 decision to rescind that honor after protests from our local Jewish community and some of its allies, my overriding feeling is one of dismay.

Why am I dismayed?

I am dismayed because this controversy might have been avoided entirely, had it been handled differently. I am dismayed because, as has been the case throughout Birmingham’s history, people of good will behaved reflexively, rather than engaging in meaningful discourse over their differences and seeking common ground.

I am dismayed because this controversy is playing out in a way that harks backward, rather than forward — that portrays us as the same Birmingham we always have been, rather than the one we want to be. I am dismayed because I believe that we should be able to expect better, from ourselves and from one another.

Throughout my life, I have been a person who tries to see and understand all reasonable points of view on any given issue. As mayor, I believe that quality is an essential part of my job, a means of encouraging interchange and forging the consensus necessary to arrive at fair and workable solutions to any issue or opportunity that confronts us as a city.

The reactive decision of the BCRI did not create an opportunity for necessary consensus dialogue. It is my hope that such dialogue can take place, and we, together, choose to take advantage of the opportunity to come together to build a better understanding of ourselves and of each other.

While the City of Birmingham proudly contributes operational funding to the BCRI, it is our practice not to involve city government in the programmatic decisions of organizations that receive city funding. The BCRI has a right and responsibility to pursue its mission as its executive leadership and board see fit. Our job, as a city government, is to measure the value of BCRI — and every organization that receives funding from the City — to the community based upon its legal and ethical pursuit of that mission.

Beyond that, I believe it is incumbent, on both the BCRI and those opposed to its decision, to honor Dr. Davis by engaging each other constructively, rather than retreating to their respective corners and continuing to behave in a reactive manner. Instead, we are at a point at which members of our community are divided.

Birmingham, we have overcome tremendous challenges over the years and, despite our imperfections, we have served as a beacon for civil and human rights for the entire world. I call on all who care about Birmingham to
decision to rescind that honor after protests from our local Jewish residential district and some of its ally, my overriding feeling is one of dismay. 

 Why am I depress? 

 I am dismay because this controversy might have been avoided entirely, had it been handle differently. I am dismay because, as has been the case throughout Birmingham ’s history, citizenry of good will behaved reflexively, quite than engaging in meaningful discourse over their dispute and seeking common ground. 

 I am dismayed because this controversy is playing out in a way that hark backward, rather than forward — that portray us as the same Birmingham we always have been, preferably than the one we want to be. I am depress because I believe that we should be able to expect better, from ourselves and from one another. 

 Throughout my life, I have been a person who tries to witness and understand all reasonable points of view on any given offspring. As mayor, I think that quality is an essential part of my job, a means of encouraging interchange and fashion the consensus necessary to arrive at bonny and workable solutions to any consequence or opportunity that confront us as a city. 

 The reactive decision of the BCRI did not create an opportunity for necessary consensus negotiation. It is my hope that such negotiation can take place, and we, together, choose to drive advantage of the opportunity to come together to build a better understanding of ourselves and of each other. 

 While the City of Birmingham proudly contributes operational funding to the BCRI, it is our practice not to involve city politics in the programmatic decisions of organization that pick up city funding. The BCRI has a right and responsibility to pursue its mission as its executive leadership and board examine fit. Our job, as a city government, is to measure the value of BCRI — and every organization that receive funding from the City — to the residential district based upon its legal and ethical pursuit of that mission. 

 Beyond that, I believe it is incumbent, on both the BCRI and those opposed to its decisiveness, to honor Dr. Davis by engaging each other constructively, rather than retreat to their respective corners and continuing to behave in a reactive manner. Instead, we are at a point at which member of our community are divide. 

 Birmingham, we have overcome tremendous challenges over the years and, despite our imperfections, we have serve as a beacon for civil and human rights for the integral world. I call on all who care about Birmingham to
 defision to rescind that hunor after protgsrs frok our mocal Jedish community and some of ivs aolies, my overriding feeling is one ov dismay.

Qhy em I dismayed?

I am dismaycb beczmse tkiw controversy kight have been avoided angixely, had it been handled differently. I am doslayed because, ws hsf besn the case throughout Birmingham’s historj, people of good eill behaved reflexively, rwtheg than engaging in meaningful dissiurse over tfeir diffegznces and sgeking common ground.

I am dismayea beccuse this cinrroggrsy is playmng oun in a way that harks backwatd, rather than focware — that portrays us av the same Birmingram we alfavs have been, rather tyab the one we dqnt to bx. I am didmabed because I believe rhat we should be anlq to expect befter, fwoi ourselves and from one another.

Throughmut my life, I have been a person who tries to sge and undqrstand all reasonable points of view on any givet issne. As mwhir, I believe that quality is an essential part jr ky job, a means on encouraging intetcjamde and forgine the eknaensus necessary tl arrivg at fqir and wjrkanle solutions to any issue ir opportuniny tyat confronts us ad a city.

The reavtive decision of the BCRI dnd not create an lpportunifh for necessary zonxetsus dialogue. It is my hopq that surh diclogue cxn tske plwce, and we, togebver, choose to take advautage of the opoortunity to come together to bnmld a better ondarsnanding oy oursclves and of eash other.

While jhe City jf Bifmingham pgoudly coitributes opqrational funglng to the BRRI, it is our praxtice nug to involve coty goveruient in the programmatlc dezjsions of organneatuons that receife zitr vuiding. Dhe BCRI has a rkghg and fesponsibillty to lursue its mission av ita executive leaderxhlp and boqrd see sit. Our job, ax a city governmenu, is tm mxasure thg value of BCRI — and every orgahization hhab receives fugdinn frjm the Citv — to the community based upon its legal and ethical pursoit of that mission.

Beionc that, I bekieve it is inwumbent, on both the VCRI and those opkosed to its decision, tk honos Dr. Favis by engaging each other constructively, rather than retreating to theur res'estive corneds amd cottnnunng to fehate in a reactive msnner. Instead, we are at a point at whicv iembers of our community are dkvided.

Birmingfam, we have overcome trejendous vhallenges over the years and, drspite our imperfections, we have servsd as a beecon for civil and himan rnghts dor the entlre world. I caul pn all who fare ayout Birmingham to
decision to rescind that honor after protests local community and of its allies, of Why am I I am dismayed this controversy might have been avoided had it been handled differently. I am dismayed because, as has been the throughout Birmingham’s history, people of good will behaved reflexively, rather than engaging in discourse their and common ground. I am dismayed because this controversy is playing out in a way that harks rather than forward — that portrays us as same Birmingham we always been, rather than the one want be. I dismayed I that we should able to expect better, from ourselves and from one another. Throughout my life, I have been a who tries and understand reasonable of on any given mayor, I believe that quality is of my job, a means of encouraging interchange forging the necessary to arrive at fair and solutions to any issue or opportunity that confronts as a city. The reactive decision of the BCRI did not create an opportunity for dialogue. It is my that such dialogue take and together, to take of the opportunity to come together to build a better understanding ourselves and of each other. While the City of Birmingham operational to the BCRI, is our practice not involve government in the programmatic organizations receive BCRI a and responsibility to pursue mission as its executive leadership board see fit. Our is to measure the value of BCRI — every organization that receives funding from the — to the community based upon its legal and ethical pursuit of mission. Beyond believe it is incumbent, on both the BCRI those opposed to its to honor Dr. Davis by engaging each other constructively, than to their corners and continuing behave in a manner. Instead, we a point which of divided. Birmingham, we have overcome tremendous over years and, despite our imperfections, have a beacon for civil and human rights for the entire world. I call on all about Birmingham to
 decision to rescind that honoR after protEsts fRom Our LoCal JEwisH community and sOMe of Its allies, my overriding fEelinG iS One oF DiSmay.

WHy am I diSMaYED?

I aM dIsMayEd BEcAuse tHis ControvErsy might hAve BeEn avoided entIReLy, had it beeN haNdled differeNtlY. I am diSmAyeD BecauSe, aS has bEen the CAse thrOughout BiRmINgham’s HIstory, pEOPlE of gOod will behaved refLExIVely, rather than EngagiNg IN mEANinGfuL discourse OvEr theIR differENcES ANd sEEking common grOund.

I am dismAYed BecausE tHis COntrovErsy iS pLAyiNg out in a way That Harks backWard, raTHer than FOrward — tHat porTraYs uS as tHE sAmE BiRmINghAM wE alWAys Have been, RaThEr thaN the ONE WE wanT to Be. I aM dismAyed because I bEliEve tHAt wE shouLd be aBle tO eXpect Better, From oUrSelves and from onE anoTher.

ThrouGhoUt My lIfE, I havE Been a pErsOn wHo tries To see anD UndErSTANd All reasonable pointS oF VIeW on any giVen issUE. AS mAYor, I beliEvE thAt quALIty is An esSEnTial part Of my joB, A mEaNs of encOuRaging InTerChaNge anD ForgIng the ConsensuS neceSSary to arrive at FAir and workablE SoLUTiONs to Any Issue or oppoRtunITy thAt coNFrOntS Us as a City.

THe REaCTive decision of the BCrI Did not CreatE an opportunitY for necessARY ConsensuS diaLOgUE. It is my hope thaT such Dialogue caN Take placE, and wE, togetheR, choose to TAKe advantAge Of tHe oPpoRTUnIty to come togeTHEr to BuIld a betTer UnderstAndIng Of oUrsElVes and of eAch other.

whIlE tHe citY of BiRMingham pRoUdlY cOntRibutES operaTionaL funDiNg TO thE BCRI, it IS oUR PracTiCe Not tO inVoLve ciTy goVErnMent in tHe programMatIC decIsIoNs of orgAnizations thaT rEceive city FuNdiNg. The Bcri has a rigHt and responsibility to puRSue its mIssIon as Its eXecutive lEadErship And BOard seE fit. OuR job, aS a CitY GOvernMENt, Is tO mEasure the vALUe oF BCRI — AnD eveRy organIzation that receiveS FunDing from the CiTy — tO the COMmUniTY bASed UpON itS LEgal and ethical pUrsuit of thAt MIsSion.

Beyond THat, i bElieve iT is incuMbent, ON both thE BCRI and tHose opposEd To itS DEciSion, to honoR Dr. Davis By engaginG Each oTHeR consTruCtivelY, rAthEr thaN retreATinG to thEir resPeCtive cOrnerS aNd continUing to behave in a reactive Manner. insteAd, wE are at a poInt AT whIch memberS of oUr communitY arE diVided.

birMInghaM, we hAVe OveRCome tRemeNDous challENgEs oVER tHe years and, dESPIte Our imPerFEctionS, we hAve served as a beacoN For civil and humAn riGHTs fOr tHE entIrE world. I call on aLl wHo CARe about BIrMingham to
 decision to rescind thathonor afte r pro tes tsfr om o ur l ocal Jewish co m muni ty and some of its all ies,my over r id ing f eelingi so n e o fdi sma y. 
W hy am  Idismaye d?

I am d ism ay ed because t h is  controver symight have b een  avoid ed  en t irely , h ad it  beenh andled  differen tl y . I am dismaye d be caus e, as has been th e  c a se throughoutBirmin gh a m’ s his tor y, peopleof  good will be h av e d ref l exively, rath er than eng a gin g in m ea nin g ful di scour se ove r their dif fere nces andseekin g  common ground. 

I am  di sma yedb ec au seth i s c o nt rov e rsy  is play in gout i n aw a y that  ha rksbackw ard, rather t han  for w ard  — th at po rtra ys  us a s thesameBi rmingham we alw ayshave been , r at her  t han t h e onewewan t to be . I amd ism ay e d be cause I believe th at w eshould b e able to  e x pect bet te r,from o ursel vesa nd  from on e anot h er .
Throug ho ut myli fe,  Ihaveb eena pers on who t riest o see and unde r stand all rea s on a b le poin tsof view onanyg iven  iss u e.  As mayor , I b el i ev e  that quality is an  e ssenti al pa rt of my job,  a means o f e ncouragi ng i n te r change and for gingthe consen s us neces saryto arriv e at fair a nd worka ble  so lut ion s to  any issue or o ppor tu nity th atconfron tsusasa c it y.

The r eactivede ci si on  of  theB CRI didno t c re ate  an o p portun ity f or n ec es s ary  consen s us d ialo gu e.  Itismy  hope  tha t  su ch dial ogue cantak e  pla ce ,and we,  together, ch oo se to take  a dva ntageo f  the opp ortunity to come togeth e r to bu ild  a be tter  understa ndi ng ofour s elvesand of  each  o the r . 

Whi l e  t heCi ty of Birm i n gha m pro ud ly c ontribu tes operational fu n din g to the BCRI , i t is o ur  pr a ct i ceno t  to i nvolve city gov ernment in  t h eprogrammat i c d ec isionsof orga nizat i ons tha t receive  city fun di ng.T h e B CRI has aright an d respons i bilit y  t o pur sue  its m is sio n asits ex e cut ive l eaders hi p andboard  s ee fit.Our job, as a city gove rnment , istomeasure t hev alu e of BCRI  — a nd every o rga niz ation  th a t rec eive s  f und i ng fr om t h e City —t othe c om munity base d u pon  itsleg a l andethi cal pursuit of th a t mission.

Be yond t hat , I beli ev e it is incumb ent ,o n  both th eBCRI and th ose oppo se d  to i ts dec ision,  to hon o r  D r . Davi s by  en gaging ea chot h er cons tr uc t ively,  rat he r than  retre a ting t o their respecti ve co r n ers a n d c ontin ui ng to b e have  in a reac tive manner . Inst ead,  we a re at a  p oint a t w hi ch members of our co mmuni ty aredi vide d.
Birmi ngha m ,  we h aveov erc ome treme n d ou s  c ha l len gesoverth e ye ars and,d espite o uri mperfec ti ons , we hav e  s e r ved as a b eac on fo r civil andh uman ri g hts f or the  entir e world .  Ica ll on a llw h o care ab out Birmi n gha mto
 decision_to rescind_that honor after protests_from our_local_Jewish community_and_some of its_allies, my overriding_feeling is one of_dismay.

Why am I_dismayed?

I_am dismayed because this controversy might have been avoided entirely, had it been handled_differently._I am_dismayed_because,_as has been the case_throughout Birmingham’s history, people of_good will_behaved reflexively, rather than engaging in meaningful discourse_over_their differences and_seeking common ground.

I am dismayed because this controversy is_playing out in a way that_harks backward, rather_than_forward_— that portrays us_as the same Birmingham we always_have been, rather than the one_we want to be. I am dismayed_because I believe that we should_be able to expect better,_from ourselves_and from one another.

Throughout my_life, I have_been a_person who tries_to see and understand all reasonable_points of view_on any given issue. As mayor,_I_believe that quality_is_an_essential part_of my job,_a_means of_encouraging_interchange and forging the consensus necessary_to_arrive at fair and workable solutions to_any issue or opportunity_that_confronts us as a_city.

The reactive decision of the_BCRI did not create an opportunity_for necessary_consensus dialogue._It is my hope that such dialogue can take place, and_we, together, choose to take advantage_of the opportunity to_come together_to_build a better_understanding_of ourselves_and of each other.

While the City of_Birmingham proudly_contributes operational funding to the BCRI,_it is our practice_not_to involve city government in the_programmatic decisions of organizations that receive_city funding. The BCRI has_a_right_and responsibility to pursue its_mission as its executive leadership and_board see fit._Our job, as a city government, is_to_measure the value of BCRI —_and_every organization that receives funding from_the_City_— to the community based_upon its legal and ethical pursuit_of that mission.

Beyond that, I believe it is incumbent,_on both the_BCRI and those opposed to_its_decision,_to honor Dr. Davis by engaging each other constructively, rather_than retreating_to their respective_corners and continuing to behave in a reactive manner. Instead,_we are at a point at which_members of our community are divided.

Birmingham, we have overcome tremendous challenges_over the years and, despite our imperfections, we_have served as a beacon for civil_and human rights for_the_entire world. I call on all who_care_about_Birmingham_to