By Jimmy DeButts |STAFF
Greater Birmingham's new
business advocacy organiza-
tion will not retain its in-house
lobbying department.
The yet-to-be-named group
formed through the consoli-
dation of the Birmingham
Regional Chamber of
Commerce and Metropolitan
Development Board will not
include Pascal Caputo, who
was the chamber's top local,
state and federal legislative
advocacy voice during the
past 18 months. His final day
at the chamber is July 9. He
announced the new entity has
discontinued the practice of
usingin-houselobbyistsonhis
blog and his social networking
Twitter account.
Alison Howell is currently
the chamber's public policy
director and second-ranking
lobbyist behind Caputo. She
could not be reached for com-
ment.
Generally, large metro cham-
bers have lobbyists on staff
who target specific initiatives
at the local, state and federal
levels, said U.S. Chamber of
Commerce's Southeast Region
Executive Director Moore
Hallmark.Huntsville'schamber
of commerce has a staff lobby-
istwhileMobile'scontractswith
a Montgomery-based lobbyist
on state issues.
Birmingham's new orga-
nization includes Myla Choy
By Jimmy DeButts |STAFF
National insurance firm Allstate
could play a pivotal role in help-
ing Irondale unwind $32.2 mil-
lion in bonds the city issued to
aid Trinity Medical Center's now
aborted relocation effort.
Allstate holds $9.4 million
worth of Irondale bonds issued
in 2007, the Illinois-based insurer
confirmed this week.
Irondale wants Trinity to repay
the bonds after the hospital shift-
ed its relocation plans to U.S. 280,
but city sources say that likely
By AneesA mcmillAn |STAFF
The Birmingham Jefferson County
TransitAuthoritymaynotoperatethe
newbusrapidtransitsystemproposed
for downtown Birmingham through
the In-TownTransit Partnership.
Darrell Howard, principal trans-
portation planner for the Regional
Planning Commission of Greater
Birmingham,saidamyriadofentities
could operate the system including
a nonprofit or a private company. It
could even be put up for bid, he said.
"It's up in the air as far as who
should operate it and my position
is as a technician that we just need
someone," said Howard. "There are
members of the transit authority that
thinktheyshouldbetheonestooper-
ateit,buttherearepeopleinthebusi-
ness community and political spec-
trum that think that's unrealistic."
The board is trying to overcome
issues with its image regarding the
system it currently operates, he said.
"Because of issues either real or
perceived with the current MAX sys-
tem, there is some concern," Howard
said.
However, the RPC is anxious to
have those in the political realm
make a decision. Having an operator
in place makes the project look better
when they apply for federal funding,
he said.
Currently, the RPC is applying
for Transportation Investments
Generating Economic Recovery, or
TIGER, funding through the federal
stimulus package and the applica-
tion is due Sept. 15. While the proj-
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insiDe
JulY 3, 2009
VOL. 26 NO. 27 $2.00
tHe`neW nORmAl'
Bobby White looks at
the nation's economic
future. Page23
SEE iROnDAle,PAGe19
Downtown bus
plan may exclude
transit authority
New chamber grouplikely
to scuttle in-houselobbying
Anniversary
SEE tRAnsit,PAGe22
bObfarLEy|f8phOtO.Org
cAutiOus GiVinG
Jacqueline Gardner is
facing a tough year for
fundraising. Page 9
Irondale hoping it's in good
hands with Allstate bonds
OldLeedsRd.
OvertonRd.
GrantsMillRd.
MontclairRd.
7820
459
Abandoned
Trinity Medical
site
Trinity
Medical
Center
459
AREA
DETAIL
65
65
280 459
459
20
59
Birmingham regional chamBer-mdB merger
Project may go to competitive bid
Chris Lewis, who became chairman of the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority in October,
says the organization can handle the new downtown bus rapid transit plan.
DErEKMOrrOW|Staff
SEE cHAmBeR,PAGe22
BusinessJournal
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