Langford Pulls Advertising from Local Radio Station
Birmingham mayor Larry Langford canceled an advertising contract with WJLD 1400 AM after the morning show host dissed his plan to build an Olympic village in Fair Park. The city had agreed to pay the station $2,000 for one month to advertise Fair Park’s upcoming Spring Fling. Langford’s chief of staff called the move smart spending. Radio host Gary Richardson called it what it was:
But Gary Richardson, a frequent critic of Langford, called the decision to pull $2,000 worth of advertising punishment for his latest words against the council’s vote to allocate $48 million to redesign Fair Park. Richardson was called shortly after his “Morning Talk” program on WJLD 1400 AM ended this morning.
“Now we get our contract canceled because of a comment that is not complimentary to what he’s trying to do,” Richardson said. “I said they were running on impulse and emotion. Just because he parks his bandwagon at our front door doesn’t mean we have to jump on it.”
Hmmm…this sounds a lot like his efforts to intimidate the Birmingham News back in December by holding hostage the city’s contract for publication of legal advertising.
Langford, who had been all gung ho to build a domed stadium somewhere around Birmingham, has now decided to take $48 million from the dome funds and build a complex west of Birmingham that would reportedly include track and field and equestrian facilities and a competition swimming pool. So far, no one but Larry knows why.
He brought an incomplete proposal to the city council on Tuesday and refused to disclose any more details, citing confidentiality. When councilors Valerie Abbott and Roderick Royal actually did their jobs and asked for more information before voting, he told them that if they didn’t vote to approve the project on Tuesday, he wouldn’t bring it back. And, like sheep, the majority of the council lined up behind him.
So now the council has bought another one of Larry’s pigs in a poke. Gee, I wonder why? Actually, I don’t. Today’s petty power play confirms what they already know. He’s vindictive. And they don’t want to risk losing the $1 million slush fund he promised each of them when he was elected.
Too bad they don’t have the perspicacity of Gary Richardson, whose quote bears repeating:
“Just because he parks his bandwagon at our front door doesn’t mean we have to jump on it.”
April 9th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Good God Almighty. The council voted to approve an incomplete proposal? Is that, like, even legal? Can’t the lot of them be taken up for whatever that word is when you sue boards of directors - dereliction of duty or something?
And he’s taking money from the schools for this boondoggle, but that’s all right, because the kiddies will all be swimming in the natatorium soon. Boom boom diddum daddum waddum, shoop!
April 9th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Someone explain to me why these council members keep getting elected? It is an elected position right? Or is it appointed? I just don’t get it. Surely there are smarter people in B’ham than those that would continually vote for the existing members.
I can’t believe they actually voted on an incomplete proposal. It blows my mind.
April 9th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Jonathan, they’re elected. Valerie Abbott consistently comes to meetings prepared, asks lots of questions, and does her best to represent her constituents. Others were embarrassing even before Larry Langford became mayor (sidewalk-meets-face drunk Joel Montgomery comes to mind). I think some of them have been taken over by pod people since he was elected. Either that or they’re scared to death to cross him.
Del, I can’t understand why they keep rolling over for him. I’ve heard some speculation that council president Carole Smitherman figures he’ll be indicted soon and she’ll be mayor, so she can reverse bad decisions then. Who knows? I’d think their constituents would be screaming, but maybe they aren’t paying attention.
April 10th, 2008 at 7:24 am
I was content to sit back and watch the show, until that whole “entire state may be blacklisted” thing came up.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Is there any reason to believe that Smitherman would be an improvement? I’ve been unimpressed with what I’ve seen and heard in her Mayoral campaigns.
April 10th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
WATV-AM recently brought back the show hosted by co-Director of Citizen’s Assistance Frank Matthews (AKA God’s Gangster). That station continues to air Spring Fling ads under contract to the city.
April 10th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Tricia, I don’t know. I’ve seen Smitherman do some good things, and I’ve seen her stay quiet when she needed to speak up. At the least, I don’t think she’d threaten and browbeat the city council.
Dystopos, do you think there’s a conflict there? Frank works for Larry, Frank propagandizes on the air, Frank’s radio station gets ad contract. Hmmm.
April 13th, 2008 at 9:41 am
It’s a good thing the City of Birmingham doesn’t have an army. Larry in charge of the military might be as scary as Bush in charge of the military.