Montgomery development news - Page 217

| BRAVO | · #**4321** Posted **Feb 5, 2010, 3:02 AM**

They're supposed to be white lights. The image adds a bit of a blue hue.
I work for the company that manufactured and installed the letters.

bystander1 · #**4322** Posted **Feb 5, 2010, 5:46 AM**

Decorative lighting on the Hall Street bridge over the interstate would look even better.

Jefficator · #**4323** Posted **Feb 5, 2010, 3:17 PM**

How difficult/expensive/desirable would it be to clean-up those bridges decoratively some how? I don't even know what it would look like, but seems like something better than the pea-green and rust would be possible?

Dyingyak · #**4324** Posted **Feb 5, 2010, 3:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jefficator

How difficult/expensive/desirable would it be to clean-up those bridges decoratively some how? I don't even know what it would look like, but seems like something better than the pea-green and rust would be possible?

It would take an epic shift in mentality at ALDOT!

Revive Montgomery · #**4325** Posted **Feb 5, 2010, 5:51 PM**

I'm not going to hold my breath on the re-packaging of those bridges. An underfunded state entity, that is thrashing in the water to stay up to date on bridge and road capabilities, is going to laugh at the notion. Just reality...

Revive Montgomery · #**4326** Posted **Feb 5, 2010, 5:59 PM**

Sorry for the double post, but we need some political heavy hitters to team up with some industry leaders and make a real push for the upgrading of our state dock facilities. We have and will lose industry to Mobile without a dredged dock facility provided for by the state port authority and CAWA. Our current dock is barely equipped to dock a bass boat!

There is a 100 acre site sitting off of the Northern Bypass and I-65 with River access that could be manipulated. It was an old wood treatment facility. It would just take commitment and investment.

bystander1 · #**4327** Posted **Feb 5, 2010, 10:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revive Montgomery

I'm not going to hold my breath on the re-packaging of those bridges. An underfunded state entity, that is thrashing in the water to stay up to date on bridge and road capabilities, is going to laugh at the notion. Just reality...

Something more simple like the overpasses on I-85 through Auburn/Opelika.

I'm not talking about something like the 17th Street bridge in Atlanta...are you serious?!

bystander1 · #**4328** Posted **Feb 19, 2010, 5:18 PM**

Quote:

'Open container' bill sent to governor
February 17, 2010
Montgomery Advertiser

A bill that would allow Montgomery to change the way that alcohol is sold and consumed in specified parts of the city is ready for the governor's signature, just in time for the coming baseball season and spring pub crawls downtown.

The Senate gave final passage to an "open container" bill for Montgomery on Tuesday. It would allow the city to establish, by ordinance, "entertainment districts." In those designated areas, people would be allowed to purchase alcohol from a licensed provider and then could consume it anywhere within that district.

Currently, if people buy an alcoholic drink at one business, they cannot leave that business and go somewhere else with that drink. If they do, they are violating an Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board rule. The bill is aimed at downtown Montgomery, but it isn't limited to that area. Instead, it gives the city the authority to establish an entertainment district in any part of the city.

Gov. Bob Riley has six days to sign the bill or veto it. If he does not sign it within six days, it becomes law without his signature.
-- Markeshia Ricks

No word yet on whether the geezer will sign or just leave it alone.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**4329** Posted **Feb 19, 2010, 7:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bystander1

No word yet on whether the geezer will sign or just leave it alone.

I don't see any reason why he wouldn't sign it. I give it a 95% chance to become law.

RSAHort · #**4330** Posted **Feb 19, 2010, 9:36 PM**

Baumhowers at the RSA HQ is set to open Tuesday, March 2, 2010.

OCA REP · #**4331** Posted **Feb 19, 2010, 11:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bystander1

No word yet on whether the geezer will sign or just leave it alone.

Love it! I wonder if SpongeBob Riley will sign it too. He seems to be on such a MORAL high road right now, I can see him not signing it and letting it become law automatically in six days...

bystander1 · #**4332** Posted **Feb 20, 2010, 4:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCA REP

Love it! I wonder if SpongeBob Riley will sign it too. He seems to be on such a MORAL high road right now, I can see him not signing it and letting it become law automatically in six days...

Yeah, that's what I thought he'd do also. Though I was surprised that he signed the bill to allow higher alcoholic content products in the state last year.

thoraudio · #**4333** Posted **Feb 20, 2010, 4:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCA REP

Love it! I wonder if SpongeBob Riley will sign it too. He seems to be on such a MORAL high road right now, I can see him not signing it and letting it become law automatically in six days...

you can rag him all you want, but he's doing the right thing on the Casinos.

I enjoy a trip to the table games in Biloxi as much as anybody, but Mcgregor and his counterparts are skirting the law, and our AG is either in their pocket, too much of a wuss, or they've got pics of him.

They operate in bald face defiance of the law, because they have local officials in their pockets.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**4334** Posted **Feb 20, 2010, 4:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thoraudio

you can rag him all you want, but he's doing the right thing on the Casinos.

I enjoy a trip to the table games in Biloxi as much as anybody, but Mcgregor and his counterparts are skirting the law, and our AG is either in their pocket, too much of a wuss, or they've got pics of him.

They operate in bald face defiance of the law, because they have local officials in their pockets.

Agreed. He's the executive branch of the state government, so his job is to execute the law. It kind of puzzles me that people are surprised when these places get shut down... they're in obvious violation of the law. People need to stop getting mad, if you're gonna break the law, you gotta be willing to accept the consequences.

BTW, McGregor is under fire for allegedly rigging the slot machines at Victoryland.

Hmmm, who am I gonna side with... the guy that's enforcing the law, or the guy that's breaking it... And all these arguments that Riley is wasting money going after the bingo halls are ridiculous, I mean, maybe if the bingo halls weren't there, breaking the law, the state wouldn't have to spend the money to shut them down!

Either way, I'm in favor of gambling in the state. I just wish that the legislature would go ahead and get a referendum approved, or something.

Anyways, I'm done with my rant, and I apologize for getting off topic

Capital Heights · #**4335** Posted **Feb 20, 2010, 9:03 PM**

I had rather hoped we would not get into Bingo on this forum. But, since you brought it up, here are my two cents. It is not yours, mine, or Riley's opinion whether or not the machines are legal that counts. No court has ruled that they are illegal. The timing and the show of force at the raids, at a minimum, suggest there is something here other than what meets the eye. I happen to believe that it is a number of things. Payback for the millions that the Mississippi Indians have given Riley and I think it is also a diversion tactic in the waning months of this administration. All the media are focused on the bingo issue and no one is watching any other administration activity.

Bringing it back to local development: we now have a $100 plus million entertainment and lodging development within fifteen miles of downtown Montgomery closed and boarded up. Can't be good for the kinds of things we like to promote on this forum.

thoraudio · #**4336** Posted **Feb 21, 2010, 2:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capital Heights

Bringing it back to local development: we now have a $100 plus million entertainment and lodging development within fifteen miles of downtown Montgomery closed and boarded up. Can't be good for the kinds of things we like to promote on this forum.

It never shoulda been built in the first place.

The court has established what constitutes bingo. And if they were legal, Country Crossing and Victoryland wouldn't have shut down for 'software upgrades'.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**4337** Posted **Feb 21, 2010, 4:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capital Heights

I had rather hoped we would not get into Bingo on this forum. But, since you brought it up, here are my two cents. It is not yours, mine, or Riley's opinion whether or not the machines are legal that counts. No court has ruled that they are illegal. The timing and the show of force at the raids, at a minimum, suggest there is something here other than what meets the eye. I happen to believe that it is a number of things. Payback for the millions that the Mississippi Indians have given Riley and I think it is also a diversion tactic in the waning months of this administration. All the media are focused on the bingo issue and no one is watching any other administration activity.

Bringing it back to local development: we now have a $100 plus million entertainment and lodging development within fifteen miles of downtown Montgomery closed and boarded up. Can't be good for the kinds of things we like to promote on this forum.

Here's what the court defined as legal bingo, this past November:

"The attorney general said the court's opinion -- which gave a six-element-test for bingo including that players must listen for numbers, mark their cards and watch for a bingo pattern -- is the first state law defining the game. "

From the Birmingham News

That decision definitely makes it sound like those machines were illegal. Of course, to be fair, I must note that the Attorney General stated that the court decision didn't completely rule out electronic bingo. But, judging by what we've heard in the news, I don't think that the machines did those things.

Here's the last thing I'll say on the issue, then you can say whatever you please and we can get back on topic (which I apologize for getting off topic in the first place):

Bottom line, IMO, if an electronic bingo machine fails that test of legality under that court decision, it should be removed or gotten rid of. Like I said, I approve of approving gambling in the state, but at the moment it's illegal. Bob Riley is simply doing his job, no matter what his motivations are.

Seriously though, how many great things have happened for Alabama under his administration? Healthcare has improved to the point that it's arguably the best in the five state area, if not the SE, education has improved, he's attracted billions of dollars in private investment that we'll be seeing the fruits of in the coming years, safety along state highways has increased dramatically, and again he's a tireless recruiter of industry. All in all, he's been great, I think it's ridiculous to find some stupid little detail like bingo/gambling to spazz out on and ignore all the of the wonderful things he's done, or helped do, to improve our quality of life.

Anyways, I'm done on this subject. Back to ec dev!

Capital Heights · #**4338** Posted **Feb 21, 2010, 5:22 PM**

Wow. You must work in the Riley press office. I take issue with nearly every statement you just made. But so what, right?

thoraudio · #**4339** Posted **Feb 21, 2010, 5:36 PM**

How do you take issue with the Supreme Courts ruling. It's pretty specific.

There's also the issue that some of the language says that 100% of the proceeds from 'charity' bingo is to go to the charity. But the ag say, "oh, it doesn't really mean 100%... There's got to be a little 'reinvestment' and loan payoff money".

Capital Heights · #**4340** Posted **Feb 21, 2010, 6:20 PM**

Well....I really meant I disagreed with the Riley cheerleading. As to the Supreme Court ruling: first, I have trouble with an elected judiciary but that is beside the point, second, I have not ready the court ruling but my understanding is that there have been two or three rulings specific to Constitutional amedments in Jefferson and Etowah Counties. The Court has affirmatively stated that they have not ruled on the legality of electronic bingo in the other counties that have thier own amendments.

The amendment in Macon County specifically authorizes that a for profit company can run the bingo operations, for profit, in the name and for the benefit of the charities. Pretty clear to me.