Why on earth did the business leaders of Birmingham ever trust Larry in the first place?
The story begins last year, when Mayor Langford (who lives in Fairfield) was soliciting support for his economic and community revitalization ordinance. The proposed ordinance was to double business license fees and increase sales taxes in Birmingham by one penny on the dollar.
The Chamber learned of the proposed tax increase the way everyone else did outside City Hall — they learned it from the news. Hastily, the Chamber executive committee met, but instead of fighting the increase, the Chamber endorsed the tax plan.
Typically chambers of commerce oppose tax increases on businesses, but this time something different happened. For years the Birmingham Chamber had supported efforts to build a domed stadium in Birmingham. Also, the Chamber had been an outspoken advocate for an adequate, fully funded mass transit system.
Langford’s plan included money for both, but no one bothered to ask more questions such as how much and where.
No one bothered to ask questions. That sounds like SOP where Larry’s proposals are concerned. So everyone (other than the folks at the Birmingham Weekly) was surprised to find out that the transit money had been cut from $17 million to $9 million and that the proposed location for the dome had magically moved from the BJCC to Milton McGregor’s dog track. That would be the Milton McGregor who was the largest individual contributor to Larry’s mayoral campaign.
Of course, it could be that people are afraid to ask questions. Langford has been known to try verbal intimidation on those who question him. When Chamber President Russell Cunningham belatedly realized that Larry had, um, made some changes to his initial proposals, his questions weren’t well received.
Last Thursday, Langford (who lives in Fairfield) and Chamber President Russell Cunningham had a heated discussion during a closed-door meeting of area business leaders. The regular meeting has been something of a tradition in Birmingham politics — a venue in which business leaders discuss issues with the mayor under a veil of secrecy.
However, since the meeting last week, that veil of secrecy has been pierced. Rumors have spread that Cunningham and Langford (who lives in Fairfield) even had to be physically restrained from fighting each other. In an interview Tuesday, Cunningham would not comment about the meeting…
So now the man who wouldn’t move into the city before he ran for mayor has announced that he won’t work with the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce because it has the word “regional” in its name. He thinks the city needs a new Chamber. Will that Chamber be anything like his dodgy non-profits?
I was at a meeting shortly after the Chamber’s approval of the sales tax. Russell Cunningham was the speaker. He was raked over the coals by several small business owners about how the chamber handled the whole “endorsement.” What happened was there was an email sent to Chamber members (I got one) on like a Friday morning asking input before a Chamber Executive Committee meeting THAT AFTERNOON. Needless to say, very little input was received and the owners were peeved.
Then Cunningham made a comment that the Chamber felt it had to OK the mayor’s plans because “the last time a proposal like this came up we got left out and we were going to make sure we had a seat at the table this time.” I was astonished. It’s the F*ing Chamber of Commerce! They’re supposed to be the leaders, not having to sell out their members to kiss up to some tinpot dictator.
And now their kissing up has alienated a lot of Chamber members and done them no good with Crazy Larry.
If I were on the Chamber Board I’d be looking for some new leadership.
I don’t understand why any local business leader who has been paying attention would fall for Larry’s latest line of bull, but he seems to be quite talented at intimidation.
If I may interject partisan politics here, the reason they’re intimidated is that they’re Republicans for the most part, and Republicans/conservatives are afraid of everything. They’re especially afraid of people with big mouths and bluster. They’re willing to sell their own mothers for freedom from that fear. That’s why I’m a Democrat (and a capitalist and a business person), because I refuse to capitulate to fear.
I remember talking to some of the employees of the City of Birmingham shortly after Langford was elected (but before he took office). The general attitude was that this was a guy you DID NOT want to piss off, and word was already getting around that he had a long memory. Then, in a true Langford power play fashion, delivered dismissals to various department heads before even being sworn in. I remember commenting at the time that he was going to pee in a circle around City Hall on his first day.
“…pee in a circle around City Hall on his first day.”
An excellent analogy. And funny.
Langford and his lackeys are going to destroy Birmingham’s best hope for a resurgence, real regional cooperation. His attitude doesn’t benefit anyone, not even himself.
So now the man who wouldn’t move into the city before he ran for mayor has announced that he won’t work with the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce because it has the word “regional” in its name. He thinks the city needs a new Chamber.
I have no words…
Although this:
Langford (who lives in Fairfield)
Did elicit a pained chuckle on the second and third reps.