Voters in the city of Birmingham elected a guy for mayor who built an amusement park in the boonies which went bankrupt and was sold to a private company for a significant loss. He's also being investigated for corrupt business practices. And he doesn't even live in the city of Birmingham (he rents a loft condo, but his primary residence is a house in Fairfield). But voters elected Langford because they wanted some more useless tourist attractions that cost taxpayers a bundle and eventually fall into financial straits. Langford's proposal was a bit of a relief for me because he isn't raising occupational taxes. He does, however, want to raise sales tax from 9 to 10 percent and double the cost of a business license within city limits.

That is the stupidest thing he could possibly do.

Civic leaders are working hard to convince people to open businesses downtown. The downtown area has been a wasteland for two decades, but people have been buying loft condos and moving downtown in recent years. What would it take to fully transform Birmingham's downtown into a vibrant area? Definitely NOT punishing people for opening businesses and spending money inside city limits.

The tax increase would be more easily digested if the money were being spent on infrastructure, transportation and education. However, as I mentioned, Langford likes to build things we don't need and won't use. This time, it will be a domed stadium to host yet another pro football team (the previous teams did not make it) in a city that is mad about college football.

Another thing that is ridiculous about this sales tax increase. Sales tax is a regressive tax that benefits the wealthy and hurts the poor. So he just proposed a tax increase on the very people who voted him into office. But of course, a domed stadium is more important than being able to afford groceries! Didn't you know?

I'd rather have a do-nothing mayor like Kincaid than a do-the-wrong-expensive-thing mayor like Langford.

Maybe he'll redeem himself with some useful improvements, like paying the police what they deserve, reducing crime, and improving schools. And also getting those buses off the road that have capacity for a hundred people, take up two lanes, and carry three people. They do make smaller buses.