WHAT WOULD NHRMC SALE
MEAN FOR BLACKS IN REGION?
By Cash Michaels
Staff writer
There seems to be little question in the minds of those who oppose the possible sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) by the N.H. County Board of Commissioners that the cost of heath care would go up, and the quality of health care, as a result, would go down.
NHRMC is the largest county-owned hospital system in the state, that generates $1 billion annually in New Hanover county’s economy, and contributes “…$145 million annually to the care for the poor,” according to the NHRMC.org website.
Among the many voices of concern expressing that beyond the N.H. County NAACP, state Senator Harper Peterson and others, is clinical medical assistant Isla Speller.
Ms. Speller, a native of Wilmington who has worked locally in the health care field for over 30 years (14 of which were at NHRMC), told The Wilmington Journal shortly after the NHC Board of commissioners approved a controversial resolution to solicit RFPs (Requests for Proposals) to purchase NHRMC, that African American and other poor people living in the seven-county region that NHRMC serves, would be greatly affected if it sold.
“I’m heartbroken about it, Ms. Speller, an African-American, told The Journal by phone exclusively Saturday. “As a health care provider, I’ve always given my heart, my skill, my passion. If they privatize the hospital, the quality of care, love and dedication would be lost.”
“We would become a number, and not a patient.”
Ms. Speller went on to remind that The Journal that, NHRMC belongs to the people.
Per the history of NHRMC according to it’s online page at MHRMC.org., it was by 1857 after both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, that the federal government commissioned Scottish builder James Walker to construct a hospital in the county. Meanwhile in 1881, the NC General Assembly authorized the city of Wilmington and New Hanover County to build a joint hospital called “City-County Hospital.” In 1888, a separate building was opened for black patients.
During the 1898 race massacre, many injured black men were treated at City-County Hospital, which soon closed to make way for James Walker Memorial Hospital.
In 1902. Walker Memorial Hospital opened with a “colored annex,” but “access to care was not equal,” primarily because it was opened just a few years after the 1898 Wilmington race massacre.
Black doctors were forced to open Community Hospital in 1921 for black patients.
By 1947, Walker Memorial was considered outdated, and the county was asked for funds to update, but refused to comply. The N.H. County Board refused again in 1953. In 1957, four white physicians came together to open private Cape Fear Memorial Hospital.
The following year, voters were asked to fund the building of a new hospital. Black leaders opposed, however, not trusting white leaders to deliver am integrated hospital. In November, 1961, African-American voters came out and supported construction of a new hospital.
Less than six years later, New Hanover Memorial Hospital opened the same day outdated Walker Memorial closed. The black hospital, Community, also closed after 43 years. Since then, NHMH evolved into NHRMC, merging with Cape Fear Memorial, and acquiring other local health service providers.
“We built that hospital,” Isla Speller insists, referring to New Hanover County voters. “We need to fight for our hospital, because we built that hospital.”
So NHRMC today, according to the hospital’s own website, was born when New Hanover County’s black voters approved construction of New Hanover Medical Hospital in 1961, with the promise that African-Americans would be given access to the same facilities and medical services as whites.
Isla Speller says African Americans have made an historic investment in NHRMC almost 60 years ago with a vote that brought vital medical services to all citizens, and will certainly be affected if it is ultimately sold.
“How will those be served with no [health insurance]?” She asked rhetorically. “Will all insurance be accepted? We fought for the right for all patients to be treated equally regardless of their skin color. Or cultural background.”
Ms. Speller warns that if NHRMC is turned into a private hospital, it can decide whether it wants tp serve an indigent population that is covered by Medicare.
Speller insists that NHRMC is not the county commission board’s to sell. “It belongs to the people,’ she insists. The board was just “..entrusted with it.”
Ms. Speller recommends that the community seek legal advice, as state Sen. Harper Peterson has by filing a complaint with the state Attorney General’s Office last week.
“It’s so unfair, and it’s heartbreaking,” she said.
Potential buyers fir NHRMC will have 60 days to submit their RFP bids.
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REV. BARBER SAYS HE
“STANDS” WITH NCNAACP
WOMEN ELDERS IN COMPLAINT
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
The former longtime president of the NC NAACP has issued a statement saying that he “stands” with the “integrity-filled women elders” of the state chapter of the nation’s oldest civil rights movement in their demand to have a member accused of sexual harassment removed from the organization.
The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, currently the co-chair of The Poor People’s Campaign, issued his statement after the “Elder Women of the North Carolina NAACP,” held a press conference Sept. 18th at Trinity AME Zion Church in Greensboro vowed that “…we can no longer stand in the shadows,” noting that many of them have been victims of past sexual harassment themselves.
Allegedly that two years ago, an unnamed supervisor in the state NAACP office was accused of sexual harassment by a young female field organizer. Rev. Barber, who was president at the time, had the accusation fully investigated by an employment attorney and law professor, and, after a five-month probe, confirmed it. That was enough to have the supervisor fired, but he was still an NAACP member.
According to national NAACP bylaws, only the national NAACP can formally and legally remove an NAACP member for cause. But the women Elders say the national office never did, even though all internal efforts were being exhausted.
Having the former supervisor still attend various NCNAACP events as a member was disturbing to the alleged victim and those who supported her, the elders said. They petitioned Derrick Johnson, president/CEO of the national NAACP, to remove the member. But thus far, nothing has happened.
“I agree with these women,” Rev. Barber said in his statement released Friday. I support their efforts and their unwavering call for action. This has gone on too long and if those who have power act do so, we will be stronger because of their call to action.”
Reportedly, while the NCNAACP has a policy against sexual harassment, the national NAACP does not, even though, as an organization, it pushed Congress in 2018 to pass legislation outlawing the practice in the workplace.
Several of the Women Elders at the Greensboro press conference, including O’Linda Watkins - McSurely, president of the Moore County NAACP, Anna Richards, president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP, and Ana Blackburn of the State NAACP, said that if they don’t see resolution of the situation soon, in addition to a new policy addressing sexual harassment from the national NAACP, that they will organize a bus trip to the Baltimore headquarters, and hold a press conference there to ratchet up pressure.
“What we know is that we can no longer stand in the shadows,” said NCNAACP board member Rev. Toneyla Rawls of Charlotte.
Rev. Barber, though he is a former president of the NCNAACP, is still a member of the national NAACP Board of Directors.
“As a member of the National Board,” he said in his Friday statement, “I intend to stand with this call and work with these powerful women representing some of North Carolina’s finest leaders…”
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BUTTERFIELD ENDORSES BIDEN
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
One of North Carolina’s two African American representatives in the U.S. Congress has now pledged his support for Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden.
However, that endorsement comes amid growing concerns that the former vice president’s popularity among older African Americans does not translate to younger black voters, who polls show prefer less traditional politics.
Seven-term Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC-1) - a former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus - formally endorsed Biden last week, telling the Associated Press, “He can connect with the average American — black, white or brown,” said Butterfield, arguing that [Sen. Bernie] Sanders and [Sen. Elizabeth] Warren could threaten Democrats’ prospects to defeat an unpopular Republican incumbent. “Warren and Sanders cannot win North Carolina,” Butterfield said, because their policies veer too far left. “I have great respect for both of them, but they cannot win North Carolina. Joe Biden can.”
Congressman Butterfield’s North Carolina colleague, Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC-12), has said that she will endorse the Democratic candidate who pledges to support historically black colleges and universities.
According to published reports, despite Butterfield’s view that Joe Biden is a politically safe Democratic candidate for president, it is exactly because Biden, 76, is a centrist, that younger voters dismiss him, even though he is well liked and regarded for serving under the nation’s first African American President Barack Obama for eight years.
Biden’s moderate positions on affordable healthcare, college debt, or tackling climate change, fly in the face of successful progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who defeated a 10-term moderate incumbent Democrat to win office in 2018.
“The future of the Democratic Party is clear, and Biden is in the way,” said Progressive.org in an April 2019 online article, “Why Joe Biden’s Centrism a Liability.”
And then, despite Biden’s proven popularity with older black voters, and his strong pronouncements against white supremacy, his history when it comes to matters of race raises questions, critics say.
Biden’s admission that, as a young U.S. senator from Delaware in the 1970’s, he sought compromise with virulently racist senators from the Deep South on several issues.
Indeed during their first 2-19 Democratic debate, opponent Sen. Kamala Harris confronted Biden on his stated opposition to school busing during the 1970s.
And Biden is also remembered as being a key sponsor of the 1994 Crime Bill, which many say helped to imprison a generation of black people wholesale.
With the Democratic primaries starting just months away, recent polls show Joe Biden still with a significant lead over closest rivals senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris, but that lead is faltering.
Still, Biden is garnering significant black establishment support, with two other former Congressional Black Caucus chairs, reps. Emmanuel Cleaver (D-Missouri) and Cedric Richmond (D-LA), also throwing their support to the former vice president.
They, like others, cite Joe Biden’s “electability,” and ability to defeat current Republican President Donald Trump.
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STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR 09-26-19
ALL THREE NC DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS MEMBERS
BACK IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] All three Democratic congressional members are now on record as to backing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s call Monday for a formal impeachment inquiry into Pres. Donald Trump’s actions pertaining to a July telephone call with the president of the Ukraine. According to a whistleblower, Trump allegedly tried to pressure the official for dirt on 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden. The president says he did nothing wrong. Reps. Alma Adams, G.K. Butterfield and David Price have now all backed Pelosi’s announcement. The formal inquiry is expected to look at not just that, but previous allegations of wrongdoing by Trump.
COOPER REQUEST MORE FEDERAL HURRICANE DORIAN AID
[WILMINGTON] Gov. Roy Cooper, after touring coastal damage by Hurricane Dorian on Monday, has asked Pres. Trump for additional federal assistance for New Hanover, Carteret, Dare, and Hyde. “We are working to get people who are recovering from Dorian the help they need,” the governor told reporters.. “Dorian’s flood waters and its winds damaged many homes, and we are requesting federal assistance to recover.” Cooper is asking for FEMA Individual Assistance, grants to residents who suffered damage.
STATE HIGHWAY PATROL DISMISSES ALLEGATIONS OF PROMOTIONS IMPROPRIETIES
[RALEIGH] The NC Highway Patrol has announced that despite allegations of improprieties with it’s promotions process, it will “move forward as is’ after not finding any evidence of such. The Patrol confirmed that an internal probe was underway July 28 after receiving a complaint that the process had been “compromised.” All promotions were temporarily suspended during the investigation. However, a graduate student at NC State University involved with proctoring the promotions tests, reportedly “prematurely released promotion scores and rankings.” That graduate student is no longer affiliated with the process.
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