The Verdict Is In.
The People Said NO to MAPS.
This site was created in advance of the 1998 MAPS referendum in Birmingham, Alabama.
It is being maintained because there is still some interest in MAPS today.
What is MAPS?
Where will the money go?
Who wants MAPS?
What's so bad about MAPS?
Are there alternatives?
How can I find out more?
How can I get involved?
What are the alternatives?
MAPS supporters like to ask their critics, "If you're against MAPS, what do you suggest instead?" As a matter of fact, there are plenty of good ideas out there.
The Region 2020 campaign, for example, is a months-long process of community meetings that - unlike MAPS - included as many ordinary citizens as possible in the creation of a set of goals and strategies for the Birmingham region.
Region 2020 now runs the risk of being forgotten in the furor over MAPS. The initiative even has some things in common with MAPS - as Region 2020's director, Ann Florie, has pointed out - but the methods are as different as can be.
Region 2020 held 17 community meetings between October and December 1997, followed by six goal-setting meetings early this year. All meetings were open to the public, and the final event was a "Vision Fair" at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
As for MAPS, only the highest political leaders - enough to ensure passage in the Legislature - were consulted before its debut. The small MAPS core group has presented its plan to the public with a terse "take it or leave it," relying on media buys and paid P.R. staff to sell it to us.
Which plan do you think deserves to gather dust on a shelf?
"Can't you say anything nice about MAPS?"
People with good ideas
People talk about MAPS as if it is Birmingham's "last chance" - as if no one had a thought about Birmingham's future until MAPS came along. Here is a personal list of groups that are doing good in Birmingham and Alabama. It is by no means exhaustive. Your suggestions are more than welcome.
The point is that if MAPS is defeated, Birmingham will not be without options. A lot of creative, dedicated people are at work in our community, and they will still be there when MAPS is just a memory. Perhaps you'd like to join them!
- Alabama Arise - the grassroots coalition that makes sure our state government hears the poor people's side of the story.
Alabama Arise has helped build the public's knowledge on tax reform: Alabama's property taxes on timber are 77 cents per acre; in Georgia, it's $4.50. Alabama is one of 17 states with a sales tax on groceries. Alabama is one of four states that impose income taxes on poor families earning as little as $4,600.
- Alabama Poverty Project - 414-4064
- Alliance for Democracy - working to replace corporate domination of politics with genuine citizen-based democracy
- Bethel-Ensley Action Taskforce (BEAT) - a community-based and community-governed effort to rebuild an area of Ensley that was hard hit by the closing of the neighboring steel mill. This is an outstanding and very successful program. Contact Bethel A.M.E. Church in Ensley.
- Greater Birmingham Ministries - 326-6821 - 2304 12th Ave. North, Birmingham 35234 - may be Birmingham's No. 1 "incubator" for good new ideas.
- Habitat for Humanity - 870-4831
- Operation New Birmingham - The business-oriented group working on development of downtown Birmingham; they also launched the "Birmingham Pledge" campaign against racism and racialist thinking and acting. Their stand on MAPS is short-sighted (I think they're officially in favor) but they're doing good things overall.
- RAPS has some suggestions.
What other cities have done
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Edited by Rob Collins
