On the Other Hand…
At least Commissioners Jim Carns and Bobby Humphryes showed up last night for a meeting in Homewood that drew around 200 citizens to discuss the sewer debacle. The Birmingham News brief doesn’t say whether or not citizens were allowed to speak and ask questions last night, although this account implies that they were.
Carns and Humphryes are pushing bankruptcy as the only option, and they may very well be right. That doesn’t make it a good option.
It’s my understanding that these two won’t be attending today’s hearings. That’s troublesome, as are the other no-shows. While there are varying levels of blame to go around among the Commission members, they should be showing a united front to the citizens of the county in their willingness to work together for the best of the bad choices we’ll have to make to find our way out of this mess.
I’m not holding my breath.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Carns and Humphryes were there for almost all of the hearing, today, sitting in the front row, left. Betty Fine Collins sat front row, right. Sheila Smoot sat in the middle and made disparaging comments, according to one attendee.
Only Valerie Abbott, Patricia Todd and Paul De Marco attended Thursday night. Valerie and Rep. Merika Coleman attended this morning. And Valerie was the only official recognized besides Sheila Smoot at the 6 p.m. hearing. Smoot did stay. She brought up the fact that 40% Birmingham’s households have incomes of less than $25,000 a year.
Where were the other councilors and officials? Commissioner, Bowman’s priorities were such that he went to give a speech in DC. At today’s hearing, Guy Logan of Citigroup cheerfully let us know that Bowman got a ‘grilling’ in New York. How special! Evidently the bankers later made him feel good because he is reported to have come back from New York with the “good news.”
August 9th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Pictures worth 1,000 words–look for the slide show at al.com called Highlights From Jefferson Sewer Debt Hearing
Some photos of a protestor holding his sign in front of Slaughter, photos of him being “escorted” out of the building, and a photo of two young people holding signs. Good job by the News photographer, I think.
Also, I can hardly wait to see what the next Mixed Media has in store for us.
August 10th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Merika was there on Thursday Night also. Here is my latest take.
http://www.progressiveelectorate.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=229