Birmingham named one of Livability.com’s best places to retire, 2017
Today’s seniors are in search of a lifestyle as diverse and dynamic as they are. While many folks will choose to remain where they’ve spent most of their lives and built their communities, others will look for new adventures in a different location — and deciding where that place will be is an extremely important choice. With that in mind, Livability.com, a site focused on exploring what makes small-to-medium sized cities great places to live, has just released its Top 10 Best Places to Retire, 2017. Coming in at no. 7 on this year’s list is Birmingham, Ala. The Magic City has evolved dramatically over the years. The former steel town is now one of the leaders in the health care industry, with more than a dozen hospitals, as well as a premier medical school and research facility in the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The city center has been revitalized, earning accolades as one of the nation’s 10 Best Downtowns and one of the top Spring Break Destinations for Families. “This year’s retirement cities list perfectly reflects the diverse, dynamic lifestyles of today’s retirees,” says Winona Dimeo-Ediger, managing editor of Livability.com. “Some of these cities might surprise you, which is a good thing, because retirement looks very different in 2017 than it has in the past.” The full list of best retirement cities was determined by analyzing a range living characteristics including health care, climate, crime rates, cost of living, housing costs and access to recreational activities. Here are all top 10 places to retire in the U.S: Walnut Creek, Calif. Reno, Nev. Boca Raton, Fla. Plano, Texas Sioux Falls, S.D. Vancouver, Wash. Birmingham, Ala. Littleton, Colo. Bismarck, N.D. Salt Lake City, Utah To determine these rankings, Livability.com experts examined surveys and data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Medicare, Esri, NOAA, Walk Score, the EPA and other sources, and crunched the numbers to determine the best U.S. cities for retirees. Research shows that seniors care most about health care, climate, crime rates, cost of living, housing costs and access to recreational activities — the site found 10 cities that deliver on all counts, each offering a completely different lifestyle to fit a wide range of tastes and interests.
Randall Woodfin announces Education, Workforce and Business Committees
Birmingham Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin announced the creation of two committees that will focus on the priorities of his incoming administration during a Monday morning press conference at the Alabama Workforce Training Center. Perry Ward, President of Lawson State Community College, and Fred McCallum, former AT&T president will lead the Education and Workforce Committee. This committee will develop plans to align and expand education and workforce programs to ensure the Magic City is preparing its young people with the skills and education they need for the high-wage, high-demand jobs of the future. Woodfin reiterated one of his campaign themes that the city needs to make “sure we give our children options. And there’s only three options. Our children should either enter the military, enter college or a university, or go straight into the workforce. These other two options, of not doing anything when you finish high school or getting into any form of illegal activity, are no longer options for our children,” he said at the press conference. Tracey Morant Adams, Executive Vice President and Chief Community Development & Corporate Social Responsibility Officer for Renasant Bank, and Josh Carpenter, Director of External Affairs at UAB, will serve as co-chairs to the Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Committee. This committee will work with economic development and business leaders in Birmingham and Montgomery to understand all efforts to recruit and expand industry and jobs. Under their leadership, economic development will become a department under the new administration, which endeavors to keep the engaged in the creation of new jobs. The committee will also partner with Innovation Depot and other leading groups to support opportunity for budding innovators by making Birmingham an “entrepreneurial hub” for the Southeast. Woodfin takes office on Nov. 28.
Christian homeless shelter accused of requiring attendance, tithing at Alabama’s largest megachurch
A Christian women’s shelter in Alabama is being accused of forcing homeless residents to attend the state’s largest megachurch and when they finally get employed, tithe 10 percent of their income to the church. AL.com reports Jessie’s Place, a women and children’s shelter in downtown Birmingham, is asking the women who stay there to specifically attend Alabama’s largest megachurch, Church of the Highlands, regardless of their church preferences. And ultimately, once employed, to tithe the Bible-recommended 10-percent to the church. Dana Johnson, who has been homeless on and off for two years, told AL.com her story saying that the shelter required her to attend Church of the Highlands rather than her own church, First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham. When her pastor at the First Presbyterian, Rev. Shannon Webster, found out, she reached out to Jessie’s Place asking why the women were all required to attend the same church. LaTonya Melton, director of Jessie’s Place, responded to Webster explaining the shelter policy “prevents women from lying and saying they went to church when they didn’t. She also said that tithing is required, but the women can tithe to whichever church they want.” Tony Cooper is the executive director of Jimmie Hale Mission, which operates Jessie’s Place, says he has no problem with the tithing, but does take issue with telling the women where to specifically tithe. “We are a Christian ministry,” Cooper told AL.com. “Tithing is just a part of our Christian walk. We’re trying to get them to exercise the discipline of giving back to God what’s his. We charge them nothing. It’s not like we’re trying to get their money. The tithe does not go to us. We’re trying to teach them Christian discipline. Tithing is part of the budgeting process. Whatever your policies are, they’re not going to please everybody.”
Steve Flowers: Birmingham election recap and the impact of Pat Dye
There have been quite a few political happenings in the Heart of Dixie during October. Birmingham has elected a new mayor. 36-year-old Randall Woodfin defeated two-term mayor William Bell. I never got to know Bell that well; however, the few times I visited with him he seemed to be an affable fellow. He surely looked like a mayor. His distinguished demeanor and exquisite diction and appearance gave an elegant impression for Birmingham. He looked like he came out of Hollywood central casting. Woodfin beat Bell the old-fashioned way. He went door-to-door with shoe leather and diligence. He met most of Birmingham’s voters one-on-one and it paid off. He beat Bell convincingly, 58 to 41. At 36 Woodfin will be the youngest Birmingham mayor in modern history. In addition to changing mayors, Birmingham voters also ousted two longtime city council leaders, Johnathan Austin and Kim Rafferty. Austin was City Council President. Alabama State University did a good days work when they selected State Senator Quinton Ross as their new president. Senator Ross is a gentleman of impeccable character and ability. Ross has served 15-years in the Alabama Senate with distinction. He is very well respected among his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Even though being in the Democratic minority in the Senate, he has been able to work with the Republican majority to get an immense amount of things accomplished for his Montgomery district. His legislative and governmental experience will be invaluable in unlocking fundraising doors for the university. Quinton Ross is an educator by profession with undergraduate and graduate degrees from his beloved Alabama State. He grew up in Montgomery, went to public schools and then continued his education degrees in his hometown. He is only 48-years old. He can build quite a legacy at Alabama State. He has the proper pedigree and love for his alma mater to make his tenure special. The legendary coach, Pat Dye, worked diligently on behalf of Roy Moore in the U.S. Senate race. It did not hurt Moore any. Coach Dye is an icon in Alabama. He is a man’s man. I love to visit with him. Even though he grew up on a farm in Georgia, he is a true Alabamian through and through. He reminds me some of our great folksy senator, Howell Heflin. Heflin was a true Alabamian. However, his daddy was a Methodist minister. As you may know, Methodist ministers are moved often. His daddy was serving a stint in Georgia when Heflin was born. Judge Heflin was always a little embarrassed by this fact being as he was a U.S. Senator from Alabama. He would often say that his daddy was doing missionary work among the heathen. Pat Dye grew up in Georgia and was an All American guard for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. He became a coach for Bear Bryant 45 years ago. He became Bryant’s most renowned recruiter. He was the mainstay of Bryant’s last decade. His recruiting was relentless. He learned every corner of the state. When Alabama took the field for the national championship game against Notre Dame in 1973, 24 of the 72 players were signed by Dye. He went on to become one of Auburn’s greatest coaches. His decade at the helm was some of Auburn’s glory years. He enjoys his life on his magnificent farm in East Alabama. He spends most of his time on his land hunting and fishing. However, he has gotten riled up about the fact that Alabama is losing an immense amount of money to our neighboring states of Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee because the powers that be will not let Alabamians vote on a lottery. Those powers that be are the Indian/Las Vegas gambling interests that want to continue to buy control of certain political offices that will allow them to continue their monopoly. Our interim acting Attorney General, Steve Marshall, has shown his hand. Marshall, even though totally unknown, is running for a full term. The gambling interests have put their money on him. He has done their bidding and has filed suit against the Alabama owned casinos to allow his new bosses, the Indian gambling casinos, a monopoly. You will be able to follow the money in the AG race. You can bet your bottom dollar that Pat Dye will be against Marshall. The Indian Gambling syndicate needs to hedge their bet. Marshall will not win that race. Alabamians will know that the gambling syndicate backs this unknown charlatan and his claim to the office was that he was Robert Bentley’s appointee. See you next week ••• Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Birmingham Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin announces creation of three citizen-led committees
Birmingham Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin doesn’t assume office until Nov. 28, but he’s already hard at work on behalf of the Magic City. On Monday, he announced the creation of of three citizen-led committees he believes will play a key role in bringing the city to “its full potential.” The Neighborhood Revitalization and Public Safety Committee — co-chaired by BLOC Global managing partner Herschell Hamilton and Birmingham Police Detective Ralph Patterson — will focus on the creation of more affordable housing, public safety, small business development and improving city transportation. The Transparency and Efficient Government Committee — co-chaired by Birmingham-Southern lecturer Daniel Coleman and business-owner Annie Allen— will be tasked with increasing government trust and transparency. They will also endeavor to ensure the city’s regulatory environment is “open for business.” Finally, the Social Justice Committee – co-chaired by physician and educator Dr. Nancy Dunlap and human rights attorney Richard Rice — will focus on tackling poverty and homelessness along with human and civil rights issues. According to AL.com, “Over the next 100 days, “these committees are charged with evaluating current city services within their respective areas, identifying world-class best practices and opportunities for the city and develop accountability measures and budget metrics to help achieve success, said Ed Fields, Woodfin’s transition coordinator.”
Amazon second HQ bid ignites frenzy from Bethlehem to Birmingham
Don Cunningham was in a meeting in his Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, office when a colleague texted: “Amazon is looking for a new location. Let’s get it.” This wasn’t just any new location, but a second headquarters. As CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., a state-funded agency that lures businesses to the region, Cunningham huddled with his staff to read Amazon’s criteria. They recognized they had shortcomings. Their region is smaller than Amazon wants, it doesn’t have a major airport, and while it does have colleges, they aren’t major research institutions. But Cunningham felt the Lehigh Valley could sell its affordable cost of living and proximity to major cities like New York and Philadelphia, both about an hour away. “We’re a little shy on some of these things, but we’ve got some things going for us so let’s give it a shot,” Cunningham said. When Amazon announced it was inviting proposals for a second HQ – a corporate investment of $5 billion and 50,000 jobs – it set off a frenzy among governors, mayors and bureaucrats around the country. As with Powerball, the large stakes lead to less rational behavior – all that matters is the jackpot. High paying tech jobs can permanently transform a region and raise the political prospects of the leader who helped seal the deal. Amazon’s come-one-come-all approach plays into the boosterish politics of economic development, where officials must balance their public enthusiasm with a more private reality: There’s a limit to how much time, money and hope they should spend on a long-shot bid. They have to play Amazon’s game, but worry they’re getting played. “It is a little bit sadistic,” said Alex Pearlstein, a vice president at Market Street Services, which helps regions develop strategies to be competitive in bids like these. But he understands political pressure on officials to apply. “You never want to say never,” he said. “Maybe a city that isn’t on their radar will just blow them away.” Pearlstein points to his hometown, Birmingham, which created a hashtag, #BringAtoB with its own website, and erected a massive Amazon shipping box in front a new hip food hall to announce the city’s bid. “They are spending some serious resources on this,” Pearlstein said. “If Birmingham gets it, I mean, I think that would be the shock of the century.” Giant Amazon boxes are used to get the company’s attention and promote Birmingham for its second headquartersfrom Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo. Ford Wiles, chief creative officer at Big Communications, came up with the #BringAtoB campaign and said, “When I think about Amazon and how disruptive they have been, it seems like – why wouldn’t they pick the choice that not everybody is expecting?” In addition to giant boxes at multiple locations, Birmingham has installed giant versions of Amazon’s own dash buttons. But instead of re-ordering products from Amazon.com when pushed, the buttons send tweets with the #BringAtoB hashtag and trumpet another cool fact about the Magic City. Giant Amazon dash buttons aim to lure the company’s second headquarters to Birmingham from Alabama NewsCenteron Vimeo. It’s not possible to tally how much officials nationwide are spending on PR stunts, strategy advice and glossy proposal packages because many economic development groups are nonprofit organizations not subject to public record laws, but the total will climb well into the millions. Initial bids are due Oct. 19, and many places have hired big names. To get help with its effort, Virginia is paying consultant McKinsey & Co. $1 million, according to the Virginian-Pilot. Pittsburgh hired Boston Consulting Group to help. Their fee maxes out at $248,000. And the Kansas City Area Development Council, a nonprofit economic development group, is working with suburban demographer Joel Kotkin and urbanist Richard Florida, even though Florida didn’t list Kansas City in his earlier tweets of his “top three” picks (Toronto, Chicago, D.C.), his “second tier” (Dallas, Atlanta, Twin Cities, Denver, Boston, Philadelphia), his “sleepers” (Detroit, Pittsburgh, Austin, Nashville), or places that “deserve more attention” (New York City, Los Angeles) for the headquarters. Tim Cowden, CEO of KCADC, said they hired Kotkin and Florida for their research, “not for their tweets.” He said in the proposal process, the two experts are learning a lot about the region’s collaborative ways, which “will benefit us long past any Amazon decision.” Amazon doesn’t appear to be discouraging long-shot bids. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe told a local radio station that while cities in D.C. suburbs “clearly” fit Amazon’s criteria, the mayors of Virginia Beach and Richmond, which are smaller and don’t have the mass transit Amazon says it prefers, asked him about applying too. McAuliffe said he personally told Amazon, “‘They have other assets.’ And [Amazon] said, ‘Please have them bid.’” And officials from Vallejo, a formerly bankrupt city of 120,000 that’s an hour ferry ride north of San Francisco, told the local paper that Amazon called the city back within hours of their initial email about the search and said it’s “interested in exploring the opportunity in Vallejo.” Will Morat, who works in Vallejo’s economic development office, said the city’s signed a nondisclosure agreement with Amazon. He doesn’t see Vallejo as a long shot, and even if Amazon doesn’t pick it for the HQ, Morat said the process has helped the city promote sites that are available for other projects. “There is no lose here for Vallejo,” he said. “We are going to find something that will fit.” Amazon, through a spokesman, declined to comment. “Amazon has been brilliant in making this a public response,” said Liz Cahill, chief marketing officer for Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade. “They are kind of setting it up for anybody.” She said as a marketer, she understands why longshots apply. “It’s a great way to draft off this public interest and get your place noticed,” she said. And underdogs do occasionally win projects, Cuneo said, adding “Tupelo, Mississippi, surprised a lot of folks when Toyota picked it” for an assembly plant in 2007. But an assembly plant is no headquarters. Cuneo, who now consults for companies looking for sites
3 Alabama men plead not guilty to bribery charges in pollution case
Two attorneys with a prominent Alabama law firm and a coal company executive are pleading not guilty in an alleged bribery scheme involving pollution in Birmingham. Federal court documents show the pleas were entered Monday by lawyers Joel Gilbert and Steven McKinney, as well as Drummond Co. vice president David Robertson. The lawyer — partners handling environmental litigation with the Balch & Bingham firm — and Roberson are accused of conspiracy and bribery. The three are accused of bribing former state Rep. Oliver Robinson, who pleaded guilty last month. Prosecutors say the firm represented Drummond, and Robinson got $360,000 to oppose expansion of a Drummond-linked cleanup site. All three are free on $5,000 bail. A Dec. 4 trial date has been postponed and a new one isn’t set yet. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Terri Sewell to host Fourth Annual Veterans Resource Fair
In support of those who served our nation, Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell will host her Fourth Annual Veterans Resource Fair on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Birmingham VA Medical Center Annex. The free event aims to provide assistance with issues unique to veterans including VA benefits, transportation resources, health screenings, housing options, mental health services, caregiver support, women’s services, career services, and more. Over 25 resource groups and service officers will be onsite to help attendees. The event is free and open to the public. For those unable to attend, Sewell has published a Veterans Resource Guide to help the brave men and women of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District who have answered the call to serve in our armed forces as they transition back into their communities. The guide helps our veterans obtain the proper benefits and assistance they have earned through their service.
Randall Woodfin wins Birmingham mayoral runoff, defeats William Bell
Step aside William Bell, there’s a new mayor in town. On Tuesday, progressive challenger Randall Woodfin handily bested Bimingham’s seven-year incumbent mayor, Bell, in the city’s contentious runoff mayoral race. Woodfin — a city attorney and member of the Birmingham Board of Education — took home 24,910 votes, 58 percent, over Bell’s 17,353, 41 percent. Bell, who has held a public office in Birmingham longer than Woodfin has even been alive — 40 years — conceded the race around 10 p.m. “Birmingham, this is our moment,” Woodfin told a roaring crowd during his acceptance speech at Haven in Lakeview. “For the last year and six weeks we have been on a journey, not for what’s in my interest, but for what’s in our interest. This is a ‘we, us and our’ moment. Our city, our 23 communities, our 99 neighborhoods, you all have spoken very clearly. We deserved better.” Woodfin, who campaigned on a platform revitalizing the city’s neighborhoods, fighting crime and restoring trust in the city’s government, will take office on Nov. 28. At 36 he will officially become Birmingham’s youngest mayor in over 120 years.
With friends like Randall Woodfin the Birmingham workforce doesn’t need enemies
The run-off election for Birmingham mayor has been a brutal one. Alabama Today has covered stories on both candidates. Interestingly I’ve noticed a trend, when we or anyone covers or questions, Randall Woodfin, he and his supporters cry “fake news.” I’ve seen Woodfin supporters claim he’s the victim of media bias or “fake news” more often in the last month than Donald Trump has in his lifetime. What’s not “fake news” is Woodfin’s comments on Birmingham’s bid to land the second Amazon HQ. A project that could bring up to 50,000 jobs and spur infrastructure growth and investments in transit, education and housing prices. While mayors all around the region welcome Bell and the city of Birmingham’s efforts to attract Amazon, Woodfin is among the naysayers who believe the city shouldn’t even try for the project. According to AL.Com Woodfin said: “Greater Birmingham has experienced zero job growth since 2000 and 30 percent of our population is living in poverty,” he said in a statement. “Rather than propose a comprehensive economic development strategy, William Bell is delivering textbook election-year politics. Impulsively chasing projects as they come is not strategy. “Birmingham has not made the adequate investments in public safety, workforce development, or public transportation over the course of Bell’s seven year tenure to give us a real chance at landing a company like Amazon. This is not leadership, just the typical grandstanding from Bell.” First, Woodfin is wrong about the job growth. Something he should know and shouldn’t spread false information about. According to an article by the Birmingham Business Journal, “The Birmingham economy continues to improve steadily, but still has room to improve.” They cite an analysis by Porter White & Co. investment banker Michael Stone. According to the BBJ, “Stone looked at five key economic factors to gauge the health of the local economy: total employment, retail sales, occupational tax, electricity sales and airline boardings.” The city saw a 1.1 percent increase in total employment as of June 30, 5.3 percent growth in retail sales, 3 percent growth in occupational tax, 1.4 percent growth in airline boarding and a decrease in electricity sales of 4.8 percent. Despite seeing growth four of the five categories, Stone said the Birmingham metro has still not quite recovered from the Great Recession as measured by number of persons employed pre- and post-recession. He goes on to say, Porter White‘s analysis shows Birmingham is being outpaced by several Southern metros, including Austin, Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Nashville and Huntsville. “Growth in jobs is the most important economic indicator,” Stone said in his Birmingham Area Economic Report. “Job growth leads to increased family income, in-migration of population, larger tax revenues without increasing tax rates, and economic well being. Preferably new jobs are well paid, in stable industries, and generated by businesses with good and stable market position.” Birmingham’s retail performance offers a brighter outlook. “Retail sales are important in Alabama as a sign of economic activity and an important source of governmental revenue from sales taxes,” he said. “For the recent 12 month period, Alabama, as well as Jefferson County and Birmingham MSA, have outpaced the rate of growth of the U.S., using personal consumption of durable and non-durable goods (omitting personal services) as the analog for U.S. sales.” On top of the misstatement on Birmingham’s economy there are plenty of people on Mayor Bell’s side to promote the city nationally in an effort to land a project that what would be an incredible opportunity statewide. Editorials have been published throughout the city including this one by Micheal Tomberlin, “Why not Birmingham for Amazon’s Second Headquarters?”, and Russell Hooks of Happens’ in the Ham says, “World class and innovative healthcare may be Birmingham’s key to Amazon’s new HQ.” Even a reporter at the Washingtonian believes that Birmingham warrants serious consideration. So the question I have for the day is why does someone who wants to be our mayor not believe in our city and what’s worse? Even if he didn’t believe in the future of our city, as he professes so passionately every chance he gets, why would he go on record in a way that could ultimately hurt our chances? With friends like Woodfin speaking out on our Amazon bid who needs enemies?
Montgomery, Birmingham ranked among America’s most affordable big cities
Alabama boasts two of the most affordable big cities America according to a new study by financial technology company SmartAsset. Their latest study ranks more than 150 of America’s biggest cities to find the most affordable. Montgomery comes in at the number six spot, meanwhile Birmingham ranks as the 15th most affordable. These cities are measured on factors including property taxes, homeowners’ insurance and mortgage payments relative to median income. Specifically, SmartAsset found the total cost over five years of these four expenses—closing costs, taxes, insurance and mortgage payments—for the average home in every city in the U.S. with a population greater than 200,000. Then they took that five-year cost as a proportion of median household income in each city to determine affordability.
Russell Hooks: World class and innovative healthcare may be Birmingham’s key to Amazon’s new HQ
It would be nice to look back and say “I called it!,” to say that this may be one of the most important posts that I’ve published. Bloggers often hope for that elusive post that goes viral and puts them on the national stage. All of this would be awesome, but not for personal recognition. It would be awesome because if any of these things happen, it means that there’s a good chance that Amazon chose to make Birmingham, AL its next home. Last week Amazon sent municipalities all across America into a frenzy when they announced plans to build a second headquarters that would create 50,000 jobs and could, as Business Insider puts it, “detonate a gentrification prosperity bomb.” What city wouldn’t want this opportunity?! It’s more than a shot in the arm for a local economy, it would be an entirely new economy dropped into the middle of one lucky municipality. Remember the Golden Ticket madness at the beginning of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? That’s what this is. An entire country scrambling to find something that will act as its Golden Ticket. For almost three years, we have used Happenin’s in the ‘Ham to provide “a better view of Birmingham” and to promote our city. I almost wrote a post called “13 Reasons Why…Amazon Should call Birmingham Home,” (super original, right?) and while I could drone on about all the wonderful reasons that Birmingham would be a great choice (the recent renaissance, our southern charm, being the “biggest small town in America”), these are all just fringe benefits for a company as gargantuan as Amazon. No, our Golden Ticket, our Ace in the Hole, is the UAB Health System. When the smoke stopped billowing from the steel plants in the 1970’s, it seemed like Birmingham might have lost its magic. What would fill the void left by the steel industry? It must have felt like the city was on life support, waiting for someone to pull the plug. Thankfully, UAB was there to revive the economy. As of today, the UAB Health System has a $5 billion economic impact on our area, employs 23k workers, was ranked a Top 25 Best Employer in the US by Forbes, and is the 3rd largest public hospital in America. So, why would the UAB Health System, along with other local hospitals, make Birmingham appealing to Amazon? This is where I take a leap and go with my gut, but hear me out. Amazon started out of Jeff Bezos‘s regret for not jumping on board the dotcom boom earlier. He referred to it as his “regret minimization framework.” Simply put, he was going to minimize the chance on missing out on the next big thing. They started selling books then moved to retail. On just about any day you can pull up a new article about how retailers are still reeling from being blindsided, and in denial, about the rapid success and acceptance of online shopping. Recently, Amazon shocked the world by purchasing Whole Foods, and is already turning the grocery industry on its head. The next logical step for them would be to tap into the fastest growing industry out there, healthcare! This sector added 35k jobs per month in 2016, but now providers are looking for ways to maximize efficiencies in cost and care. If there’s one thing Amazon excels at it’s efficiency and cost cutting. Virtual Care and Telemedicine are already being explored as practical ways to deliver care while minimizing costs. Amazon could dominate this frontier faster than you can say, “Alexa, refill my prescription.” Just read the “key takeaways” in this article about the 2017 Global HealthCare Sector Outlook. It fits right into what Amazon is doing in the retail industry. By locating their second headquarters in Birmingham, Amazon would have the perfect place to implement and test ways it can make its entry into the healthcare sector. Despite what the haters are saying, Birmingham DOES meet the basic requirements laid out by Amazon. It is listed as a potential location by The Washington Post, which is owned by (Guess Who?!) Jeff Bezos! Don’t get me wrong, we are by no means at the top of the list, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything in our power to create a defining moment for our city and for the state of Alabama. Grabbing the attention of Jeff Bezos and Amazon will take a group effort of both city and state leadership, local entrepreneurs, and the private sector. (I’m looking at you, Alabama Power , Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Regions.) We weren’t even being considered by Mercedes when they sought to build their M-Class production plant, but it just celebrated its 20th anniversary! When Amber and I started Happenin’s in the ‘Ham I drew inspiration from one of Birmingham’s most famous citizens, Capt. Charles Linn. Yep, as in Linn Park. If you walk to the hilltop in Oak Hill Cemetery you will find his mausoleum. Upon it is a plaque that bears the inscription: “When the population was less than 4,000, Linn prophesied: ‘Bury me on the high promontory overlooking the city of Birmingham, in which you men profess to have so little faith, so that I may walk out on Judgement Day and view the greatest industrial city in the entire south.’ A promise fulfilled yet only begun.” The keys to the mausoleum, locked from the inside, are still entombed with him. Let’s have a little faith, Birmingham. The promise of our city has only just begun. #AMZNtoBHM Russell Hooks is the c-founder of Happenin’s in the ‘Ham! with his wife Amber. This opinion piece was republished with his permission. According to their website, Happenin’s in the ‘Ham! is dedicated to sharing the great events and activities you can enjoy around Birmingham! Check them out.
