Many of you here live in, or at least are painfully aware of, the City of Birmingham.  They went and elected "Crazy" Larry Langford, and they will shortly are already getting exactly what they asked for.  So, this cleanup thing of his, I have some thoughts on this.  I saw an interview with CL, and he said something along the lines of "We aren't just coming to cleanup your neighborhoods, we are comng to REBUILD your neighborhoods".  I call shennanigans on this.  I say the neighborhoods are EXACTLY the way the citizens of them have made them, and will return in no short order to the way they were.

This is not based, AT ALL, on any "racial" reasoning, rather that of socio-economics, social mores, and upbringing.  This applies to ALL races, so let's not "go there", on this.  But, my point is this: this is how these folks live life, and it's just that simple.  It is not the Landlord's fault, as I saw CL attempting to shift blame towards this evening on the news.  These folks maintain, or FAIL to maintain, their surroundings and properties, and no amount of cleanup will fix this.  In fact, it may, in my opinion, create a feeling of entitlement to this cleanup, which may lead to a more relaxed attitude towards doing any more of what precious little is done towards community maintenance in the first place, cuz CL will come save the day.

We have all driven through "bad areas", and seen a house or two that is pristine and well cared for, and thought to ourselves that there is an individual who still has pride of citizenship and property.  As well, we all know that even in the "best neighborhoods", there's that one house that looks like a pending foreclosure, year-round.  That's because of the people in them, and WHAT THEY DO OR DON'T DO, simple as that.  These neighborhoods are shot out, because of the people in them, and WHAT THEY DO AND DON'T DO, simple as that.

Crazy Larry may get a lot of temporary mileage out of this, but check these neighborhoods again in one year.  The same slobs that made the messes will have it right back there, mark my words.  Waste of money, says me.

don't know you but i could not agree with you more or say it better.  i still can't get over his dome stadium being the big fix.  what an ass.

I concur to your inferences, as usual

I don't know if Patrick Cooper is any better, but I was really hoping his challenge of CL's residency would be valid. I think it's a crock that all CL did was rent an apartment in B'ham city limits but didn't even live there.

If this 1% sales tax increase really gets put to a vote, I will be sure to mention to every B'ham business that I will be taking my business elsewhere as I will NOT be supporting that stupid dome stadium.

Quoted: I concur to your inferences, as usual

I concur with Beetle Bailey's concurrence with your inferences.

Like I figured, Crazy Larry was not proven to be a resident of Birmingham, but the judge said that the met the requirements, which appears to only be that he had bills from a residence.  Birmingham will only be worse for having elected him.  The dome, the added business fees, the added taxes will all just weigh down on Birmingham and require that some else assume the debt.  It will be a financial drag on the entire state.

Man, I can't believe that you are still mad about my 'yard bugger'!  I don't mean to bring the rest of the neighborhood down.  I just want to annoy you - CN! LOL

Just another example of the real problem.... Government.  They tell what they feel is right for US and use the appeal of the dollar to do it!

CN Wrote:  "We have all driven through "bad areas", and seen a house or two that is pristine and well cared for, and thought to ourselves that there is an individual who still has pride of citizenship and property. As well, we all know that even in the "best neighborhoods", there's that one house that looks like a pending foreclosure, year-round. That's because of the people in them, and WHAT THEY DO OR DON'T DO, simple as that. These neighborhoods are shot out, because of the people in them, and WHAT THEY DO AND DON'T DO, simple as that."

Birmingham City Council revokes business license, The Screening Room adult theater shuts down
Complaints of lewdness plagued Screening Room Wednesday, November 28, 2007VICTORIA L. COMANNews staff writer
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday revoked the business license of The Screening Room at 2130 Second Ave. South, and Mayor Larry Langford ordered Birmingham police tactical team members to sit outside its door.

The council took the action following a hearing at which police told of numerous vice squad stings at the business, open sexual acts being performed there, and the arrests of 16 people over the past year. More than a dozen residents complained about lewd behavior outside the establishment.

"In the Screening Room, there is no personal space," said Sgt. Ron Sellers. "People walk up to you, grab you, grope you ..."

"I've heard probably more than I want to hear about this place," Langford said prior to the council's vote. He told police to place a tactical command post near the business.

"Sit it out there until we can clean it up," he said.

Langford's order evoked applause from a crowd in the council chambers.

The council voted unanimously to revoke the license of the business, which has operated an adult theater and sold adult entertainment videos for more than 25 years.

Ferris Ritchey Jr., a lawyer representing a Las Vegas man and his sisters who own The Screening Room, said his clients closed down immediately after the revocation. He declined to give the owners' names, but he said he has represented them for more than 25 years.

Ritchey said he fought a similar battle several years ago and prevailed in court after arguing that the same types of behavior alleged at the Screening Room take place in department store bathrooms.

"This place is no worse off than any department store with a bathroom," he said. "They don't close them down when people are caught there."

Michael Calvert, president of Operation New Birmingham, spoke in support of the revocation. He said the business had become a nuisance and negatively affects other businesses in the area and plans for development.

Neighborhood association presidents Camille Spratling of Central City and Gary Bostany of Five Points South also supported the revocation.

"It's going to be a huge help," Spratling said of the council's decision. "That's law and order. I mean, that's justice."

Ritchey said police have been sitting outside the business for the past six weeks, "which intimidated the customers and kept them from going into the place."

He disputed police accounts of activity at The Screening Room.

"They're arresting people who were merely watching a movie and accused them of violating the law," he said. "If they in fact saw improper behavior by one person, they'd arrest all of them and charge them with the same offense."

He said the area has been targeted for revitalization, and that is one reason for the move to close the business. He said the city in the past used eminent domain to take property to sell to developers.

"Now that they are no longer able to do that, they are revoking licenses and doing indirectly what they couldn't do directly though eminent domain."

Ritchey said no decision has been made on any further action by his clients.


Real good use of the blacktical team.

Birmingham shutting down business's seems to be the norm.

Quoted: Birmingham shutting down business's seems to be the norm.

One way, or the other, yup.

wonder how long before five points leaves the city of bham and becomes its on city.  nothing like the government closing down businesses that operate in bad taste.  you know we want to be and brag about being the land of the free but we elect officials to pass more and more laws to do away with our freedoms.  ok i am done.

Wonder how many real crimes were committed while the "Tactical Team" sat around outside the porno theater?  What kind of trouble was he expecting there?

Quoted: Wonder how many real crimes were committed while the "Tactical Team" sat around outside the porno theater?  What kind of trouble was he expecting there?

He heard someone was going to "rub one out".  

Quoted: Quoted: Wonder how many real crimes were committed while the "Tactical Team" sat around outside the porno theater?  What kind of trouble was he expecting there? He ehard someone was going to "rub one out".

Seriously though that is major waste of manpower. I guess normal beat cops were not intimidating enough. What else is LL planning on using the cops for in his agenda?

Quoted: Quoted: Wonder how many real crimes were committed while the "Tactical Team" sat around outside the porno theater?  What kind of trouble was he expecting there? He heard someone was going to "rub one out".

That's classic.  

i love this board. if this place is closed down why the need for the tactical team.

The clean up, the chilrenz laptops, the dome... Who's paying for all this %$#!? Langford is an idiot. Of course, he's perfectly suited to run today's Birmingham. It's a historic city with a cool past (pre 1960s), but a total cesspool politically today. I left Jefferson County for a reason. Unfortunately, folks that work in Bham (like me) still get to help pay.

Quoted: Quoted: Wonder how many real crimes were committed while the "Tactical Team" sat around outside the porno theater?  What kind of trouble was he expecting there? He heard someone was going to "rub one out".

THAT was just DAMNED FUNNY!

Reg

Quoted: The clean up, the chilrenz laptops, the dome... Who's paying for all this %$#!? Langford is an idiot. Of course, he's perfectly suited to run today's Birmingham. It's a historic city with a cool past (pre 1960s), but a total cesspool politically today. I left Jefferson County for a reason. Unfortunately, folks that work in Bham (like me) still get to help pay.

Arrington turned Birmingham proper into a third-world shithole.

Kincaid allowed it to remain a third-world shithole.

Langford will piss away enough of your money on a fucking useless, never occupied dome stadium and assorted other foolishness to make it the most expensive third-world shithole on Earth.

Sad but True.

SG

Could this be the beginnings of a new Gun Pron thread.

But seriously, I am worried about what kind of debt Crazy Larry will leave for B'ham and the rest of the state.

in two years i predict the government will have to move in and have to take over.  just gotta make sure to be stocked up on ammo so when the zombies come running out of the inner city i will be ready....lol....visionland. wonder how many people total actually voted in the last election. i bet it was less than one fifth of the population.