THE CASH STUFF FOR 09-19-19

SEN. PETERSON FILES COMPLAINT

WITH NC. ATTY GENERAL’S OFFICE

OVER POSSIBLE HOSPITAL SALE

By Cash Michaels

Staff writer

There is growing community concern about the possible sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) to a private company after the NHC County Commissioners Monday approved “an intent to sell” resolution to officially start the process of at least exploring it’s options. 

If such a sale were to occur, critics of the sale say the quality of care will diminish in favor of maximizing profits, and that would be disastrous for the seven-county regional that NHRMC currently serves.

One of the most concerned is state Senator Harper Peterson, and in a Sept. 16th complaint to the NC Attorney General’s Office against the county commission board, Peterson alleges “…their failure to fully inform and openly engage the citizens of New Hanover County in the decision making process regarding the potential sale of the publicly owned hospital.”

In his complaint, Peterson makes clear that NHMRC is a “charitable nonprofit corporation that is publicly held by the citizens (taxpayers) of New Hanover.”

The county commissioners hold the responsibility of appointing  members to NHMRC’s Board of Trustees.

In his complaint, despite denials by county officials that they are actively seeking to sell the hospital, approving the resolution allow the county to issue an RFP, or “Request for Proposal” from private entities interested in purchasing the hospital, whose estimated value could go as high as $1 billion, according to published reports.

County officials admit that a possible sale could pump hundreds of millions of dollars into New Hanover to help improve schools, and other needs.

Peterson says under state statute and per the guidelines outlined, “…a sale could be considered and consummated within 90 days at the “absolute and sole discretion” of the NHC Commission.”

Peterson cites concerns by “hundreds of citizens” “that the process is being rushed.” He also notes that certain commissioners “…have publicly expressed a desire to sell…” the hospital, as well as other troubling indicators.

“These actions lead me to believe that a deal is already in the works and that a perspective buyer(s) could potentially dictate the terms of a sale agreement. This will not be in the best interest of the seven (7) counties that NHRMC serves, nor will it be in the best interest of the over 7000 employees of the hospital, and certainly not in the best interest of the scores of nonprofit community health service groups that work with and supplement the hospital’s mission,” Sen. Peterson wrote in his complaint.

But Peterson goes further.

He also alleges that  “ There is NO clear legal record of what entity, NHC or NHRMC, actually owns the multiple properties, buildings, equipment, assets, etc. comprising NHRMC. This determination is of paramount importance, as state law…specifically directs how, and by who, proceeds from a potential sale or lease of NHMRC will be handled…”

“NHC has publicly stated that any proceeds from a sale could be used for ANY purpose it feels appropriate, health related or not,” he continued. “I interpret the law quite differently, whereby “any distribution of assets shall be to a tax exempt organization whose purposes are consistent with the purposes of the existing corporation.”

“This has led me to believe that the NHC Commission has NOT done their due diligence; specifically what properties they own and what properties NHRMC owns, what are the tax and market values of all the NHRMC “campus” properties, what other types of buyers, for profit, NFP, operating profiles, terms and conditions that would be desirable, etc. that will be included in a RFP,” Sen. Petersen further alleges. “I also believe that NHC has misinterpreted state statute requirements regarding any and all proceeds from a sale and that this will only complicate this initiative.”

Peterson continued, “There is no record of a public discussion or decision by the NHC Commission to consider a matter of such enormous consequence; the potential sale of NHRMC, no record of directing the County Manager to spearhead this initiative, no record of directing the County Manager to so closely partner with NHRMC’s CEO to manage and message this initiative and speculation on its far reaching consequences.”

“This has led me to believe that there may be malfeasance on the part of an individual(s) within New Hanover County Government. The County Manager serves at the NHC Commission’s pleasure and does NOT act independently. Someone or somebody is acting improperly and outside their legal bounds.”

Seeing need for an immediate investigation, Sen. Peterson asks the state Attorney General’s Office to for A review of all actions, internal communications, outside contracts and contacts, and clandestine relationships by NHC and NHRMC relevant to this matter, prior to and after July 23rd, is warranted.

Going forward, your attention, oversight and corrective action with regards to this extraordinary decision our community is presently considering is needed NOW!
        NHC NAACP Pres. Deborah Dicks Maxwell tells the Journal that "We do not like the sale at all. Not enough transparency in the process."

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REP. ADAMS CHALLENGES PRES.

CANDIDATES TO SUPPORT HBCUs

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

Any Democratic presidential candidate who pledges solid support for HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) if he or she wins the White House in 2020, will have the backing of North Carolina Congresswoman Alma Adams.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Democrat, who is co-chair and founder of the Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus in Congress,  made that clear Monday in a statement from her office Monday. 

Months before the first primaries begin, the top four Democrat presidential candidates remain for Vice Presidential Joe Biden, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and California Sen. Kamala Harris.

As of last week’s Democrat debate, held on the campus of HBCU Texas-Southern University featuring the top ten candidates, only Sen. Harris has prominently promised to support HBCU’s with more federal funding if elected. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Rep. Adams, an alumna of NC A&T University who retired from Bennett College for Women prior to being elected to Congress, lauded the various candidates for their positions on  introducing a more comprehensive health care plan, and promoting more affordable housing,

“Unfortunately, HBCU’s and educational equity have been left out of the conversation,”Adams opined in a “Dear Colleague” letter to all of the Democratic candidates.

“This is why it is essential that HBCU’s be a key part of your platform. The candidate I endorse for president  will have a plan that levels the playing field for HBCU’s and centers educational equity, from Pre - K through college.

And then Rep. Adams made clear that despite lots of lip service since he took office, Pres. Donald Trump “…has failed HBCU’s and their students.

“[The Trump Administration’s] HBCU Summit turned our schools into a photo op, and their HBCU Initiative has gone nowhere,” she wrote. “Our schools are too important  for political games. Attacking these schools is not the strike at our values and our traditions.”

As in most modern day presidential elections, the black vote is seen as vital to whatever Democrat presidential candidate hopes to win in November 2020. At the same token, there is evidence that Republicans - in an effort to re-elect Pres. Donald Trump - hope to find ways to limit black voter turnout for his still undetermined Democratic opponent, and at the same time improve his popularity among African Americans by touting a better economy for all under his administration.

Trump has cited a lower black employment rate since he came into office. Democrats counter that many of Trump’s racially biased policies negate whatever positive gains have been made in the job market.

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REV. BARBER SAYS CAN’T 

STAY HOME WITH NEW MAPS

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

During the week when Republican legislative leaders are under court order to turn over newly redrawn nonpartisan voting district maps to a state three-judge panel that had ruled their previous maps were unconstitutional, Rev. Dr. William Barber, former president of the NCNAACP,  says “We’ve won too many victories for folks to stay home.”

Dr. Barber refers to the fact that at least four times since 2011, either a state or federal court has struck down a redistricting map produced by North Carolina ’s Republican legislative majority, either for racial gerrymandering, or just two weeks ago, extreme partisan gerrymandering.

In the last state court ruling, one Republican and two Democratic judges found GOP lawmakers guilty of “…specifically and systematically designing the contours of the election districts for partisan purposes and a desire to preserve power.”

The fact that the federal and state courts have repeatedly found the GOP in violation for attempting to suppress the black vote, should confirm to the community just how important their vote actually is, and that per the upcoming 2019 local elections, and crucial 2020 state and federal elections, people need to show up to vote in unprecedented numbers, now that state voting districts should be more fairly drawn.

That three-judge panel is expected to evaluate the newly redrawn maps - ratified by the state House last week, and the state Senate this week - by the Sept. 18th deadline - and once certified as passing constitutional muster, put in place in time for the 2020 state legislative races.

Dr. Barber says those who have been disenfranchised by previous voter suppression attempts by the GOP, must take advantage of this victory now, hard fought for by the attorneys for Common Cause of NC, Forward Justice,  the NC NAACP and others.

“Last time in 2016, Donald Trump won [North Carolina] by 160,000 votes. 550,000 African Americans who are registered to vote, chose not to go,” said Barber.

“We’ve won too many victories for people to stay home,” He continued. “We have proven that [Sen. Thom] Tillis when he was leading the legislature, engaged in racist voter suppression. We should remember that when we go to the polls.”

“When these districts get redrawn, North Carolinians of every creed, race and color, to turn out like never before,” Dr. Barber said.

“if we can get a 70-75% turnout….I’d like a 100%, , but give me 70-75%, we can turn this state around, and begin to put it in the right direction, so we can get a living wage, an health care, and more money for public education, and take care of the most vulnerable people in out state.”

“We won in the court,” Dr. Barber concluded. “Now, let’s win at the ballot box.’

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STATE NEWS BRIEFS

CITY COUNCIL APPROVES NAMING THIRD STREET AFTER JOSEPH MCNEIL

[WILMINGTON] The Wilmington City Council Monday approved the naming of Third Street between Market and Davis streets, after native and civil rights activist Joseph McNeil. McNeill, a Williston Senior High alumnus,  is best known as being one of the Greensboro Four - four black students of North Carolina A&T University who in Feb. 1960, walked into an F. W. Woolworth store in downtown Greensboro, and integrated the lunch count there. The action is credited with helping to spark the ’60s cib=vil rights movement.  The NC General Assembly still needs to approve the measure

NCNAACP FILES MOTION FOR INJUNCTION TO STOP VOTER ID LAW

[RALEIGH] The State Conference of the NAACP Tuesday evening filed a motion for preliminary injunction with the US District Court for the Middle District “…preventing [Governor Cooper and the NC legislature] from putting into effect the challenged provisions of Senate Bill 824” which requires that “in-person voters present one of a limited number of forms of qualifying photographic identification,” among other new voter ID requirements. The motion cites that Black and Latino voters in the state of North Carolina  will be denied their right to vote.

EXPECT GAS PRICES TO KEEP RISING, SAYS AAA

[GREENSBORO] With Middle East tensions brewing after an alleged Iranian drone attack on two major Saudi Arabian oil refineries, gas prices in the United States, and specifically North Carolina, have already begun to climb. The attacks have temporarily cut Saudi oil production, from which some American gasoline comes from. AAA of the Carolinas says expect prices at the pump to balloon as much as 25 cents per gallon  by the end of the month. The national price for gasoline was already $2.59 per gallon.  In North Carolina, $2.36. It’s already as high as $2.55 in Wake County, jumping late Monday after news of the drone attacks spread.

GRANVILLE SHERIFF INDICTED FOR WANTING A FORMER DEPUTY KILLED

[OXFORD] Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins was indicted Monday on two counts of obstruction of justice for allegedly ordering the murder of a former deputy because that person was going to expose the sheriff’s alleged use of racist language. According to the indictment, Sheriff Brindell told the alleged hit man in a recording to “take care of it” and “the only way you gonna stop him is kill him.” The alleged target was former Deputy Joshua Freeman, who was fired by Wilkins in August 2014.  According to Wake District Attorney Lorrin freeman, who is prosecuting the five-year-old case, Sheriff Wilkins is being charged with obstruction, instead of conspiracy to commit murder, because the obstruction case is easier to prove. Both the FBI and SBI have been involve in probing the case.  The DA for Granville County handed the case over to Wake County so that he could be a witness at trial.