THE RACE IS ON: And on and on and on, much like the war in Iraq, which Sen. John McCain will doubtless continue into the 22nd century, should he become the next Commander-in-Chief. Let’s just hope that the eventual Democratic nominee fares better than in the presidential race than poor 8 Belles did in the Derby.

Meanwhile, the nice idea of free bus fares in Birmingham seems to have gone the way of the dinosaur, high drop-outs are to blame for the slow-down of economic growth in Alabama and Randall Specific keeps dying.

If you want to get your mind off the races, a walk on Highland Avenue might be just the thing, at least until better beer is available.    

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Langford’s illusions are in the numbers

by Kyle Whitmire

The Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority now has the funding it needs to finish its intermodal facility on Morris Avenue, replace all the buses in the bus fleet and build a trolley system downtown, complete with vintage streetcars imported from Europe. All because of new funding from the City of Birmingham.

Or, at least that’s what BJCTA Executive Director David Hill told the Birmingham City Council last week.

However, the BJCTA is counting on $17 million in new funding from Birmingham. Currently the council and the mayor have approved $9 million in new funding from the 100 percent business license hike last year.

Mayor Larry Langford initially told the council that the new fees would provide $17 million for transit, but that changed to $9 million after the mayor’s office realized that there was a problem with its math.

The mayor’s office didn’t explain the switch-a-roo to the council, though. When Councilor Valerie Abbott brought the discrepancy up, Mayor Langford told her that the $9 million number was a mistake. The city would give the BJCTA $17 million, Langford said.

But then something peculiar happened. The mayor’s office submitted an amended ordinance that changed that number back to $9 million, among several other tweaks and changes. It seems that the first ordinance was half-baked, but heaven help anyone who said so at the time.

In fact, lots of budget ordinances are being passed and then amended because of problems with the math. Just this week, the council passed two budget amendments necessary because of “a clerical error.” The mayor’s office is moving money back and forth and the Birmingham City Council hasn’t the slightest idea where it’s coming from or where it’s going.

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