GULF. SO YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC ENGINES. YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT TOURISM DOLLARS. YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION. SO THAT WHOLE SECTION OF THE CITY. PROPOSED STATE FUNDING CUTS. A THREAT TO CULTURAL STAPLES RIGHT HERE IN THE MAGIC CITY. THE STATE LEGISLATURE PULLED SIX BUDGET ITEMS EARLIER THIS WEEK. WVTM13’S ERYN LEWELLYN SPOKE TO ONE SENATOR WHO IS WORKING TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING. I DIDN’T HAVE A WILDEST DREAM IN MY MIND. THAT I WOULD BE STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW. THAT WAS SENATOR ROGER SMITHERMAN ADDRESSING THE SENATE FLOOR ON TUESDAY, REACTING TO THE STATE BUDGET CUTS FOR SIX STAPLE EVENTS AND LANDMARKS ACROSS THE MAGIC CITY. WHILE WE INCREASING OVER HERE, BUT ELIMINATING OVER HERE. AND WHAT THAT INDICATES IS THAT. YOU USUALLY YOU’RE YOU’RE TAKING THE MONEY FOR HERE AND GIVING IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE. ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT 18 SENATOR, THE BCRI WAS SLATED TO GET $100,000. $200,000 WAS GOING TO THE MAGIC CITY CLASSIC. 250,000 FOR THE WOODLAWN THEATER. 50,000 FOR THE ALABAMA JAZZ HALL OF FAME. AND 750,000 FOR THE WORLD POLICE AND FIRE GAMES, AND SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS THEY HAVE THEY MAY HAVE MATCHING FUNDS. AND SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS, THEY MAY HAVE ONGOING PROJECTS THAT THIS MAY BE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE. AND AND OF COURSE, WITH THE SITUATION WITH, YOU KNOW, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ACTUALLY CUTTING MONEY. THAT’S WHY SMITHERMAN SAYS HE’S WORKING TO MAKE SURE THESE STAPLES GET THE FUNDING THEY NEED. IT JUST PROVIDES ENTERTAINMENT, IT PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT. IT PROVIDES TAX REVENUE SO WE CAN EXPAND OR MAINTAIN CITY SERVICES, AS WELL AS PROVIDE REVENUE FOR OUR COUNTY. SMITHERMAN SAYS HE’S UNCERTAIN WHY THE BUDGET WAS PROPOSED WITHOUT THESE ITEMS BEING INCLUDED. 30% OF THIS STATE. RYLEIGH CLOSE BETWEEN 1.2 AND 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE ARE AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND THEY DESERVE A CONSIDERATION. BUT WHAT HE DOES KNOW IS WHAT GRABBED HIM BY THE HAND. WHEN IT COMES UP THERE. AND WE’RE GOING TO GET THAT DONE.