Mayor Bell’s reckeless spending could be put to better use. Here are some ideas: opinion

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Archibald makes a lot of sense.

I love it when I get to use those words.  I don’t always agree with him but on his latest series highlighting the out-of-control spending by Mayor Bell he is spot on.

We should all strive to find common ground with those whose opinions often differ our own. If in D.C. or even Montgomery those who are on opposite sides found common ground (without compromising their principles) I think people’s ideas of politics wouldn’t be so negative.

Black, white, Democrat or Republican you’ve got to respect the work Archibald has done spotlighting the mayoral office’s outrageous spending. More than just respecting the valid questions Archibald is asking, I believe everyone living within Birmingham city limits and, even those around us, needs to join him in questioning the reckless city spending and demand it stop.

Come on mayor, get a grip on the taxpayers’ money. That is, after all, what you’re spending – taxpayer money. In a city where crime and poverty is higher than the state and national averages, where school children don’t have food on the weekends, where infrastructure is often a wreck and houses are falling apart throughout the city limits, are extravagant parties, a huge staff, and expensive trips your highest priorities? Haven’t you promised to do more? Be better than this.

I’ve been told Mayor Bell’s spending probably does even not bother those who support him because he’s a mayor the people are proud of. Though I wasn’t here for the Larry Langford “burlap sack and ashes” days I can only imagine how Bell has turned around the public perception of the mayor’s office on a local and broader scale.  But is that a reason to give him a pass on spending like a drunken sailor?

The way Mayor Bell is spending and the things he’s spending city money on are not the highest priorities of the people of Birmingham! He may well be a nice guy and he may well have great intentions but unless or until he stops his spending spree no one should be raving about how much better he is than previous mayors.

Bad in a different way than previous mayors is still bad.

I live in Birmingham; it doesn’t take a lot of effort to find better uses for some of the wasted money reportedly being spent. So here you go, Mayor Bell: If you or your office need a list of places to invest, here a couple issues as mentioned on your website as priorities where you can start:

  • Child Care Resources, Incorporated. “This service provided assistance for poor and working mothers who needed decent and affordable childcare.” (Bet the $90,000 you spent on the  Community Policing & Revitalization Banquet would help a lot of working mothers and they children.)
  • Crime Prevention “Our senior citizens feel safer because crime has been significantly reduced during his tenure as mayor.” (Bet they’d feel safer if the million spent on your personal security was instead spent on theirs.)

I encourage everyone to leave your thoughts on what the money could be better spent on. Also, click through to one of John’s columns and thank him for his relentless reporting of the Mayor’s shenanigans.

This column appeared first on AL.com.

Apryl Marie Fogel is a new Alabama resident who works as a conservative political activist.