Tag Archives: AL

Seems the airport’s new name’s OK, but the logo

Perhaps today’s announcement that the Birmingham Airport Authority has voted to change the name of our airport to Birmingham Shuttlesworth Interntational Airport will cause many to voice concerns as to whether or not it should have been done (for whatever reason). One man’s thoughts though went to whether or not there was any thought given to the logo proposed by Mayor Langford during the specially called meeting.

So, what do you think? (a.k.a. – blatant plug to go answer today’s Magic City Question)

FYI – next steps include the FAA approving the name change (which shouldn’t be a problem). It has always been reported that our BHM designation would remain unchanged with the new name, as it did with its old one. We’re also a little nervous about the potential jokes that will be made about the shuttle buses promised back in April.

A look back: July 16

1932:

Satchel Paige pitched his first no-hitter in the Negro League.

2007:

Demolition of the 1917 Birmingham News building began.

Courtesy: Bhamwiki.com logo

Take a look around

Every once in a while, we forget about how many people read The Terminal via our RSS feed. As a result, we know that a lot of folks won’t necessarily know what’s going on elsewhere on the site. So this is that point where we remind you about what else is up on Birmingham’s hub and invite you to poke around…

Over on Timetable, Charles shares his thoughts on the city’s Art Deco architecture while Whitney reminds us of two great options for live music this evening. I took a moment yesterday and wrote a piece wondering aloud what would happen if Mayor Langford joined the ranks of the bloggers (and some other mayors) and posted on a regular basis over on my Birmingham… Look around, comment, dance if you really feel like it (though the music’s not here… yet).

On the agenda: Council approves 2009 budget

Looks like we will have an operating budget before 3 p.m. CDT (after a lengthy discussion that streamed online during their recess). The regular scheduled meeting of the Birmingham City Council ended at approximately 3 p.m. today with the approval of the 2009 general fund budget. The capital budget is the next item to be approved – it will be dealt with at next week’s meeting.

It appears that The final vote will be was 7-0 for most items with one abstention. Councilor Montgomery was absent due to surgery and Councilor Royal is abstaining from most of the earlier items involving the budget on the agenda – though he did vote with the majority for the items pertaining to employee raises.

The council also delayed voting on a proposal that would have started the process of being considered for the 2020 Olympics, as The Birmingham News reported earlier today.

Regional cooperation for fuel savings

Birmingham’s current effort to go green, which currently includes initiatives like Mayor Langford’s 4-day work week and scrap metal recycling program, could be expanded soon to include a plan to implement a regional plan to use E85 fuel made from wood waste in the city’s 130 current fleet of flex fuel vehicles and other vehicles in the area’s three largest cities.

The mayor’s office let us know that he recently met with Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos and Mayor Ed May of Bessemer to discuss the possibility of developing just such a regional plan. According to the press release, Birmingham alone generates an estimated 16,000 tons of wood waste per year.

“One ton of wood waste generates an estimated 215 gallons of E85 fuel. Just based on that, this City could generate three times our annual fuel consumption,” said Mayor Langford.

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A look back: July 15

1961:

A paved quarter-mile track opened at the Birmingham International Raceway.

1997:

Compass Bank acquired Central Texas Bancorp of Waco, Texas.

Courtesy: Bhamwiki.com logo

Speaking of taxes…

Folks here in Birmingham don’t necessarily have to feel alone anymore when it comes to sales taxes. Earlier this month the City of Chicago raised the sales tax to 10.25%, making it the highest sales tax in the United States. That hasn’t been the only thing that’s gone up for Windy City inhabitants as pointed out in this report published in The University of Illinois at Chicago’s paper, The Chicago Flame.

Not sure what would happen if I had to pay an extra 13.25% on top of the price of a Grapico