Bessemer Mayor contributing to neglect of shelter animals

Update: The city council meeting will be at 6:00 today (Tuesday). Be there if you want better animal care.

Two years ago the city of Bessemer had a problem in their animal shelter. As a not so gentle reminder, here are pictures of two animals that were under their care.





Soon after this happened, "we" tried to address the problems before the city council, and as I was speaking the Mayor (Ed May) stopped me right as I was describing specific abuses and said my allegations were not true and that Bessemer did not have an animal problem.

My response in a column printed in the Western Tribune was that he was right. The animals were not the problem. The problem was with the people responsible for their care.

I think the Bessemer pound cleaned up its act, and though things might not be ideal, neglect has not been an issue.

At the time "we" recommended oversight and training by an outside agency.

Today neglect is occurring again, but this time the buck stops at the very top. The shelter was out of dog food. A sizable donation was made to buy food. A volunteer went to Walmart to buy food. She ran into city employees who were purchasing food. I assume they were on a tight budget because they decided that they would put their food back and accept the donation of food. I am told Rev. Eades OK'd that.

When they got to the shelter with the food, the employees were eager to feed the dogs, but they were told that the donation was being refused. Donations of that magnitude have to be approved by the mayor, they were told. The mayor refused to let the city accept the dog food.

The donation was in the form of a check from Robert White who runs the Anchor Club Charity Bingo. The mayor, who said "Something like this, quite frankly, it reminds me of Sodom and Gomorrah," when bingo was passed, would rather see dogs starve and die, I guess, than accept a donation.

There will be council meeting Tuesday evening, I am told, where this can be brought up. People are being asked to pack city hall at 6:00. Check back here on Tuesday to confirm this meeting time. I was told there would be two meetings tomorrow and that seems odd to me, so we may be getting the runaround.

At any rate, any animal neglect currently going on falls directly onto the lap of mayor Ed May.

"We" may attempt to get the shelter closed. If the city cannot affort to feed the animals, and will not accept donations of food, they should not be taking in animals.

Secret Service are you listening???

Some of you saw my post on the Examiner about Steve Anderson, the Baptist preacher who prays each night for President Barack Obama to die and go to hell.



Some of you saw my post about people bringing guns to town hall meetings. After that post, another man carried a big gun to a meeting where the president was speaking.



Now it's beginning to come together.

The guy carrying the gun goes to the church pastored by the man calling for the death of our president. He says so on a radio broadcast in this video. In the video the gun toter kids about "watering the tree of liberty." The pastor advocates "melting" Obama like a snail and "breaking the teeth" out of his head. Someone needs to "abort" Barack Obama. Should be done on television. This is your Baptist preaching, where only men are allowed to speak in his church (on the tape).




This preacher should be arrested. And the gun toting tree waterer. Just my Bessemer opinion.

A short tribute to Senator Kennedy

Be sure to read my Western Tribune column about the Norfolk Southern informational meeting which follows this brief tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy. May he rest in peace. I particularly like the way the media has portrayed Barack Obama as the successor to the Kennedy role in politics.




I have read a lot of hateful comments while looking at videos and tributes about Senator Kennedy. Let it rest, hatemongers.

Did you begin voting when you turned 18? Thank Senator Kennedy. Do you participate in or enjoy women's collegiate athletics? Thank Senator Kennedy. Glad Bork got "borked"? Thank Senator Kennedy. Senator Kennedy was a champion of gay rights, women's rights and fairness all around. He will be missed, especially as we move toward health care reform.

Comments are welcome, but I will not allow hateful ones.

Western Tribune column August 26, 2009 NS Hub meeting

My column from this weeks Western Tribune.

I learned a good bit at the Norfolk Southern informational meeting last week, even though the format was not what many of the McCalla residents who came expected. I believe they expected a “town hall” style meeting where they could have used a more accusatory and confrontational approach, since they were not interested in finding common ground.

“They don’t want to hear what we’ve got to say. They know we are right and they are wrong.”

It sounded similar to the discourse at some of the town hall meetings dealing with health care.
When people are seeking a solution to a problem, whether it’s health care or land use and quality of life concerns, both sides should come with a calm approach to dialogue. If one or both sides are unwilling to do so, a satisfactory outcome will never be reached.

Norfolk Southern offered the most elaborate community information event in their history to inform us about the proposed intermodal hub and what its effects might be. In addition, information about their facility in Austell, GA, built a decade ago, was available.

In Austell, similar concerns were voiced before the facility was built but the mayor of the town realized that it was better to talk to company officials than to try to fight the railroad giant. Some compromises were worked out, and in the years since the facility was completed, the resident’s fears have not been realized and no complaints have been heard, according to the mayor.

One of the disadvantages of being unincorporated is that there is no official community leader such as a mayor to deal with such issues. There seems to be some distrust with the county commissioner (around this as well as other issues). The Jefferson County School Board may be the best agency to deal with the situation, and they have approved a resolution to do a study of traffic, environmental and other issues related to the project. Norfolk Southern has done those types of studies, but an independent study might reinforce their claims on a number of issues.

In Austell, the city received some money but again, McCalla is not a city, so it’s hard to anticipate what kinds of deals might be reached. Community ball fields, improvements to the school, firefighting equipment; those are just some of the things we might see if McCalla residents are willing to negotiate rather than argue.

****************

Watch this Norfolk Southern intermodal climb a hill. Actually, its in someone's basement, but this is a long train for a model, and how he keeps it from derailing I don't know. And the music is good.

A changing community

In 1887 Bessemer was founded by Henry F. DeBardeleben. DeBardeleben is being honored today by the Kiwanis club of Birmingham as it inducts him along with three others into the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame. His credits include (for Birmingham) forming the Pratt Coal and Coke Co. and the DeBardeleben Coal and Iron Co., which later merged with TCI.

As for Bessemer, the King of the Southern Iron World, as he was known, Henry DeBardeleben came here around 1887. (History - Bessemer Chamber of Commerce)

At age 30 he came to Birmingham and they soon had acquired a controlling interest in the Red Mountain Iron and Coal Company, which was later renamed the Eureka Mining Company. Debardeleben was the general manger of this company. It was during this time in 1886 that he proposed to buy a site consisting of 4,040 acres of land that was located about 13 miles to the southwest of Birmingham for approximately $100,000. Debardeleben's plan was to build eight furnaces and to add two additional railroad outlets to the city within two years. He believed that the future of this city and the surrounding areas depended on the success of its iron and steel resources. This became the key part of Debardeleben's organizational structure for the city. Debardeleben even renamed the city to reflect the resources in the area that it could offer. The original name of the city was Brooklyn; however Debardeleben decided to rename the city Bessemer in honor of Sir Henry Bessemer, the British scientist who was famous for his contribution to the steel making process.

"His descendants have made a mark in the Birmingham area...." the release about today's award says.


For instance, I guess, his son, Charles DeBardeleben? According to Diane McWhorter, in Carry Me Home, Charles DeBardeleben identified himself as "one of the greatest believers of White Supremacy" and proclaimed his contempt for an organization (labor union) that let whites "mingle and associate with Negroes." It gets worse.


But this is not about Charles. It's about the positive changes that Henry brought to our area.

Another positive step toward change is the announcement from the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama that the Jefferson County McCalla Industrial Park is being designated as an "AdvantageSite," the first such site in Jefferson County.

This site is next to the proposed intermodal facility to be built by Norfolk Southern. Being designated an AdvantageSite helps to "take away much of the guess work for a company looking to locate or expand in the state. Industrial sites earn the designation after an extensive process that verifies all types of information, from the ownership to environmental studies and zoning and other essentials."

In other words, it helps in recruiting development. This should help to bring the type of development that Norfolk Southern is predicting alongside their hub.

By the way, if you were unable to attend their information meeting last week, McCallaCan.com
has the answers you are looking for. This site provides most of the information that was presented at the Bessemer Civic Center. (Without being under the watchful eye of the Bessemer Police whose presence offended so many of the McCalla residents).

There are other changes coming to Bessemer. There is someone thinking outside the box, with a vision that can help our urban neighborhoods get out of the rut we are in. More about this later.

Twilight at the Castle in Bessemer

Be sure to read my Western Tribune column that follows.

On Saturday, August 29 from 8:00 until 12:00 a benefit will be held at the "Original Castle" in Bessemer with proceeds going to Birmingham AIDS Outreach.

"Twilight at the Castle" will feature a stellar line-up of entertainers. Scheduled to perform are Tasha Long, Yosmein Campbell Starr, Trinity Taylor, Obsinity, Genesis, Racquel Scott, Ginger Nicole Richardson, Bambi Kira, Kelly Alexander, Opal Senior, & Sha Sha Glamour.

The historic Scott-Vines house in wintertime

Spread the word. This event is being hosted by Jonathan Edmondson and Kyle Pugh, at the historic Scott-Vines house at 422 Owen Avenue in Bessemer, AL, and is open to the public.

If you have been to Christmas at the Castle, then you can imagine what this Summer Spectacular will be like. If you have not been, you will be amazed.

A suggested donation at the door of $10-20 will be appreciated by the folks at BAO.

This information was posted yesterday on Birmingham Gay Examiner.

Two of the performers that will entertain are Ginger Nicole Richardson and Obsinity.




This event will help raise money for Birmingham AIDS Outreach. Please support this cause.

BAO's mission is "to enhance the quality of life for people and families living with HIV and AIDS and to prevent further spread of the disease through age-appropriate prevention education programs."

Billy Cox was a person who did that. Billy was from Bessemer, and died 15 years ago after battling HIV/AIDS for several years. Read about Billy in the post that follows.

For more info: Birmingham AIDS Outreach

Western Tribune column August 19, 2009 Billy Cox

This is my column from the Western Tribune this week

Billy Cox was a hero to many then, and is still a hero today.

In 1987 Billy received a diagnosis that at the time signaled an almost sure death sentence. He tested positive for HIV. Within a few years he had developed AIDS, and by 1994 Billy had passed away.

During those early years of the AIDS epidemic most patients were silent about the disease and felt marginalized by their community.

Not Billy. He became a crusader and those who knew him saw him as energetic and optimistic, even when most would not be able to find that kind of spirit.

Shortly before his death, determined that a change was needed in the way AIDS patients and gay people were treated, Billy offered his final disability check to start a foundation in his name which helped to direct community resources and talents to help those with HIV/AIDS.

By sharing his experience and teaching those around him how to care for him, he changed the way people with HIV/AIDS were treated and a new dimension in caretaking began, as care teams of volunteers formed to assist those in need. The 1917 Clinic at UAB developed networks of teams that have helped people all over the state.

Now Billy has been honored by having a scholarship dedicated in his name at the UAB School of Public Health. The scholarship will go to students with an interest in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender public health issues.

The dean of the school, Dr. Max Michael, says the scholarship may be the first of its kind in the nation.

This comes at a time when the achievements of LGBT persons are being recognized across the country. Just last week, tennis legend Billie Jean King and former San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk were presented the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from President Obama. They received their awards, along with 14 others, not because of their sexual orientation, but because they were “agents of change.”

Billy was an agent of change as well.

Bessemer can be proud of Billy, a 1975 graduate of MacAdory High School and president of his senior class. How many can say that they helped change the way a disease is looked at and the way those with the condition are treated? And now he has an endowment in his name that will help future public health providers make advances in fighting it.