Our One Mile coming to Bessemer

Are you interested in hiking or biking along established trails? Now's your chance, if you live in Western Jefferson County, to let your voice be heard.

I attended their kick off meeting in October. Here's a review of that meeting.

Our One Mile will hold a meeting on Tuesday, November 30, at Lawson State Community College, Bessemer Campus, from 5:30 to 7:00.

They want to know where you live, work and play.

Our One Mile will connect places that matter most throughout Jefferson County through greenways, trails, and sidewalks. You will be able to walk, bike, or roll from your home to desired daily destinations such as parks, schools, libraries, churches, or shopping areas. You, your family, and the rest of your community will have a safe path to travel to these locations in a new way - without a car.

Our One Mile is an initiative of the Freshwater Land Trust, funded through the Jefferson County Health Action Partnership. This Spring, the Partnership received Federal funding to combat obesity and to improve tobacco cessation efforts throughout the county—all part of their mission to make the healthy choice the easy choice for everyone. Our One Mile will improve the community’s health by creating a comprehensive and implementable greenway master plan for the county, identifying both shovel ready projects and the funding to make them happen. The master plan is expected to be completed in early 2012.

Here's a short video about Our One Mile.

Our One Mile from jason hamric on Vimeo.

So take a few minutes Tuesday at 5:30 and be there. For your health. For your community.

Response to Western Star bigotry

Bessemer's Western Star is published by Trib Publications, Inc., and their president, Bob Tribble, exhibited his lack of education and his bigotry in a recent editorial. You can read it here.

Three letters appeared in today's Western Star in response. One is from me, the others are from Elisa Macon and Trey Noland. This will make for a long blog post, but I am posting all three letters here. Click "Read more" to view the letters.

The vigil and the editorial

Over the weekend I spoke at the vigil held in memory of Tre' Juan Figures, the 12 year old Anniston boy who killed himself one year ago after being pressured by gang members to join their group, and bullied because he wouldn't join.



The speakers were Jason Childs, founder and director of Center for Progress in Alabama, State Representative Barbara Boyd, Grace Episcopal Church (Anniston) Youth Minister Andy Harris, and myself, Joe Openshaw, Interim Chair for Equality Alabama.

Jason Childs speaking at the vigil

Jason Childs organized the event to honor Tre's memory and to bring attention to the continuing problem of bullying in this state.

State Representative Barbara Boyd told of her own experiences with bullying as a child and encouraged others with her story of success and how she overcame the perils of her childhood.

Andy Harris spoke about the choices we make stressing that we can (and should) choose kindness. He also spoke of his parents, both of whom took their own lives.

Jason Childs shared that when he was asked why he was holding a vigil for a child he didn't even know and was asked what Tre' was to him, he had to answer, "Nothing. That's the problem."

He explained that he will never know the difference this boy could have made as an adult, what he would have become, what the world is missing because of this loss, what the true cost of his untimely passing is.

I spoke about Equality Alabama's efforts in getting Alabama's anti-harassment policies strengthened, and said that this one tragedy was enough, we don't need another tragedy to remind us that something needs to be done.



Here are my remarks.

Tre Juan Figures Vigil


Tre's mother gave an emotional interview to the media. Here is Jason Childs and Veronica McGee, Tre's mom.




Here is a story about the event on ABC 33/40, and here is one from CBS 42, where you can read about or watch video of Ms. McGee.

Also

Also over the weekend my editorial that I wrote for the Mobile Press-Register was printed and posted online, here.

The editorial also covers bullying among teens, but also the bullying that occurs in the military because of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Thank you Frances Coleman of the Press Register for asking me to do this.

This editorial has gotten at least 38 facebook posts, by far the most of any Press Register editorial of late, including those concerning the oil spill. To me this means that this is an issue of major importance to the public. The more people that read and understand these issues, the more pressure will be put of our state legislators and school board members, and on congress regarding DADT, to make a change. Please share.

Business as usual

Bessemer Opinions poll responders are pretty smart, it seems.

I asked what would happen in Congress over the next two years.

39% said it would be business as usual. Only 3% predicted the Republicans and Democrats would work together.

Of course, the new congress is not even seated yet, but the lame ducks certainly aren't showing an indication of cooperation. Get the Tea Partiers in there and there won't be a chance of cooperation.

Republicans are blocking an extension of unemployment benefits in the house. This is their way of saying "Merry Christmas," to 2 million families that will have no assistance coming to them during the holidays.

I predict the more compassionate Democrats will still be able to get the benefits passed...probably a week after they expire at the end of this month.

Now let's see if the Republicans are willing to compromise on the tax cuts. They can't give a few billion to struggling families, but they are willing to give hundreds of billions to the nation's wealthiest.

There are many studies that show unemployment benefits act as more of a stimulus to the economy than tax breaks because those receiving the benefits spend the money on goods and services thus creating a need for production, while tax breaks to the wealthy obviously don't create jobs. I mean, look around you. Those tax breaks have been in place the entire time our economy was spiraling down, and while we have been in the slow recovery, and they aren't creating jobs now, so why should we think they would if they are extended?

I shudder to think what America will look like after the new congress begins to dismantle the economy. Let's enjoy ourselves while we can.

Adele

Twenty two year old Adele is set to release her second album, 21, in January 2011 (February in the U.S.).

This album has heavy influence from the American south and country music. She had never been exposed to country music until her group took a tour through the south.

She's a Grammy winning songwriter and powerful singer whose video's I've featured before.

Here's a song from that album, performed November 16 on Later...with Jools Holland.

In a cave

The Alabama Baptist Convention yesterday passed a resolution calling on President Obama to "abandon his efforts to normalize homosexuality in the United States Military."

I don't know what to say. Me? Speechless?

I mean, it's to be expected from a group that doesn't accept that science and medicine consider us normal and that, as their newly elected leader said yesterday, "are often characterized by what they condemn, such as homosexual behavior."

If the Baptists would only treat homosexuality like Jesus did. Oh, wait. Jesus didn't say anything about it. Not a single word. (Other than his interaction with this gay man). Are you listening, Baptists?

I am about ready to propose a resolution opposing Southern Baptists.

Since they seem to live in cave, metaphorically, I will send them this song.

Mumford and Sons - The Cave





So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say

Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be

Today's council meeting

Finances

At last week's Bessemer City Council meeting a lot of numbers were thrown out. One was that the Library account, which is funded by the 3.5 mil library bond passed by voters years ago, had a balance of $1.4 million.

Upon further investigation (get used to hearing this term), it was discovered that there was only $764,987.19 in the account.

Hmmmm.

Upon further investigation, it was determined that on September 20, 2010, that $325,000 was transferred from the account, and on October 14, 2010, $450,000 was transferred from the account.

Both of these transfers were made in order for the city to meet payroll and payroll expenses. The transfers were authorized by former mayor Ed May, but were not authorized by or known to the city council. There is some question as to the legality of the transfers, both from the standpoint of granting authority, but also as to whether the money, voted on by the citizens to be used for library purposes, can be used for other purposes.

Council President Jesse Matthews suggested that the mayor look back further to see if such transfers were made during previous years.

Mayor Ken Gulley has asked the council to meet with him in a workday session on fiscal issues. He said some "harsh decisions" will have to be considered but that he will not "sugarcoat" or "exaggerate" the situation as he informs the public.

Judges speak before council

Today is Judge Annetta Verin's last day as a Bessemer municipal judge, and she and Judge Scott Roebuck, Bessemer's other municipal judge, spoke to the council about their duties, their dockets, and what the council should look for in a candidate to replace Judge Verin.

Judge Verin was recently elected to a Circuit Court position.


Judge Roebuck watches as Judge Verin speaks to the mayor and council

Judge Verin suggested that her replacement be someone who has (1) practiced law, (2) has a passion for the job, including domestic violence, (3) have certain qualities, i.e. honesty, integrity, dignity and respect. Judge Roebuck agreed and added that a judge should have a vested interest in the city and in the community. Both Judge Roebuck and Judge Verin live in the city of Bessemer.

I know some who have applied for this position, and I know who I would place in the position if I were in a position to do so. Someone who meets all those qualifications. I'll let the council members know.

Bandelier National Monument

Back in September I was planning to post some pictures and a bit about our trip to New Mexico. Boring, I know, but some news story happened that bumped it.

So, instead I will bore you today.

We visited Bandelier National Monument which is a mostly natural area whose cliffs and canyons were formed long long ago by volcanic ash.

We didn't know it, but when we drove up we learned that the park was having their grand reopening and admission was free that day. Dignitaries included several governors of nearby Pueblos and staff members from Senator's offices that were involved in the planning of the upgrade to the Visitor Center and other areas.



Local Native Americans performed. These are the drummers that supplied the rhythm for the dancers.



And these are the dancers.






While hiking along the main loop trail we came across this deer that didn't seem to mind us at all.



The high elevation wildflowers were beautiful.








The Ancestral Pueblo dwellings were carved in the mountainside. This house was accessible by ladder after climbing a trail leading up the cliff. Some of the houses had petroglyphs carved on the inside walls.






There were several artists with their work on display and for sale. This young woman makes these figures from the root wood of cottonwood and other types of trees.




This bird watched us eat lunch.

This was my second trip to Bandelier, but I hope it won't be my last. There is a lot more to see, and there are other seasons of the year to visit. This trip was in the summer. I've gone in the fall, when there was snow in the higher elevations, but I would like to be in Bandelier when snow is falling. And again in the spring when the springtime flowers are blooming.

I like to imagine I'm one of the Ancestral men, oh, about 19 years old, 10,000 years ago, wandering through the woods and climbing the cliffs and ladders. Finding a private place down the stream in the woods or among the cliffs, with my male friend from the Pueblo. No Christian mis-interpretation or hateful politicians, just two early Native persons doing what is natural for them.