branch to one where there are separation of powers.  SMH

Update on the Jefferson County occupational tax saga

The Jefferson County Commission issued an additional $14 million dollars into the escrow to refund taxpayers.  They delivered $23.5 million to the escrow last week and this week's transfer fulfills the $37.5 million balance ordered by Jeffco Circuit Judge David Rains in response to the repeal of the original occupation tax.
  
This is so irrelevant since the lawyers will get the majority of the money, and if we do get a refund it will be no more than $10-$12 dollar per person... 

Jefferson County told to pay $38 million in occupational tax refund account

Oh brother!  The saga over the "refund" which will amount to only $10-11 per person continues.  Just Thursday, Jefferson County Circuit Judge David Rains order Jefferson County Commission to pay $38 million to the "tax refund account" to refund to taxpayers for the now defunct occupational tax on all workers in the county exempting lawyers, business owners, and licensed medical professionals. Appointed Edgar Gen­tle III, a Birmingham lawyer, as the agent overseeing the refunds. He will be paid $300,000 to $330,000.  The tax was repealed by Rains in July when a suit was brought up by 2 lawyers "on the behalf of the taxpayers".  YEAH RIGHT!  This mofos were just trying to get paid...


However, anybody with half a brain knows why the lawyers Pat McFerrin and whatever his face with no hair brought this suit up so they could get 60% of the settlement, so I don't know why their stupid asses pretend to be for the taxpayer.  It's just shows how pathetic and ignorant the Alabama State Legislature is when it comes to passing laws and how greedy some lawyers are.  Oh yeah, but us the taxpayers are the ones ultimately paying for both of these idiots stupidity.

J.P. Morgan Chase has to forfeit $647 million of Jefferson County's debt

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged J.P. Morgan Chase yesterday for its involvement in the infamous bond swaps that led to former Jefferson County Commissioner and former Birmingham mayor Larry Langford being charged for all 60 counts of federal bribery and corruption along with investment banker Bill Blount and Al LaPierre. J.P Morgan has to pay Jefferson County $50 million up front and forfeit $647 million in termination fees of the $4.2 billion debt owed to them from Jeffco.  The $50 million will be paid towards displaced county employees, residents, and sewer rate payers. 

Of course, the bold and oftentimes out of control black Democrat, Shelia Smoot, said that she plans on exploring the options of suing J.P. Morgan.  Other commissioners including William Bell and Jeffco Commission President Bettye Fine Collins agrees. 

However something tells me that those lovely lawyers that sued the county to repeal the occupational tax will beckon towards getting some of that money so they can get the money back for the taxpayer, i.e. they are trying to get their share which 60% of the settlement.  Also Smoot and others are following what others have done in other municipal governments involving bonds and loans where they feel that they were getting a raw deal with this and sued to get off the hook.  Maybe Jefferson County can settle all this of this $3.6 billion left over in debt with J.P. Morgan.

We'll see...

Update on the Langford Trial

Well, I was alert of what was going on although I've been under the weather with a sinus infection, but anyways.Yesterday, was a busy day for the prosecution with key witness and former co-defendant taking the stand. 

Wednesday morning was spent on former Jefferson County Finance Director and current Birmingham Finance Director, Steve Sayler, continuing his testimony on the stand about allegations created by federal prosecution that Langford "paid for play".  He says Blount's firm was added to bond work at the request of then Commission President Larry Langford. Sayler testifies Langford and the commission traveled to New York prior to those deals.  The prosecution guided jurors through complicated, often tedious, county bond swaps. The direct line of questioning came with repeated objections from the defense that were often sustained. Sayler has talked about many of those bond deals with banks that employed Blount's firm as a consultant were cut into deals without public knowledge.  During cross-examination, Langford defense attorney, Mike Rasmussen, questioned Sayler on sewer bond rates and what would have happened if Langford had not done anything. Sayler also told the court that fees on the bond deals did not come out of county funds. 

Also Terri Hatcher, Langford's longtime assistant from the days of him being mayor of Fairfield (a suburb of Birmingham) testified before the jury in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday.  She talked about how she had set up at least 4 trips annually to New York for Langford to travel with Blount and LaPierre to take care of business associated with the bond swaps with J.P. Morgan Chase.  Hatcher did discuss on the stand the one travel advance for a three-day New York trip included $900 for lodging, $700 for travel and $160 a day for expenses.  However, she didn't really deliver anything profound other than the number of trips he made while he was commissioner. 

Other witnesses that testified included James Lister, a financial analyst of Lehman Brothers, who testified about his conversations with Blount about Jefferson County's finances. Lister said he talked to Blount because, "he believed Blount had a relationship with Jefferson County." Lister said Blount told him Langford "controlled three votes on the county commission" and suggested Lister should visit Birmingham to see the Jefferson County folks.  Also Robert Taylor of Lehman Brothers testified saying he engineered the interest rate swaps with Jefferson County. Taylor said he came to Birmingham to meet with Langford, but said Langford became frustrated with him because he wouldn't do business with a middle man because of disclosure.  Taylor said he met with Sayler a week later and in October of that year they did a deal, which included $35,000 in payments to Blount.  Paolo Farina from Salvatore Ferragamo clothiers of New York City confirmed receipts for purchases for Langford and former Jefferson County Commissioner Mary Buckelew, including a $2,000 leather jacket and two pair of shoes for Langford. Farina said the purchases were sent to the commissioners at their Jefferson County courthouse office and were paid for by Blount.  The jury was also read the contents of a letter from J.P. Morgan Chase requested by Langford himself to pay Blount's investment firm $2.6 million.


The most pivotal portion of Wednesday was the testimony on the stand of William Blount, the Montgomery investment banker and former co-defendant.  Blount recounts selling bonds and buying a variety of things for Langford.  Blount tesified that they have known one another for 30 years and handled the majority of the bond deal in every public office Langford has held since the day of him being mayor of Fairfield.  He also told the jury about the letters that Langford recieved about the bond swaps that was bypassed fellow commissioners, finance director, and the public.

More to come as the reports of testimony Thursday come...

Opening statements of the Langford federal corruption trial

Well, Monday was the day of jury selection for the trial in Tuscaloosa at its federal court building.  (The trial was moved to Tuscaloosa after Langford's defense team requested its change-of-venue from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa due it being so high-profile.  However, Tuscaloosa is STILL in the Birmingham television market, so his team aren't too bright because they know who he is just like those in Birmingham.)  

U.S. District Judge Scott Coogler, prosecutors and defense lawyers questioned a jury pool drawn from a 10-county area in western Alabama surrounding Tuscaloosa (3 white males, 8 white females, 1 black male, 3 black females).  By Monday afternoon, the final jury selection was made along with a list of potential high-profile witnesses that maybe called to the stand to testify during the trial.
Jefferson County Commission President Bettye Fine Collins, Commissioner Shelia Smoot, and former county commissioners Gary White and Mary Buckelew.

Bill Blount and Al LaPierre, they were Langford's co-defendants, but have pleaded guilty and are expected to testify against Langford.

Charles Lecroy, Jefferson County's bond "idea guy" also surfaced, but was convicted in Philadelphia federal court on a pay-for-play scheme.
Terri Hatcher, Langford's longtime assistant while he was commissioner at Jefferson County.

Deborah Vance-Bowie, Langford's current chief-of-staff for his mayoral administration.

April Odom, an executive assistant of Langford in Birmingham City Hall.

Also word is that Alabama Power CEO and Langford's friend, Charles McCrary, is among those possible witnesses as well.

TODAY:
This morning the opening statements of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford's federal corruption and bribery trial began this morning.  Federal prosecutor George Martin describing Langford as "a wheeling, dealing politician" who was deceitful and enriched himself by taking bribes while as Jefferson County Commission President.  The prosecution didn't hold back as they have delineated Langford is the most negative light quite possibly considered with the intent of bribery and getting rich off taxpayers backs to the jury.  Prosecution painted the "clothes, watches, and other gifts were not loans." 

However, Langford's defense team was allowed by U.S. District Judge Scott Coogler to use a Birmingham News editorial cartoon as an exhibit. HUH? 

Langford's defense team describes this as "an attempt by (former defendant) Bill Blount to stabbed Langford in the back and schemed to entrap and manipulate Langford" and "he likes nice things and he was a big idea person who left details to others."  Langford's defense attorney Michael Rasmussen also exclaims that Langford is a "shopaholic" (I guess so considering he racked up nealy $236,000 worth of things).  Rasmussen said "Blount's guilty plea is not evidence of Langford's guilt".

However, federal prosecution pointed this out. Martin detailed several trips to New York City, where Langford would take Blount shopping.  Langford would pick out what he wanted and Blount would pay for it with his American Express card.  Also Martin described one instance where Blount purchased a $12,000 Rolex for Langford. 

Blount's former girlfriend was one of the two now-defunct Colonial Bank loan officers to testified about a $50,000 loan for Langford.  Yvette Campbell and Karyn Cope Hughes both were on the stand today discussing the details of the loan Blount issued to Langford.  Hughes was dating Blount at the time of the issuance of the loan.  Campbell said that lobbyist Al LaPierre later came in the branch to take out a $50,000 loan.  Hughes testified that she informed Campbell that the LaPierre would pay off Langford's loan with his loan.

Finally, Birmingham downtown clothier Remon Danforah testified this afternoon that Langford was a regular at his men's clothing store.   Danforah said the first time Langford visited Bill Blount and Al LaPierre were with him.  He informed the jury that Langford's bill got as high as $14,000 and finally pointed out that LaPierre and Blount paid off Langford bills for clothes and other items.  However, Rasmussen counterargued that Danforah "double billed" Langford. 

Current Birmingham Finance Director and former Jefferson County Finance Director Steve Saylers was on the stand before the trial wrapped today about the bond swaps.  However, Judge Coogler called it a day while Saylers was on the stand. 

If Langford is convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of 804 years in prison and removal from helm as Birmingham mayor.

ALSO: Michael Rasmussen is a public appointed attorney after Langford said back in July that he couldn't afford his own defense council.  However, this is after Langford won nearly $55,000 in winnings at 2 different gambling facilities in Greene and Macon counties, Alabama.  This is a mess...

A Republican State Representative is trying to give the current Jefferson County government the heave-ho!

State Senator Drake has announced that he will be prefiling a bill that will abolish the current county government of Jefferson County.  The current 5-member commission form of government would be abolished and replaced with an elected chief executive officer (CEO) and 5 member county council.  The CEO would be elected at-large across the county by majority votes and would have 3 term limit.  The CEO would also have the authority to appoint the county manager and the veto power over the county council.  The new county council would have strictly legislative duties and limitations on the number of members of their staffs.

A bill similar to this was stalled in the Alabama State Legislature last year because of the partisan shenanigans in the regular session of 2009.  Drake also exclaimed that "57% of the nation's county governments have similar functions". 

I gotta give it to him because I've been advocating the abolition of the current 5 member county commission and the formation of a larger and more representative body.  If the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davison County has 41 legislative members along with a Vice-Mayor and Mayor with only barely 600,000 residents in the jurisdiction then Jefferson County needs more representation with its 660,000 residents than 5 district-elected commissioners.  IMHO, the Jefferson County government idealistically should be at least 9 or 10 member county commission with stricly legislative duties and at least 4 commissioners elected "at-large" throughout the county.  They should also have a County Administrator/CEO/President for its executive branch along with an appointed County Manager that would be appointed by the CEO and approved by the Commission.  This is the Jefferson County government I would love to see, but I know this may not ever come to reality.

Attempts to rejoin SWMA fails

Well, Bettye Fine Collins attempted to get a resolution passed Tuesday to have Jefferson County rejoin the Storm Water Management Authority of Jefferson County (SWMA) after pulling out earlier this year.  Instead the commission also voted unanimously to carry over another resolution to authorize the finance director to transfer as much as $1.4 million from the SWMA account to the organization.

Apparently, Collins realized that the county government can't afford to make payments on its bonds, pay its employees, or maintain anything at this point that if they were to do their own water testing and management that would require them either hiring or training 15 employees to do this (which they can't afford).  So it was a smart move on Collins part, but too little, too late because what's done is done and the "majority" (3 commissioners) have cock-blocked the county from rejoining the organization.  However, after the resolution failed to pass (3-2) she said that she wouldn't bring it up again.

Of course this another lobbying move by BARD, Business Alliance for Responsible Development, who are IMHO the fools like Alabama Power 'n dem that likes to make sure the Greater Birmingham area continues to sprawl out of control.  The main commissioners blocking the resolution includes Bobby Humphreyes, Jim Carns, and Shelia Smoot, who allegedly have all been recipients of campaign contributions from organization affiliated with BARD. 

SWMA was created back in the 1980s as a result of the EPA getting on to area governments for not being up to federal guidelines when it came to stormwater and drainage runoff to area waterways.  So this "ahead of its time" regional agency was created with the involvement with then all area governments including Birmingham, Jefferson County, and all municipalities.  However, BARD has made it their goal to destroy SWMA accusing them of "having too many employees", "being another bureaucratic mess", "wasting valuable funds" etc.; in other words, used faux libertarian accusations without offering any solutions themselves other than promoting further irresponsible development and sprawl.  Ironic, considering their name has "responsible development" in its tag.

Sigh!  SMH
   

Jeffco Commissioners Smoot and Humphryes harping about why there isn't a plan B for the County

Well, I'm kind of surprised by this because it seemed to me that the Jefferson County Commissioners didn't seem to care because they were still getting their bi-monthly paycheck.  Well, Shelia Smoot and Bobby Humphryes are inquiring why isn't a back-up plan for the County after the Alabama Supreme Court repealed the 1999 version of the occupational tax.  The attorneys on the behalf of the taxpayers (yeah right) have said they are working on a plan to repay the funds for the tax to the taxpayers.  PROBLEM: there isn't any money left because the County is running in the red and has been for awhile now.  Jefferson County Commission President Bettye Fine Collins said yesterday that they barely have the funds to operate the Courthouses (in Birmingham and Bessemer) as it is until the end of the fiscal year in September. 

Now Smoot is screaming there is not Plan B:

"We want an action plan," Commissioner Shelia Smoot told county officials during today's meeting. "What I want is a road map. None of us has seen that. We want something, specifics, even if it's not going to work. I feel alienated."

Meanwhile Humphryes is requesting getting the 1,000 county workers back to work from furloughs. All the while, Collins is saying the attorneys are the County's only hope.  Looks like they are up Shit Creek without a paddle.  ***shrugs***

Jefferson County Commission is broke and going to stay that way until January

I guess even though the Jefferson County occupational tax has been passed by the useless state legislature, the claim is there is no funds to bring back on the employees that were furloughed on August 1st.  Well, after today's ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that the 1999 version of the occupational tax is illegal and the county can't touch the $14M in escrow. 

After today's Jefferson County Commission meeting, there will be nothing but bickering and fighting that will continue to ensue for awhile now.  At today's meeting, Commissioner Shelia Smoot was yelling at county department executive directors about how "they can't do anything although they keep asking them".  It was a scene to say the least involving what went down.  Smoot and Bell have thrown around the idea of the County should take out a loan to cover operations cost until January 1, 2010 when the new occupational tax including professionals and business owners goes into affect.
Well, this doesn't look good at all for anybody that works for the County as a regular hourly wage-earner.  This place will continue to be long lines and chaos for a while to come.