You wouldn't understand unless you'd had to spray down mud coated children before...not to mention the associated van. No thanks.
I know it's a big weekend coming up with sports and all, but dang it Steve Winwood is coming to town! Tickets are kind of high. A $109.50 B $95.50 C $81.50 Saturday night 8PM http://www.alysstephens.org/steve-winwood
Birmingham leaders cry foul over legislation to place Uber, app companies under state control Proposed legislation to place app-based transit companies under state authority is a heavy-handed approach that favors one company and undercuts the rights of municipalities to protect their own roads, Birmingham city officials say. Birmingham officials including Councilwoman Kim Rafferty will be at the State House Wednesday during a House hearing on the bill from Rep. Jack Williams, R- Vestavia Hills. Williams' bill would place the app-based companies in a separate category than traditional cab companies, and make them subject to regulation by the Public Service Commission, rather than local municipalities. Rafferty, who is chairwoman of the council's transportation committee, said Williams' proposal is unfairly tailored to aid Uber, which has vigorously fought oversight. "They want to work outside of legal qualifications and they misinterpret the integrity of the laws that regulate the industries," Rafferty said. "For Birmingham, we took a proactive stance by defining this emerging industry as a transportation entity. For some of the app-driven companies, the way that their business models work is in conflict with public safety regulations." Uber's attempted entry into Birmingham in 2014 generated a back and forth policy fight as the company argued that the city's policies didn't apply to its business. In the end, the city passed revised rules for taxicabs and app-based transportation companies. Uber responded by declining to expand into Birmingham, saying the rules were detrimental to its operations. "Our job is to protect and serve the communities we represent, not an outside interest that has no respect for our jurisdictional powers, the law, or public safety," Rafferty said. As an alternative to the bill, Rafferty calls for a meeting among cities to draft unified rules for app-based transportation companies. She said those rules could then be submitted to create a uniform, state-wide policy. "For Alabama, it's time we do things right the first time," she said. Under Williams' proposed bill, app-based companies would pay a $5,000 annual permit fee to the state, not the municipalities. In addition, municipalities would be prohibited from taxing or regulating the industry.Rafferty called that process an imbalanced approach tailored for one niche of an already existing industry. App-based companies should be subject to the same rules as traditional taxicabs, the city has argued. Birmingham's position is that Williams' legislation would violate both the Alabama constitution and the Code of Alabama, which grants municipalities safety control of their roadways. The city also opposes any law that takes away its ability to screen drivers and ensure the safety of the vehicles used for public transportation. "This bill will exempt them from any regulations,"Rafferty said. "The companies who operate by phone would have to follow a whole slew of rules, but this one company is asking for full exemption."
Those tickets are ridiculous. He's going to have a band named Sugarcane Jane opening for him. They're a man and his wife from down here. Great folk sound. The man used to play with Neil Young and Winwood, among others. My parents started following them when they got started and now my whole family does. Good Americana sound.
The Public Service Commission is quite possibly the most corrupt regulatory body in Alabama. I hate this lying bitch.
Leaked email: Mayor Walt Maddox and Councilor Kim Rafferty's municipal cabal to keep ridesharing out of Alabama "Clearly, controlling the narrative is in our best interests," writes Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. Birmingham City Councilor Kim Rafferty favors forming an ad hoc committee "to keep control of this issue going forward." It may feel like a script for House of Cards, but it's just the state of the debate over ridesharing in Alabama. 4/22/2015 Email Exchange Between Rafferty and Maddox If you're a politician like Maddox or Rafferty, who were sounding off in a chain email circulated on April 22nd, you have to spin it to win it. That's why they're so interested in controlling the storyline. For the uninitiated, ridesharing is a cashless transportation service accessed via phone-based application. Whenever you need a ride, you click and a driver shows up. Options run from individuals driving their own cars in their spare time to professional limousine-style drivers. I'd rather have that type of convenience than more government-controlled models. But then, I'm the kind of person who has always loved disruptive technologies like Netflix and Uber more than the backroom machinations of politicians. In the interest of full disclosure, I am a regular patron of ridesharing services whenever I travel. And the R Street Institute, where I also do some work, has supported ridesharing and evaluated the transportation-friendliness of cities around the nation. Companies like Uber or Lyft provide a service customers want, they are trying to do business in Alabama, and their presence would undoubtedly create economic opportunity, increase tax revenues, and improve our transportation environment. Yet some of our municipal leaders will have none of that, and they're delighted with their success so far. "I am immensely proud of how our municipalities prevented and or dispensed with illegal app transportation operations with a minimal cost legally," Rafferty wrote in the email. Translation: "We prevented ridesharing from coming to Alabama." "As far as I can see, we did it most expeditiously and effectively than any other state or country in the world. We all should be proud of what we have accomplished so far." Translation: "We should celebrate because we prevented Alabamians from having a tremendous convenience that cities across the nation and globe enjoy." Rafferty says municipal leaders are justified in opposing proposed legislation at the state level that would streamline ridesharing regulation because they have a "duty to secure public safety, business integrity, and regulatory measures." Sure, as is the case with any service industry, negative stories are a reality. But are those stories the norm or the exception? Alabamians have seen more than their fair share of political fear mongering recently, and we shouldn't buy it. Atlanta has ridesharing, and so does Nashville. New Orleans just authorized it. Even Pensacola has it. In fact, most major cities in the U.S., including the taxi Mecca known as New York City, have ridesharing. Rafferty would know, because it appears her take on Uber is "do as I say, not as I do." In a conversation with Councilor Rafferty, she said that she uses Uber when she travels -- to be fair, she switched to Uber Black, Uber's higher-end executive luxury service, after a negative experience with UberX. Maddox and Rafferty want to control the narrative. How about instead, they try this on for size: "We're prepared to do anything we can to support business innovation, create economic opportunity for the people we represent and end the political spin that has held Alabama back for far too long."
State employee friends think it's legit. I don't buy the rumor of 70 troopers getting the can, but most state parks don't make money.
Deontay Wilder says next fight will be in Birmingham. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/05/deontay_wilder_next_fight.html Spoiler Deontay Wilder hits Bermane Stiverne during their WBC heavyweight title bout on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo) Print Email By Drew Champlin | [email protected] Follow on Twitter on May 01, 2015 at 10:48 AM, updated May 01, 2015 at 10:49 AM 0 Reddit WBC heavyweight champion and Tuscaloosa native Deontay Wilder announced in a video with FightHype.com that his next fight would in fact be on June 13 in Birmingham. Wilder, who has recovered from a fractured hand sustained in his win over Bermane Stiverne in January to earn the championship, said the fight would be at "Baldwin Auditorium," but he meant to say Bartow Arena at UAB, his manager and trainer Jay Deas said. Deas said he has a meeting today to sort out more details. No opponent has been set. "We feel confident a deal will get done," Deas said. "It's speculation at this point, but it's looking 85 to 90 percent done. There are some small details to be worked out." This would be Wilder's first defense of his WBC heavyweight belt. Deas said he's hoping the deal will be finalized within three days, and that tickets would go on sale within a week. "June the 13th, I will be back in the ring in Birmingham, Alabama," Wilder said. Wilder also said he's looking to get three fights out of this year. Meanwhile, watch the video of Wilder's interview from FightHype.
I was at Basil like two nights ago to try. It was pretty good, but either get thin crust or request that they cook the regular a little more. Otherwise it's a little doughy. Post Office Pies in Avondale is very good, Slice also ok.
^This is exactly right^ Tortugas is my favorite. Donatos in Vestavia is also pretty good. Slice is CPK tier.
From the drivers I've had that do UberX, it's a legit second job/filler job. Had a driver in Tampa last week that was a teacher and did Uber on the weekends. Said he paid for his brand new X5 through Uber and couldn't have done it via his regular salary.
Shit id do it on st pattys day, cinco de mayo, halloween and new years eve and prob clear 2k for 30 hrs of work
Also, don't get the hype for Rocky's Pizza. It's just OK. I think any devotion they have is from old timers that remember when they were the only ones who delivered downtown/Southside.
https://twitter.com/Bham_Bad_Eats Twitter account that lists all eateries with scores under 85. Jefferson Country Department of Health site http://www.jcdh.org/EH/FnL/FnL03.aspx In the most surprising news of the year, Nana Funk's is one of the few with the perfect score.
I don't think Davenports is bad, but it seems like St. Louis style with real cheese. I am a totally biased Dan of NY/CT style pizza, though, so take that with a grain of salt.
Davenport's is certainly not bad, I just prefer cosmos or Dave's. I haven't had donatos in a fat minute but it's good too. Still really need to eat Tortuga's.