Author Archives: André Natta

Thoughts from Election Day

Posted on November 6, 2008 | 1 comment

There was in fact one other reason the site remained quiet since Tuesday afternoon. I was not going to share my vote with you. I agree with John Archibald that perhaps some things need to stay private or at least not mentioned at all. I did choose to vote, though I didn’t think it’s my place to let the world know who I voted for (or was planning to vote for).

Many still struggle with what this site is (friends included), but for The Terminal to be a true hub for Birmingham and the region, we need your thoughts added to the mix, not just me telling you what I think and you reacting to it all of the time. For those that think that the role of blogging can only be to stoke the proverbial fires that last sentence may be a shock to you.

Those that write these online journals do so to share what they wish with you. That choice may be photos, poems, stories or opinion. It’s up to us to provide the information and then you to determine if you’re going to read it. Perhaps we’ve become so accustomed to be told what to think and how that if someone asks you to do it on your own, you freak out.

That said, I’ve agreed to have my picture made for an article that asks people around the country to reflect on the question “Why did you vote for Barack Obama?” leading me to provide an extended explanation to you, the readers of Birmingham’s hub.

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Exercise that right to vote

Posted on October 24, 2008 | 1 comment

Today is one of the most important days for folks who are interested in seeing change occur. It’s the last day that you’ll be able to register to vote in the upcoming November elections in Alabama. I wanted to take this opportunity to implore you to take the time today to register or to update your voter registration for this upcoming election if you have not already done so.

I’m sitting in a coffeehouse in Denver, CO, preparing to head up to Ft. Collins and Boulder just as the stretch run of our campaign season begins. I can feel the level of excitement that’s existing out here as Election Day approaches, though for many, the change to exercise that right to vote has already been experienced via mail-in ballots. The work that I’m out here doing in Colorado has kept me from digging in and finding out just what that means for the region, but there is an energy that’s palpable in The Mile High City and elsewhere in this country. For that reason, I do hope that you will take advantage of the opportunity to vote on November 4, regardless of party affiliation. You cannot complain about the direction our country will take or the results of the election if you do not exercise that right. People must get out, speak up and make sure that their voice is heard. If you think that your vote doesn’t count, realize that it will send a message to our elected leaders, allowing them to hear loud and clear the wants and needs of their constituents without the need of a filter, no matter what it is.

We’ve purposely not done a great deal of coverage of the national campaign in part because we think that those of you that visit the site on a regular basis have an idea of how those national issues will affect our region. We will also, as is our policy, not endorse a candidate (though I’m sure if you talk to us individually, we’ll be happy to share who and why).

This is a chance to take part in the process, to have your voice heard, to not sit on the sidelines and let others decide for you (and yes, I do realize that we turn over our votes to the Electoral College after the 4th, but I think you get the idea).

Don’t forget to take the opportunity to remind your friends to vote as well, since I know you don’t necessarily want to hear from them either after this is over (if you haven’t already tired of hearing their views during the process). Events like Trick or Vote are necessary as registering only makes you eligible while taking the next step and acting upon that notion is extremely important.

I’ll be back in plenty of time to cast my ballot. I hope to see you sporting that “I Voted” sticker that day. BTW, how about sending in a photo on Election Day of you wearing that sticker (have some fun with it – and hopefully you’ve actually voted too). 5 random submissions will get a white Terminal T.

Exercise that right.

André Natta is the managing editor of The Terminal

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Why pay more?

Posted on October 21, 2008 | Leave a comment

I hop on a plane and fly out to Colorado and hope that big news stories don’t happen while I’m in the air and getting settled in. Now that I’ve been reminded that news will never wait (and that inevitably there will be two stories)…

It will be extremely difficult for the city council to justify a raise for those that follow them into office next year, despite the best of intentions from Councilor Miriam Witherspoon. While the jobs are part-time, many in this current crop do treat it as full time work. Many would argue however that it as the price of being a public servant – doing the work of the people for a small amount of money and their gratitude.

The pay scale should be reviewed in the near future as there is some discrepancy in relation to what they do and what they receive as compensation. However one look at the financial situation that many of the city’s residents find themselves in suggests that if passed we would most certainly see faces change on the council dais next year as it would prove that our current crop were out of touch with what’s going on around them.

Councilor (soon to be County Commissioner) William Bell made the point that the council should not be able to increase their salaries. Those are words that should be heeded in this case. If the proposal was allowed to be presented in its current state it would  be extremely difficult to justify that 120% increase to many long time residents, especially those the who are about to watch one of their community’s anchors, albeit one that has been floundering for some time, begin the process of shutting down after 100 years. The two stories are in fact related (yes, they are).

The council should be encouraging the mayor to reach into the bag from which he’s already promised more than $1 billion in funds to find a way to keep Carraway‘s doors open or at least find a company that would be able to take over the hospital and fulfill its current plans for the area.

Before we go any further, we need to make clear the fact that the city has done what it could to try to help the facility stay open. The former Parisian warehouse at Carraway Boulevard and 12th Street North was torn down in June in hopes that a renaissance long promised to the area’s residents was about to be kicked into high gear. That renaissance was tied to a resurgent Carraway.

The pending closure of the facility, despite the “great” opportunity provided by having a piece of property ready for redevelopment (note sarcasm), is a situation that is tied to the current economic crisis but one that needs to be dealt with swiftly. Making sure that people in Birmingham are employed and that we’re continuing to go after the tax revenue that is desperately needed to complete many of the projects on the boards would go a long way towards influencing residents that our city council needs a pay raise, though it would make more sense to deal with such a raise after next year’s elections (perhaps by the voters).

Our city is currently much better off than other larger cities like San Diego, CA and Newark, NJ (two cities that come to mind as I watch an interview on television this morning with both cities’ mayors talking about their financial crises). For the council to reward itself financially for that accomplishment is definitely not the most effective way to demonstrate that fiscal responsibility.

While I’m starting my first day as a Main Street practitioner in more than 18 months about the time that the council will most likely begin to debate this issue, I’ll catch the highlights of the meeting later on today. I’m sure that most of the city will be doing the same to see how the first issue of the 2009 council race shakes out.

André Natta is the managing editor of The Terminal.

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Sweat that corner on the grand stage

Posted on October 7, 2008 | Leave a comment

I was on my way to a meeting late last week, walking westbound along 1st Avenue North when I got to 22nd. I suddenly wished I’d had my camera with me because of the tableaux vivant before me – one that would definitely tell a story to Birmingham area residents. It would have been one that no doubt confused them and enraged them at the same time.

The easternmost lane of traffic was blocked off as city crews worked to restripe 22nd Street. The westernmost lane was occupied by one of the MAX buses that had been purchased right after I arrived in town four years ago – broken down at a bus stop. The driver was standing at the door to the bus, leaning on it and looking as though it had happened many times before. A passenger looked quite animated as he vented the frustration of all the others at the driver, who appeared as though he cared, but knew that he could do nothing.

In the background because of the angle one could look at The News’ new building and the cranes signaling construction on a much-needed garage addition next to former corporate headquarters soon to become a luxury hotel.

I said the scene would tell a story to Birmingham residents, though some who stumble across this post will no doubt wonder why, since some would argue that this scene takes place in cities across the world every day.

In college one of my architectural history professors introduced me to a phrase I often use to describe urban life:

The city’s a stage.

All of life is a theatre, a play if you will, with some sets more dramatic than others. We’re all actors, whether intentionally or not. The big city is normally viewed as that stage – the place where you pull out all the stops. My favorite story from living on the coast is of Charleston’s mayor, Joe Riley, choosing the gravel for their waterfront park based on the sound it made under his feet. People still revel in his attention to detail as well as the constant examination of whether or not he was doing what was best for the city and its citizens. He has had his critics as well for other reasons but that’s more of a Dre’s Rambings post anyway…

Here in Birmingham there are some projects that will move forward visibly in the near future, among them those first two legs of the Three Parks Initiative, our new downtown hotels and the expansive campus green that now punctuates that you’re on an urban college campus on the city’s Southside. Improving that main stage of downtown is tempting and necessary, though perhaps it is more important to look at the realities of the situation and determine how to help the understudies – the folks that help the theater continue to run from day to day – enjoy their stages as well.

Some of the “realists” out there would say that paving city streets in the midst of an economic crisis doesn’t make sense. It makes perfect common sense however when streets without potholes make it easier for us to get from point A to point B without it tearing up our cars. This way we can earn money to keep a roof over our heads.

What the realists should question is the idea to stripe the same streets that you’re proposing to repave first as part of an ambitious infrastructure improvement campaign. Especially after stating that one of the reasons that you’re undertaking it involves some of the patch work done by work crews when servicing our utilities. Perhaps it will take a while for that project to be awarded (and winter is coming) but maybe folks need to have that explained to them.

We don’t even have to go into the bus situation and why it needs to be addressed.

As breathtaking and as necessary as some of these upgrades to our sets are going to be, we’ve got to pay attention to those “little” details while the big changes occur. While some will not care initially about the public’s opinion on this matter, they will eventually vote – with their wallets first as they continue to lament for the good old days and then in the booth.

André Natta is the managing editor of The Terminal.

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UPDATE: Keeping music in our hearts and our children's lives

Posted on October 1, 2008 | Leave a comment

UPDATE: 10.1.2008, 6:15 p.m. Good news…

UPDATE: 10.1.2008, 4 p.m., We’ve received word that things may be getting worked out. We’d still encourage anyone who can to attend Saturday’s performance. We also thank those of you that did reach out.

Late last night, we received an email from organizers of this weekend’s Barrage concert at the BJCC. The event had been created to serve as a benefit for Scrollworks, a non-profit organized last year with a mission “to offer quality music education for children in the local community regardless of their ability to pay, with a focus on minorities and the under-served areas of Greater Birmingham.” The simple version is, they need our support now more than ever.

They informed us that they’d recently received the estimated bill for miscellaneous fees associated with the use of the concert hall after repeated requests for that information in order to determine how to budget for the event. They’ve now determined that even if the hall sells out at adult ticket prices, the $6,000 bill, covering security costs, first aid needs, and ushers, necessary for Saturday’s concert, which will include performances by young string players coming from Selma and Gadsden, will make it impossible to raise funds as a result of the event – it would in fact place the organization in dire straits.

They’ve sent messages to the BJCC’s Jack Fields, Birmingham City Councilor Roderick Royal and Mayor Langford’s chief of staff Deborah Vance (or at least the mayor’s office) to see if something could be done to help, especially considering the fact that the performance and educational session is scheduled for the end of the week.

Now I’m not necessarily sure of what I can ask our readership can do. There are two things though – well three. We could encourage all of you to attend the concert, beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday, no matter where it ends up being held.

We could ask that you contact Scrollworks and see how you’d be able to help, either by offering to usher, providing additional funds to help offset the costs of the event or by seeing what else they need.

We could also ask that you add your voices to theirs in seeing if something could be done to reduce the cost to Scrollworks.

It is a lot to ask, especially considering the roller coaster that our national economy has been on in recent weeks. But the benefit to the children that will take part in this educational experience and who will have a chance to perform and showcase their musical talent is worth making a plea through our virtual hub for the city and to see what can happen.

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Riding towards the right solution

Posted on September 26, 2008 | Leave a comment

I have this one habit that came to light when I worked for my previous employer that’s always led to some fun conversations (and smiling faces) when expense reports from trips came in. The best example of it was when we were planning for our first trip to Baltimore, MD. My boss decided that he needed to rent a car for the trip, while I said that I’d have no problem getting around on ground transit. I ended up riding in from BWI on their light rail service, eventually pulling up in front of Camden Yards (where I caught half an inning through the gates). I then rode the bus from the ballpark to the city’s Fell’s Point neighborhood, where I got a chance to explore one of the very communities I would be learning about during that conference while getting to our hotel. I walked the rest of the time there.

By the time he met me for dinner that evening, he’d sat in “baseball traffic” for more than 2 hours while trying to get in from the airport. I’d gotten into town in about 40 minutes (including a walk that could have easily been a transfer to another bus to get me there).

My trip to Seattle, WA was already booked before I resigned from that job, so I attended the conference anyway (looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made). Residents in that region enjoy knowing that you can take an express or a local bus from the airport into downtown for $1.25 – each way. My counterparts were paying $15 each way to get into the city using a charter bus service. People from all walks were on the bus – flight attendants, business people heading to the Boeing plant, travelers and residents all sitting next to each other. Yes, they were building a light rail line from SEA-TAC, but it was due primarily because of the impressive use of the bus service already available, which was slated to continue.

While I’ve always had to scramble to find a ride to get to and from the airport here, since I’ve lived here I’ve never not used mass transit to get where I need to from the airports of the cities I’ve flown into.

Growing up in New York probably helped shape my belief that buses are fine way to get around (if they can get you where you want to go). For many people in my hometown, despite the availability of subway service in some of the denser areas of the city, the bus is an important piece of their commutes. It’s safe to say that they are the workhorses of most mass transit networks. Some communities appear to want the cart before the horse, including ours.

At the end of Regional Planning Commission director of transportation and community planning Bill Foisy’s presentation to attendees at Thursday’s ONB Breakfast Briefing about work being done to deal with increasing traffic congestion in Birmingham, someone raised their hand and asked if we would ever see light rail service in Birmingham. Foisy tried to explain that normally you’d see such services connecting cities and not just within a city and that any rail system that returned to metro Birmingham (we did have a pretty well-respected streetcar system at one point) would not be successful until we fixed our bus system. I’m still picturing those faces among the crowd having this puzzled “Well, why can’t we just replace the buses with light rail; they’re cooler?” looks on their faces.

It doesn’t make sense to build a system if those that need to be riding don’t use the current system. If those that need to be riding look down on the current system as something not good enough for them. If they don’t realize that the buses will give them a way to get from that light rail station to their homes if needed.

Call me crazy, but normally if a city wasn’t built like a New York or a Chicago by rail service you normally look to light rail as an upgrade to a system that is functional and that enjoys fair ridership. As far as who is to blame for Birmingham’s current system’s plight, I’ll leave that to everybody else and I won’t even get into whether or not those that currently ride the system are treated fairly or given adequate service.

My point is that fixing the problems with our system (especially with gas prices poised to rise), whether they be new buses, revamping the routes taken by buses, their frequency and their reliability is more important now than ever. It must be addressed and those riding now satisfied before delusions of grandeur are sought that we are not prepared for. We can’t build our way out of traffic issues either, and since our funds are beginning to dry up, wouldn’t a shift in philosophy towards assisting in transit improvements be better?

I’ll be thinking about that during my trip to Chicago in the spring, as I ride in from the airport on the El – and then take the bus.

André Natta is the managing editor of bhamterminal.com.

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So, why WordCamp Birmingham?

Posted on August 25, 2008 | 4 comments

If you’ve been to the front page of the site today, you’ve learned that we’re serving as an organizing sponsor for WordCamp Birmingham on September 27 & 28. A simple explanation of the event is it’s an unconference for fans, users and folks just interested in blogging in general and WordPress in particular. I’ll wait for you to check out the program’s website to learn more if you want to.

We know one question that may be running through your minds is “Why do this?”

This is my attempt to answer that question for you.

Some look at blogging as our new public access channels or a new form of talk radio. Blogging allows individuals to share of themselves (whether it’s their opinions, their photographs, or their favorite recipes) with anyone who cares to pay attention. Blogging is also social media, to me in its most visible form and tangible form. It is the sharing of ideas coupled with the ability to get feedback from those that either support or disagree with them. You can do it for the love of sharing your thoughts, a longing to change the world and to earn a living.

Selfishly, we here at The Terminal want more voices out there online. We want more people to share their thoughts and opinions about what’s going on in Birmingham and its metropolitan area in all of the ways available through social media. We want there to be a more complete virtual picture for folks who wonder just what’s going on in The Magic City. We want more folks comfortable with how blogging actually works. There’s no better way to do so than to bring together people from all over the region and potentially the world to learn from and share with each other. WordCamp Birmingham is a forum we believe that will allow us to do just that. It will give folks a peek into the world of social media in all of its forms, including ways to integrate many of these tools into a WordPress blog and finally answer that nagging question for many, regardless of what software you choose to use, “Why blog in the first place?”.

There have already been more than 20 of the unconferences held throughout the world, including San Francisco, CA (WordPress parent company Automattic‘s hometown); Birmingham, England; Cape Town, South Africa; and Dallas, Texas. All of these locations allowed for conversations to be held and collaboration and cooperation to be fostered. For those that may need to look at this more competitively, the week following our event, Raleigh-Durham, NC is scheduled to host one. We’ll also be slightly ahead of my hometown as New York’s first WordCamp will be held the day after RDU’s.

It is also a great weekend to showcase Birmingham to its visitors. The Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary while the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival enjoys its fifth year of providing a musical interlude to jazz aficionados of the region. Folks that want to enjoy more music on Sunday can make their way up to Vulcan Park and enjoy the Vulcan After Tunes series in addition to breathtaking views of the city. This is not to forget that two incredible exhibits will be opening at the Birmingham Museum of Art that weekend, including the one featuring Leonardo Da Vinci.

For others we plan to give our visitors a chance to wander the city via a scavenger hunt and invite folks to talk about other ways that Birmingham in particular and the South in general can continue to connect and share their voices with each other and the rest of the world.

Registration is scheduled to open on Wednesday Thursday morning and space will be limited.

What can you do? We hope a few things – that you’ll join us for what we hope is the first of many ways that we can contribute to our community’s technological goals; that some of you will consider contacting me about sponsorship opportunities; that you’ll consider volunteering and help us publicize the conference. That you’ll consider presenting at the conference.

Have I at least made you interested in what’s going on? Good…

Send me a message with “wordcampbham” as the title to acnatta@gmail.com or andre@bhamterminal.com and we’ll go from there.

André Natta is the managing editor of The Terminal and one of the organizers for WordCamp Birmingham.

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