Welcome to Jefferson County, circa 1960

[Buzz Killington]

http://www.myfoxal.com/story/19273579/jeffco-commision-delays-vote-on-cooper-green

To give you the background info...the Commission has been laying off it's employees by the hundreds over the last year now, and has filed the nation's largest Chapter 9 bankruptcy.  Meanwhile, the indigent care hospital they own has been using their full allotment of tax money and coming back to the County's teat to the tune of $10M+ annually.  The Commissioners finally said enough was enough and decided to close the facility, leaving close to a dozen outpatient facilities in place.  Or at least, we thought they finally said "enough."

JeffCo Commission delays vote on Cooper Green

Posted: Aug 14, 2012 10:47 AM CDT
Updated: Aug 14, 2012 11:02 AM CDT
By Alan Collins - bio | email

 

People crowd into the Jefferson County Commission chambers Tuesday morning. (WBRC photo)
Protests continue after Cooper Green vote delayed

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -
The Jefferson County Commission decided Tuesday not to vote on a plan to end inpatient care at Cooper Green Hospital.

A resolution to end inpatient care at Cooper Green was tabled after a lengthy discussion. Hundreds of people also showed up in protest of the plan, filling commission chambers to capacity. Dozens more gathered outside.

Commissioners Sandra Little Brown and George Bowman opposed the plan. Brown said Tuesday she needed more input from the medical community and called today's scheduled vote "disrespectful."

"Birmingham is the best place for medical care, if you have insurance, not if you are indigent," Brown said.

Bowman said the CEO of UAB Hospital called the plan "dangerous and unethical" and called Cooper Green Hospital the "heart and soul of the city." He added the plan will cost the county another $49 million.

Commissioners Joe Knight, Jimmie Stephens, and David Carrington supported the plan. Knight said he was not for "kicking the can down the road but we have studied enough."

At this point in the meeting, the crowd became "testy and emotional" according to FOX6 News reporter Alan Collins. The commission then took a five minute recess and huddled with county manager Tony Petelos and its lawyer about its next move.

After the recess ended, Commission President David Carrington tabled the resolution and recessed the meeting.

After the meeting, Marilyn Mosley, a long-time hospital advocate, yelled "coward" at the commissioners.

Sheila Tyson, president of the Citizens Advisory Board, said her group was prepared to block all entrances to the courthouse and go to jail if the plan had passed.

Rev. Calvin Woods, president of the Birmingham chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, told a group of pastors, "it would be good if some of us would go to jail."

Hundreds of protestors gathered Tuesday morning before the meeting. Community organizer Frank Matthews had a megaphone getting people "fired up."

In addition to those protestors, another group of people arrived Tuesday morning opposing plans by a package store near Corner School to sell liquor. The application for the liquor license was denied.

Copyright 2012 WBRC. All rights reserved.

[djsimp]

I lived in that area most of my life. Its a damn shame B'ham has to be run by some of the dumbest
motherfucking politicians on the face of this planet. It really has all the ingredients to be a nice city.

[GH2001]

I lived in that area most of my life. Its a damn shame B'ham has to be run by some of the dumbest
motherfucking politicians on the face of this planet. It really has all the ingredients to be a nice city.

Many of them in the same idealogical mold as our President. (cough cough Langford cough cough)

[bird35]

In addition to those protestors, another group of people arrived Tuesday morning opposing plans by a package store near Corner School to sell liquor. The application for the liquor license was denied.

Now they have gone to far.  Something must be done.

[Tarheel]

In addition to those protestors, another group of people arrived Tuesday morning opposing plans by a package store near Corner School to sell liquor. The application for the liquor license was denied.

Now they have gone to far.  Something must be done.

I wonder if they were members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference too...

[GH2001]

I wonder if they were members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference too...

Nah....

Southern Baptist Convention. 

[Tarheel]

Nah....

Southern Baptist Convention.

Glad it wasn't me that wrote that...I've got your 6 anyway...

[Kaos]

I thought this thread was going to be about water fountains.