Langford Lays Out His Agenda to the City Council

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Langford Lays Out His Agenda to the City Council

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Langford Lays Out His Agenda to the City Council
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Langford said his plan has $5 million for the Police Department, $10 million for economic development and another $15 million that includes $1 million for each of the nine City Council districts.

Langford said he was he was disturbed to see so much disrepair throughout the City as he walked with Councilors in their districts. He said his intent is to do nothing less than bring real economic and community change to the City in a way that fixes problems he saw, not just patch them.

“Let’s go repair the community,” saying his plan was the “simplest, easiest, less painful way” to do it. “All the information in here are things we all know should have been done in this community eons ago.”

Apparently, Langford has anticipated negative comments from “naysayers” who will complain about the price tag attached to his proposal, although he didn’t say how much it was or how the money would be raised.

“Show me any idea that doesn’t come with a price tag,” he said. “Nothing is free . . . Every time we propose to do something to solve problems in this county, somebody complains about it.”

He pressed his case, saying the Councilors would be surprised how leaders in the business community — who would have good reason to complain about the price tag — are expressing support for his plan. Langford said he was meeting later with UAB President Carol Garrison to share some details with her.

He urged the Council not to take too long in coming to some agreement with him about the proposal. “Every day, every month we delay, construction costs go up.” He asked that they vote on his plan by Nov. 27.

“It would be a post-Thanksgiving gift and a pre-Christmas gift to the citizens.”

But City Council President Carole Smitherman said the councilors wanted more time to study Langford’s plan in greater detail before taking a vote that soon.

However, the Councilors present Thursday where visibly impressed with Langford’s refreshingly open approach with them.

When Smitherman asked what was his preferred method of communicating with him, Langford replied, “Just walk across the hall . . . You don’t have to make an appointment to see me. The door is open. Just come on in.”

“I’m glad the door is open. I am going to be over there,” Councilor Steven Hoyt said jokingly.