THOSE HP MINI LAPTOP COMPUTERS Birmngham Mayor Larry Langford gave to each City Council member (and to members of his staff) are intended to improve communication between the mayor's office and City Council, especially during critical discussions like those under way on the city's 2010 budget.
Of course, the mayor and council members have different priorities in the $416 million budget, and they're squabbling over those priorities now. But Langford is hoping the $199 computers, also known generically as "netbooks," will allow council members to find out information on their own and to work on budget items themselves.
The little laptops are powerful for what they are. They're mainly designed to surf the Web, exchange e-mails and "chats," or Internet Messaging. Each came with a jump drive loaded with the budget, tax laws and other city information. Like any tool, if they're used constructively, they'll benefit council members and the mayor's office. If they're put on a shelf and forgotten, they'll be a waste of money.
Regardless, council members and the mayor also must have face-to-face discussions. Communication is the key, and it must happen on all levels. What do you think? Can Langford and the City Council communicate and come to consensus on a budget?
DON'T FORGET this week's Views poll (vote here). We're focusing on the financial crisis in Jefferson County, and what cuts the County Commission must make. The results and a selection of comments will be published in Sunday's Viewpoints section.