Design Review Committee disapproves replacement "Sign"
Preserve Jazz Festival announces sabbatical for 2015
The first part of a series of posts about solutions outside of The Magic City shows that Mayor Langford’s vision for a wireless Birmingham is not that far off base. The main issue may be the fact that few are really looking at just how much of that solution may already exist.
There are approximately 83 free wireless hotspots in Birmingham, AL proper according to AnchorFree, a website that maintains lists for cities across the country. There are 58 hotspots listed in Washington, DC on the website. Take a closer look in the metro area, and the number jumps significantly, courtesy of this list maintained by IPSA and TechBirmingham. As we prepare to introduce 15,000 laptops into the daily local lives of Birmingham’s youth, we made need to reexamine just what we really need to be doing to embrace wireless technology.
Perhaps the main issue involves expanding where the hotspots are, as well as providing more information about what it actually means to have that access. It will do no good to claim that the access points are not where they’re needed. We simply need to find more ways to provide that service there. Providing access in area churches is a start, perhaps with the hope that it will encourage families in our community to take advantage of the service at home if possible. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. If we are going to provide that edge to our youth that this program is supposed to provide in terms of the digital divide, we will have to drastically expand just what it means to be wireless.
We don’t have to go as far as Philadelphia did with their attempt at a citywide wireless cloud, but we need to at least be leaning in that general direction. We need to not be ashamed to provide the service in areas that may not think it’s that cool to do so. As many of us have said before, maybe changing how we think about us can change how others view us. Let’s expand Internet access in several area parks and encouraging more access in some of our restaurants that may not currently see it as something that they need to offer. Encouraging students to frequent their libraries, where access is already available, may also be quite useful in this instance.
Something I discovered during the trip (and on other trips around the country in the last year) was just how much a WiFi hotspot encourages community (at least among those that need their access). It is still too early in the history of this site to rely on a built in mobile broadband card, though if we keep it up, it will become necessary. Even if that’s the case, it still means something to work in a space with others, allowing you to learn more about wherever you are. One of the biggest concerns surrounding our continuing reliance on the Internet is how much we may not talk with others. It’s becoming less and less of a realistic argument. WiFi access can, many times, open those lines of communication.
We all look towards creating a greater sense of community and opportunity in The Magic City. It may be time to also stop looking to tired excuses as to why we don’t move forward. That said, we must also always take a look at all sides of an issue before jumping in with both feet. The long term benefit to the city in terms of how productive we are and what it means to companies looking to move here is too important to not look at a holistic approach to the divide.
Imagine what happens if Birmingham comes together?
Those who pay attention to our local conversation may have noticed a new organization has entered the scene, adding its voice to the chorus of those who cheer Birmingham, Alabama on.
“I Believe in Birmingham” (IBIB) began as a group of citizens concerned about the planned commercial developments in Five Points South and Lakeview/Forest Park using Facebook to connect. I think Dan Monroe’s post on Cayenne Creative’s blog sums up the story to this point pretty well.
It has quickly filed for 501©3 status and hold weekly meetings to discuss their current areas of focus – which includes the proposed entertainment district adjacent to the BJCC complex.
We need people to continue to hold up ways to show pride for Birmingham, so the fact that people are gathering together to confront these issues head on is extremely important.
The part that gets me nervous about this new organization is the fact that it is the latest addition to a growing community of organizations and movements throughout the city – be it Catalyst, 101 Birmingham, Rotaract, etc. There are also legacy groups that would enjoy an infusion of new voices and interests, including the Birmingham Jaycees and the Birmingham Urban League.
I know that some of the members of these collectives and organizations overlap, making me wonder why the current vehicles for change aren’t used but new ones created.
The tag line that currently exists on their front page states that they “…exist to protect Birmingham’s treasures and invest them wisely for the future.”
That fits quite nicely into what many would consider to be an important part of the original mission statement for Main Street Birmingham. Working with that organization to help restore communities outside of greater downtown, both east and west of Interstate 65 would go a long way towards accomplishing that task while including a much broader collection of concerned citizens.
I currently serve as a city appointee to the Jefferson County Historical Commission. Among the things that we are allowed to do via the enabling legislation is purchase properties as a way to protect them (of course that requires money, but that’s another story). Assisting in our formation of a non-profit foundation to enable us to carry out more of our duties would also fit the meaning of the tag line quite nicely.
Perhaps the belief that the nation’s oldest ballpark should be restored to a state worthy of its place in American history may fit the bill. Rickwood Field recently hosted one of the largest crowds in years for the Rickwood Classic. Events are still planned for the rest of the year, most notably on the actual anniversary of the its opening day in August.
There’s a star that is still attached to the top of the Ramsay McCormack building in downtown Ensley. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places (even if its records aren’t available digitally). There are many that would rather see the building torn down and replaced, most likely with a suburban-style structure or one that does not dominate the city’s western skyline as much. When my job focused on that area of the city, I long hoped that that light burning again over the city signified a new beginning for the city – notably in the city’s most populated area. Perhaps that could become a focus at some point.
Looking just north of downtown, another star that continuously burned sits dark awaiting new life. Carraway Hospital and its distinctly urban complex holds the key to a resurgent north side of the city. Plans to bring portions of it back to life are worked on quietly though many need to be aware of the potential energy that it could bring to that part of the city – not to mention a broader variety of basic needs to those who live in that area.
I haven’t even pointed out the need to assist in dealing with the city’s food deserts.
I don’t expect any or all of these issues to become the clarion call for any organization immediately (if at all). What I do hope is that as we choose to believe in the future of Alabama’s largest city that we believe in ALL of it. I also hope we make sure that at the very least we work as hard as possible to ensure that we know about whatever needs our attention as a community.
I’m optimistic for our city’s future. As posted on FreeThinkBham last month, having pride in Alabama’s Magic City will be key, as will working together as one community to move it forward.
I’m looking forward to see just where IBIB’s movement takes them, and us. I also look forward to it being a much larger conversation than it is, hopefully.
What about you?
By the way, if you feel like it, share what makes you believe in Birmingham over on Magic City Question.
André Natta is bhamterminal.com’s stationmaster.
Photo: “Birmingham Pledge” mural. City Action Partnership.
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