The Caputo Report wishes everyone a Happy Fourth of July. While you celebrate with friends and family, please take a moment to think about our Founding Fathers and the U.S. military, both of whom are responsible for the many freedoms we enjoy today.
Happy Fourth of July
July 4, 2009 by pcaputoBus Rapid Transit System Could Be In Birmingham’s Future
July 2, 2009 by pcaputo
The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham is in the process of seeking federal simulus dollars for the In-Town Transit Partnership (ITP), a new bus rapid transit (BRT) system for downtown Birmingham. The system will feature high-tech buses primarily along an 18th Street corridor, connecting Five Points South, UAB, the Railroad Reservation Park, the Central Business District, and the BJCC. The ITP will also feature five neighborhood circulators that will bring Birmingham residents to the central station on Morris Avenue. Persons taking a neighborhood circulator could then take a BRT bus north or south to a final downtown destination.
The RPC is seeking funding under a stimulus program known as the TIGER discretionary grant program. The TIGER program does not require local matching funds, but grant applications that identify a local match will be viewed more favorably, according to the U.S. DOT. It is expected that Birmingham will help fund the yearly operational costs of the ITP project; however, operational funding is not counted as a local match. It is uncertain whether the city will be in a position to provide capitol funding—which would be counted as a local match.
The ITP is the first step in building a much talked about regional transit system for Birmingham and is intended to demonstrate the effectiveness of a well-planned transit system. To view a simulation of the ITP project, click here.
Contact your city council member todayand let them know you support the ITP project.
County Manager Poll Results
June 28, 2009 by pcaputo
Thanks to all who participated in the Caputo Report’s most recent poll, which asked, “When should Jefferson County hire a county manager?” 59 percent of respondents replied “ASAP”, while 41 percent preferred waiting until the next commission is elected in 2010.
Although public sentiment appears to be in favor of hiring a county manager sooner rather than later, the commission currently lacks the four votes needed to hire a county manager. Commissioners Bettye Fine Collins and Shelia Smoot oppose the hiring of a county manager, while Commissioners Jim Carns and Bobby Humphryes support the hiring of a county manager. Commissioner William Bell has made statements both for and against a county manager.
The lack of consensus on the county commission led many earlier this year to call for a mandatory county manager bill (i.e., one that requires the commission to hire a county manager). However, the county manager bill ultimately passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Riley is permissive in nature (i.e., the law authorizes the commission to hired a county manager).
The Caputo Report Is On Summer Vacation—Check Back Soon!
May 28, 2009 by pcaputo
In the meantime, follow us on 
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Letter to the Editor Details Broad Support for the Birmingham Northern Beltline
May 16, 2009 by pcaputoPrinted in the Saturday, May 16th edition of The Birmingham News
Northern Beltline: Many in county support road
Despite what two letter writers (Your Views, Sunday) would have you believe, there is widespread and considerable support for the Northern Beltline in Bessemer, Graysville, Kimberly, Clay and Trussville and all points in between.
Mayors, city councils, businesses and, most of all, citizens realize the Northern Beltline will bring long-overdue access and economic growth to a section of the county that has been long neglected.
The letter writers claim the Northern Beltline will degrade the environment and compromise our water supply. In their rush to oppose all things related to growth, I can only guess the two anti-beltline zealots have forgotten about the state and federal environmental laws that protect and preserve our environment. Trust me, there are still many strict environmental laws that have protected our environment during the construction of highways all over the country and right here in Jefferson County.
Contrary to what our critics write, the Northern Beltline is going to be built, not because large corporations or politicians want the project. Rather, it is the citizens of north Birmingham and north Jefferson County who will get the project built.
Thanks to U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby for his hard work in getting funding for this project. I must take the opportunity to keep reminding everyone there are many citizens supporting the Northern Beltline.
Barbara Yonker
North Jefferson County
Four Chamber-backed Bills Clear Ala. Legislature
May 14, 2009 by pcaputoEarlier today the Alabama Legislature gave final approval to four bills supported by the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, making it one of the most productive days in recent history for the Chamber’s lobbying team. Chamber lobbyists successfully passed a county manager bill for Jefferson county (the Chamber’s #1 legislative priority for 2009), the “Free the Hops” bill, a bill to create minimum standards for contract security guards, and a bill to expand Alabama’s economic incentives to certain non-manufacturing industries.
Smitherman’s Backing Recharges County Manager Bill
May 13, 2009 by pcaputo
The Alabama Senate is set to consider a bill on May 14 that will give the Jefferson County Commission the authority to hire a professional county manager. Final consideration of the bill was made possible through Senator Rodger Smitherman’s support for the bill. Smitherman serves as Chairman of the Senate’s Jefferson County local legislation committee.
Call Senator Smitherman today and thank him for his support of the bill. Smitherman can be reached at 322-0012 or (334) 242-7870. If he’s not available, please be sure to leave a message.
Chamber-Backed JeffCo County Manager Bill Nears the Finish Line
May 11, 2009 by pcaputo
Photo Credit: Matt Cooley
Legislation authorizing the Jefferson County Commission to hire a professional county manager could receive final approval from the Legislature as soon as May 14th. A county manager bill introduced by Rep. Paul DeMarco appeared dead early last week when Sen. Rodger Smitherman, Chairman of the Senate’s Jefferson County local legislation committee, proclaimed that he would not bring up the measure this year. However, Smitherman thankfully reversed course and offered a compromise bill, known as a substitute.
Follow Us on Twitter
May 10, 2009 by pcaputo
Follow The Caputo Report on Twitter to find out the latest spin on news from Birmingham, Montgomery, and DC. It’s quick, easy, and hopefully informative. Follow us today.
Senate Committee Reports County Manager Bill, Final Passage Likely Next Week
May 8, 2009 by pcaputoRep. Paul DeMarco’s county manager bill is on its way to final passage after it cleared the Senate’s Jefferson County local legislation committee late Thursday. Earlier in the week, the bill appeared to be dead when Sen. Rodger Smitherman, chairman of the local legislation committee, vowed not to bring the bill up for consideration this session. Thanks to all who called Smitherman and urged him to move forward on this important bill.
