Bobby Bright

[Auburn85 415]

Would you consider him a good mayor.? Do you like him? Is it time for him to go?

Your thoughts

[Tigermike 2,603]

To be honest with you, I didn't know he was mayor. Where is Holtville, BTW?

[TitanTiger 18,182]

All indications from people I talk to back home are that Bright is doing a very good job as mayor...perhaps better than they expected. What's your beef with him?

[lukeduke 8]

Holtville is a stones throw from Slapout

[woods1110 0]

Bobby Bright is mayor of Montgomery and yes, he is doing an excellent job!

[Auburn85 415]

Holtville and Slapout is the same place

I just wanted people's opinion on Bright. He has helped with the development of the Riverfront with the Baseball stadium. Many other places to shop, too many to mention. He and the city council gave a sales tax holiday.

But with everyone and everything, there are things I don't like about him.

He doesn't like to be asked the tough questions. Seems to want control of the interview.

I remember when Hurricane I van came through, he did an interview on the radio.

The person asked Bright when will the Hurricane pass through? What kind of question is that? He's not a weatherman. Besides if you were listening to that very radio, you probably had constaant updates about the weather.

He won't stand up to Alvin Holmes, although I don't really see anyone standing up to Holmes.

Sales tax is up to 10%

Crime in Montgomery needs to be controlled. I know the police are working hard, but just watch MPD and see how many people they pull over without any insurance, no liscence, the wrong tag, and then officers give them a break.

He didn't take up for John Wilson when they did a checkpoint at Montgomery Mall. This was called for my Montgomery Mall management, but Bright just allowed the situation to be considered racial.

Holmes, John Knight, Willie Cook, C. Calhoun, James Knuckles held a press conference stating just that.

Public Schools are awful. Voilence in and around schools seem to be a problem, but the mayor hasn't came up with a solution. Probably because he doesn't want Alvin to call him out as being a racist because the majority of the public schools are black. Oh wait, Holmes has already called Bright a racist over the Bus Boycott tribute.

Set up, literally set up a meeting with representatives such as Larry Dixon and Dick Brewbaker to have a meeting about the annexation of Pike Road. The representatives were told it would be a closed, private meeting, but when they got their they were surprised to see numerous media outlets. Bright tried to play it off as miscommunication, but that is incorrect.

He is concerned about the stop on crime, but he said one of his main worries was black on black crime.

How about crime in general?

Although the occupational tax was set up to be passed by the county, Bright had to stick his nose in it. And I'm aware that all the people that live in the city of Montgomery are residents of Montgomery County. Turns out, it was illegal to pass the tax.

By the way, if youy seen the special of the show on WAKA before they took the vote on the tax, it seemed a little fishy. The questions and the answers seemed to be staged. When a question was asked , an answer was attempted to be given before the question was fully asked. No hesitation on answers as if they were predetermined questions.

Heck, they could of at least tried to make less intentionally staged by at least sputtering or maybe not understanding a question.

To me, it was set up like a lame commercial that you see.

I've seen that he doesn't show respect to all of his employees.

Anyone can see this, just go down to city hall and see the records. You probably wouldn't have to look long before you see where something is not right.

He lost the BLUE GRAY GAME.

When I think of more, I'll post it.

[TitanTiger 18,182]

Well, not living in Montogomery for almost 10 years now, I can't speak to all of those issues. My parents and other relatives seem to think he's doing a good job...and they did not vote for him the first time.

One thing I will correct however: he did not "lose" the Blue-Gray game. The Blue-Gray game has been having a very difficult time getting a title sponsor, which it needs to have the game at all. For years, Kelly Tires was the official sponsor but when they were bought out by Goodyear a few years back, Goodyear ended that relationship. For one year or two, Movie Gallery stepped in to sponsor the game, but required that the game be moved down to Troy to be played in Movie Gallery Stadium as part of the deal. It was either move it or cancel it. Either way, that is not the mayor's fault.

One other thing to nitpick...perhaps he mentioned black on black crime as a major focus and concern because the majority of crime in the city is of that nature. Thus, if you can corral that problem, the overall crime thing is naturally affected for the better.

[woods1110 0]

Everything that goes on in the city of montgomery is done with Alvin Holmes in mind. The guy is a friggin moron and needs to step down or be dealt with.

There was a monument that was in front of the civic center that had a confederate flag on it. It had been there for years, if I recall, and was there to mark the spot where Jefferson Davis's office was or something. Well Alvin Holmes, the idiot that he is, said the whites put it there on purpose to be racist. He said we put it there to discourage black tourists from coming to Montgomery. Oh yeah Alvin, thats our reason, you *****...

[Auburn85 415]

I'll give you the BLUE GRAY thing, but why not get Handai to sponsor the game. He could at least push to have someone sponsor it.

And I know about the confederate monument. Alvin Holmes just loves the spotlight.

James Knuckles, a city councilman, had the whole city council take a vote on moving the monument. The vote failed 7-2. Knuckles and Willie Cook were the 2 that voted to move it.

Knuckles said he wanted it moved so people that looked like him wouldn't be offended. Give me a friggin break.

Besides it's a state monument. The city had no authority to move it anyway.

I'll say this, Bright didn't buckle under pressure from the police chief search. Those same people wanted Mable Pierce to be the police chief, but Bright wanted a search. Alvin again"racism, descrimination"

But if Holmes would think a minute, this is the process for hiring any city employees. This has been in place for a few years now

[TitanTiger 18,182]

Well, it would be nice if Hyundai would sponsor the game, but 1) how do you know he hasn't approached them or any number of other companies, and 2) if he did and they declined what else would you suggest he do? And isn't this really the job of the Blue-Gray organizers rather than the mayor? I mean, he can certainly help, but is it really his responsibility?

[Auburn85 415]

Well, he certainly pushed hard for a minor league baseball team.

Just whatever usually draws a crowd to Montgomery, he usually tries to take it under his wing

They are trying to use the baseball stadium as a multi use stadium. An idea they tried and miserably failed at was to have movie nights at the stadium. On average 80 people showed up to the free event.

Yeah, he trying to give back to the community, but there are alot of ways to do this.

Patterson field is an ultimate waste, while they built a #26 million stadium.

Oh wait, Patterson is home to the DIVISION 2 WORLD SERIES.

Which draws about 2000 people total for the whole series

If he has been looking for a sponsor, why not let the public know about it?

[Tigermike 2,603]

If he has been looking for a sponsor, why not let the public know about it?

137828[/snapback]

I remember reading in the Birmingham News that the game was history since they did not have and could not find a sponsor. Also that Movie Gallery wanted to move the game to Troy.

[Auburn85 415]

Yeah, they played the game in TROY last year.

This BLUE GRAY thing is about 70 years old.

[CCTAU 2,346]

Screw Montgomery. Move to Prattville. Was a great place to grow up and still is. Montgomery has been under the total weight of affirmative action/racism for the state of Alabama for so long that its basically a lost cause. For this reason, many companies over the years have moved to Birmingham. Not that its any better, it just ain't Montgomery. The only thing worth seeing there now is the Hank Williams grave. And I'm sure they'll name that a popular KKK gathering place anytime now and try to have it moved.

And yes, I have worked and lived there in the past. We all thought that the Mayor at the time was a tyrant (can't remember his name), but he sure kept crime in check. Hindsight is always 20/20.

[TitanTiger 18,182]

Well, he certainly pushed hard for a minor league baseball team.

There are things in terms of tax incentives and other concessions that a mayor can make to get a minor league franchise to locate here. Those things are not applicable to a yearly event. There's only so much he can do, especially if he doesn't have a ton of big connections to major corporations who could pony up the $$ to be title sponsor.

Just whatever usually draws a crowd to Montgomery, he usually tries to take it under his wing

They are trying to use the baseball stadium as a multi use stadium. An idea they tried and miserably failed at was to have movie nights at the stadium. On average 80 people showed up to the free event.

Yeah, he trying to give back to the community, but there are alot of ways to do this.

I'm not sure where you're going with this. What's your point?

Patterson field is an ultimate waste, while they built a $26 million stadium.

Oh wait, Patterson is home to the DIVISION 2 WORLD SERIES.

Which draws about 2000 people total for the whole series

Patterson Field is old, though it has been renovated. No minor league team was going to come to Mtgy and play there. It was either help them build a stadium or say sayonara to baseball in Monkeytown.

But PF does serve some purpose. As you said it hosts the D-2 WS, but doesn't it also serve as the ballpark for all of the city's high school baseball teams, much like Cramton Bowl does for football?

If he has been looking for a sponsor, why not let the public know about it?

137828[/snapback]

Maybe he has given some input and offered to help where he can, but hasn't been able to come up with anything? Is there something wrong with just dealing directly with the pertinent parties instead of hosting a press conference about it?

I know I'm sounding like some BB cheerleader, but I'm really playing devil's advocate more than anything because most of the things you mention seem like someone nitpicking. The things you seem to blame him for doing or not doing don't seem to be reasonable expectations for a mayor.

[Auburn85 415]

CCTAU, I agree with everything you said. And people who lived in Montgomery are moving in droves to Autauga and Elmore County.

The former ayor you are talking about is Emory Folmar.

I just thought of something......... I've heard that the city painters have to get a police escort to certain parts of the city just to clean up grafetti. My guess would be in the projects, like Tulane court or something. Why put city employees in a position like this?

Bright didn't stand up for the owner of a gas station that was nearly closed.

It was a Chevron. An Illinois man, just getting gas on his way home was shot in the back and died.

Willie Cook called a meeting to discuss the possible closing of the gas station. It's in a bad part of town, plus, has had numerous incidents.

The manager of the chevron was not invited to the meeting. When the manager showed up, he wasn't allowed to say anything.

Basically they wanted to have a meeting to discuss the situation without the manager.

The gas station is still open....... for now.

Why doesn't Bright stand up for the manager?

Why not close Montgomery Mall? Fights, shootings, riots, all within the last couple of months.

Also, a car place has been burgalarized 91 times in 3 years, but yet the police has yet to catch anyone in the act. The man actually has razor wire fence, but it still didn't stop.

Like, I said sales tax is 10% . The city is strained for money, but het they managed to bulid a $26 million dollar stadium, plus renovations are under way for the civic center, but I thought the city was in a finacial strain?

Alos the lodging tax was raised to help pay for the stadium, and boy didn't Bright luck out! Because when I van came, Florida people moved North to find a safe place, where di they come Montgomery.

Bright could have dropped the lodging tax to take some of the burden off, but he didn't. So he cashes in, and most Montgomerians will kiss his butt for bringing in the cash.

Now there's a problem within the police department.

From what I've heard, a fight broke out involving 3 black officers roughing up 1 white officer.

Yet, nothing is in the paper, nothing is in the news. That's something Bright has to his advantage. The media is on his side. Rarely anything is negative about the mayor. Heck, some of the Montgomery crime stories are put in other sections of the paper tucked away I guess for us to possibly overlook.

But tell me, had the police situation had been the other way around, even if there was suspension, Alvin Holmes, and the other black leaders, would raise hell about it and try to get Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton down here.

If yall only knew.

Ohter things to help the community. He can quit living in denial that Montgomery is safe, and help fix the problem rather than hide under his desk scared to do anything Alvin Holmes wouldn't approve of.

Lowere sales tax, like he said he was supposed to do when it was 9%, but instead of lowering it, it's now 10%.

Or at least more tax holidays.

If things are so bad financially, he can do what he did last year......... cut his pay.

When an economy is struggling, why continue to raise taxes or attempt to force taxes on us?

[CCTAU 2,346]

Folmar's boys didn't put up with squat. I always kept an eye out for them. ALvin Holmes was too scared of Folmar to open his mouth. Montgomery was a whole lot safer then than now. And then the sensitive liberals had it good and got tired of Folmar. Now, most wish they had someone just like him. He was a tough old coot.

[Auburn85 415]

Bright is wanting to unite the city by building parks. He wants to help race relations.

Um... there's already plenty of parks in the city. Why bulid more?

[Auburn85 415]

Well, Bobby Bright has moved the D2 WORLSD SERIES to Biscuit Stadium.

He's also trying to move the High School State playoffs to Biscuit Stadium.

Do any of you remember when Auburn played Alabama in front of a sale out crowd.? I do. I know towards the end it didn't sell out, but a couple of times when Troy played Auburn at Patterson Field it would be close to a sell out.

I guess Bright must want the stadium to go to waste