Review of the Media Panel

By review, I mean just my summary of what went on.  I will try to return to some issues as I have time.  So far, I would like to know more about the Preserve Development in Hoover, and I am trying to be interested in the LL trial.

Bill Payer served as moderator.  Let me just give a quick breakdown of the topics that people seemed to find interesting.  I tihnk most of the questions were submitted by the audience.

They begin with a reference to Kyle Whitmire’s piece in Birmingham Weekly about the travails of Larry Langford, and then begin with asking for some thoughts and predictions about the upcoming trial.  Everyone agreed that there will be a trial.  Forget the rumor that was floating about a plea bargain.  Langford is not the type to back down.  Unclear whether the move to Tuscaloosa will make any difference.  KW thinks that LL will testify in his own defense.  Maybe that is an historically bad idea.  Then again, all he needs is one vote to go his way.

If LL is convicted then the city government will change.  Smitherman will become mayor.  Not clear (it seems that the law is not clear) just how long she will be mayor.  These events seem to be something the framers did not envision. 

As for Jefferson County.  Bankruptcy seems to be in the future.  Though probably not til after the elections.  KW says that the creditors are not pushing too hard because they have things they would rather not reveal.  CD points out that Montgomery does not care what happens in Jefferson County, so no help from that direction. 

The recent elections show a lack of concern on the part of the electorate.  SW points out that we need accountability in our local government.  RJ points to apathy, but also mentions that there are not so many issues that are hot right now.  JA thinks the system encourages low participation since the council districts are so small.  There are no large campaigns, As for accountability, KW laments that we always let the feds do the investigation into corruption.  The local law enforcement is itself sort of controlled by the special interests.  Such investigation will end a career.  BP wonders where is the outrage?  How do we change anything as a result?

[ed.  It reminds of C.B. McPherson’s remark to the effect that democracy can only work if people can support themselves on about 20 hours a week.  The people on this panel spend their entire time investigating and finding things out.  The rest of us don’t even have enough time to hear what they think.  We need more of this sort of event.]

SW thinks that we can fight the entrenched interests by getting more grassroots involvement.  [ed. more organizations like otmdems?]  CD reminds us that AEA and Paul Hubbert have made life better for a large group of people.  He said something about the harm done by George Wallace, I think, but I couldn’t quite see the connection.  RJ points to the PAC to PAC transfer problem.  If the money trails are untraceable, it is difficult to know what you are voting for.  JA special interests are not bad, but hidden special interests are.

What is Artur Davis’ biggest problem.  Race, but maybe also the fact that Paul Hubbert does not like him.  SW thinks that he is picking sides in Washington to position himself in Alabama.  The party seems to be letting this happen.  CD Hubbert would definitely want Sparks.

What changes do we need?  Maybe fewer small communities, consolidate the cities so that more people are concerned about the government that we have. KW we need fewer cities.  Retail and sales taxes do not work to support government.  [ed.  Read Wayne Flynt - CD recommendation]  RJ points to the transit problems.  Good luck.

Steven Bradley and BARD are sort of a joke.  Someone mentioned the Preserve as an example of out of control development.  [ed. More on that later.  The Preserve was one of the first encounters I ever had with local government in Hoover.  The local Hoover elections once turned on the positions of various candidates on development.]

CD we can learn a lesson from Ed Lamont about the difficulties of trying to improve.  KW we must treat the schools as a social justice issue.  CD maybe we need consolidation in the various school districts.

Anyway, that is a sort of summary of some of the points.  For me it was nice to get a sort of introduction to some of the personalities and problems in the local space.  I think most of the issues I had wondered about in my pre-event posting were covered and some that I had not anticipated.  We need more of these!

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