Warning to the governor: provide economic development in the Magic City or face Rep. John Rogers’ wrath in the legislative session.

Well, that’s the message at least from Rep. Rogers (D-Birmingham)  following Birmingham’s loss to Tuscaloosa of Bryce Psychiatric Hospital.

Rogers and other elected leaders from Birmingham and surrounding cities in Jefferson county gathered earlier this morning to show a “united front.” They say they are willing to work together to land something for the currently empty Carraway Hospital campus.

Rogers says Gov. Bob Riley has pledged to him to find an alternative for Carraway.

The veteran lawmaker tells me if Riley wants to do anything in the legislature this year, “do something for Carraway.”

Rogers claims “we told the governor we would shut the whole session down if Jefferson county didn’t get some economic development. He moved to Mobile, Montgomery… we need some money to come to Jefferson county.”

Last week, Sen. Phil Poole (D-Moundville) scored political points by receiving credit for the deal that sells the current Bryce campus to the University of Alabama and adds state financing to build a “state of the art” facility in Tuscaloosa.

During an interview on FOX6 News Good Day Alabama, Sen. Poole called the Carraway option “much less desirable,” eventually suggesting it would not be a good mix of a neighborhood with a pschiatric facility.

Thursday Poole said “it was not a desired facility by the neighborhood…surprised to see the neighbors admit that, while elected officials tried to go against their wishes.” Watch Sen. Poole’s interview here

Rep. Rogers says Poole’s comments are “dead wrong” on all counts.

Rogers says neighbors are united on the Carraway project.

“We were prepared to wage a holy war against Phil Poole in Montgomery. I was determined to go down to Montgomery and do everything I needed to do… I’m not afraid of Phil Poole. Everyone else is afraid, I am not afraid of Phil Poole. I was determined to hold everything up in the House to get this.” Watch Rep. Rogers interview here.

With the legislative session starting next week and Carraway still empty, Rogers says he’ll now be waiting for action from the governor.

Rick Journey

Filed under: Legislature