Editorial: Slow Recovery - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Slow Recovery

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By John Shryock - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - While it is encouraging that sales tax revenue was up over a million dollars in the first month of the new fiscal year in Montgomery, the reality is 2010 fiscal year sales tax revenue was nine million dollars less than the 2008 fiscal year sales tax revenue. 

The residential construction building contracts that fueled the Montgomery economy five years ago has dwindled from nearly 30 million dollars to just over five million.  Our local economy's growth will be hampered until this metric builds again. 

The impact on all of us adjusting to the "new normal" cannot be underestimated.  Our belts have been tightened so much that many have us aren't breathing real well. 

A big player like Alabama Power lost 25% of its industrial load in just the past two years as businesses have simply shut down throughout the state. 

Montgomery is wisely plowing forward with investments in projects to drive further private investment and attract new dollars to the area.  At the same time, the city continues to field inquiries at an increasingly rapid pace from businesses looking to come here. 

Montgomery is in a position for rapid growth when the slow growth realities of the next few years pass.  

Patience is a virtue and we will need every bit of it as we continue to deal with the ongoing economic challenges statewide and nationwide.

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