By Commissioner George Bowman
I spent 34 years in uniform serving our country, and am proud to say that the journey took me from Sumter South Carolina, to St. Louis, to the Middle East, to Africa, to the Far East, and eventually to the Pentagon. After retiring from the military as a Major General, I made Birmingham my home. Politics has never been a goal of mine. However, after being here for nearly 10 years I was appointed by the Governor to serve as Jefferson County Commissioner for District One. Eventually, I would have to run for the office in 2010. In fact, that year it became necessary for me to run three times in one year, with as many as 16 opponents. Fortunately, I was successful in winning and retaining the office.
This journey has been unlike any previous travel undertaken. My goal in the quest to serve as County Commissioner, has been to make responsible decisions for the people whom I serve, and to be certain that my decisions are for the benefit of the people. I take my position as County Commissioner very seriously, and realize that my decisions and votes impact lives for generations to come. That is why I have taken stances that have been in opposition to the other four Commissioners. The vote for selling the Rehabilitation Center was 4-1. I voted to save that institution because it was the only home that many poor people could afford, with the County’s assistance. I could not vote to literally throw them out into the street. After that vote was taken, the bed licenses that those poor people were housed under, were sold at cut rates, to new facilities, built for the more affluent in Hoover and Vestavia.
I voted alone in my attempt to save Cooper Green Mercy Hospital. Again, the people spoke loud and clear against the dismantling of that Institution. At its height, more than 50 thousand poor people held blue cards and were dependent on Cooper Green for their medical care. In the process of destroying the Indigent Care Hospital, the County Commission, in opposition to the will of the people, shamelessly dismissed more than 200 workers just days before Christmas. The Jefferson County Medical Society, in its evaluation of the County’s attempt to “restructure” medical care for the indigent, has termed its efforts as an “abject failure.” I agree with their assessment.
The County Commission voted 4 to 1 in favor of bankruptcy. Again I was the lone vote. I remain of the opinion that the people who are least able to afford it, and played no part in creating it, have been saddled with this huge illegal debt. This debt was initiated out of a criminal enterprise that the people had nothing to do with, but are being forced to pay for, for generations to come. Generational wealth is being realized by some, and poor people are being exhorted to ensure a “life of Riley” for the children of those who are “well positioned.” More than 50 million dollars have been spent on legal fees in the last five years. One attorney was making more than a million dollars a month, while the Commission chose to lay workers off who had spent a life- time of loyalty to make this county work. Chose not to pay our own people $12 per hour, while paying lawyers as much as $1100 an hour. Yes, it is a crime.
The County has been in contempt of Court in regards to the Consent Decree for more than 30 years. It has been consistent in its efforts to defy the Federal Courts. Although the Human Resources Department was put in place to ensure fair and equitable treatment, one Commissioner campaigned on shutting the department down. Another reportedly declared that the next five department heads would be white males. There was a blatant attempt to dismiss a highly qualified Black department head and replace him with an unqualified white. The Commissioners were forced to return the African American to his position.
Since my tenure began, I have worked to level the playing field and attempted to rid Jefferson County of discrimination and inequality. I support Judge Linwood Smith and Dr. Sims in their efforts to rid this County of the residue by a sorted past that includes inequitable treatment of the workforce and a lack of transparency in contract compliance. My pledge to the people of Jefferson County is to remain vigilant, remain on the right side of history, and continue to shed light on areas of maltreatment that has been hidden in plain sight.
