Comments on: Yeah, but here’s what REALLY happened…

By: ALmod

ALmod — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:21:10 +0000

Ah, correction… I called a friend of mine… Don Lupo is most certainly back as of yesterday! That’s good news.

By: ALmod

ALmod — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:20:01 +0000

The last report I saw said that Don Lupo had been replaced by Frank Matthews (that guy who protested that Richard M. Scrushy Parkway keep that name, among other things). Word from a number of people in City Hall as of yesterday morning was that Lupo was still gone, though none of those people were from his department.

Public services are just that… public services. City services. Think of things that your city provides for you. It’s more than enough to justify an over $50 million budget. I’d go further into detail, but it’s not my prediction, and I don’t want to give too much away.

By: some guy

some guy — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:37:21 +0000

To clarify: the reference to Don Lupo was in a forum posting!

By: some guy

some guy — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:35:45 +0000

Could you define “public services”? Just trying to figure out what would be sold–based on the reference to the former groundskeeper, I guess that would mean HIS department might be outsourced. Am I close?

I have seen ONE reference on al.com to Don Lupo’s KEEPING his job but would like to see confirmation of that–would make me feel better about the new Mayor.

By: ALmod

ALmod — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:24:04 +0000

You are half right. The business licenses aren’t the same as an occupational tax, BUT they are a kind of occupational tax for business owners. That includes small businesses.

I also have received an email prediction that public services will be sold. Since that person was correct in predicting the sales tax bit, I’m going to go with that. He’s done it before, after all. And the guy in charge of it was just mowing the lawn last week.

By the way… He’s already started rennovating his office in Birmingham. They were cutting a hole in his office wall just yesterday so that he could go outside and smoke. He also wants customized wall coverings to match his office in Jefferson County, hardwood floors, and new furniture. If things go as planned, he’ll likely have a new ventilation system similar to the one in his JeffCo office so that he can smoke in his office. The ventilation system alone will cost $60k (less than the $100k for the JeffCo office)– all on the Birmingham taxpayer’s dime.

Meanwhile… We haven’t heard any real solution to the crime or education problems of Birmingham, and we likely won’t.

By: some guy

some guy — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:02:34 +0000

Interesting thoughts about Larry Langford. Today the News reports he does in fact plan to raise the sales tax and double business license costs. Am I correct in understanding that occupational taxes are not considered in business licenses? (That does not mean that I think there is no chance of occupational taxes being raised.)

I WANT to like Larry, but his past history on financial matters (Visionland, sales tax increase for Jefferson Co.) makes me really uneasy.