Carol Chumney -- fresh off a Memphis mayoral loss to A C Wharton -- is fuming about The Commercial Appeal's coverage of The Regional Medical Center at Memphis.
The CA reported Thursday that The Med could pull the plug on its emergency room unless it is able to raise $32 million by Feb. 1 - news out of a Med board meeting that sent ripples through the city's medical community.
But Chumney is now saying that's old news. She first alerted the CA of The Med's vulnerable financial standing in September, she said.
In an angry e-mail to the CA's metro desk, Chumney questioned why the story didn't receive better play when she sent a press release detailing the Med's troubles on Sept. 10.
"Why wasn't it a front page story then?" Chumney wrote. "If we want integrity in government, we must have integrity in reporting the truth when it's known."
Chumney's press release had called for Wharton not to step down from the county until he resolved The Med's financial problems. She pointed out that the public hospital was in danger of closing its doors.
The release didn't specifically mention the possibility of closing the emergency room or put a dollar-figure on the hospital's need.
Update: Chumney has alerted the Eye on City Hall blog that she's been characterized inaccurately. In an e-mail, Chumney points out that she's not "fuming" about this, she's simply making an observation. "I wonder just what on earth about this e-mail says that I am "fuming" or "angry"?" Chumney writes. "I simply point out the truth and make an observation... And, for the record, as I said on election night, I am grateful for my 17 years in public service, to those who supported me in this election, and for all the wonderful people I met during the election. And, I certainly wish Mayor Wharton and his new team all the best. I also wish you and your colleagues at the CA the best too...And, I ask that in the future, let's drop the gender-biased labels with regard to me or any other woman in goverment (sic) or business as being "bitter" or "angry" when we simply make a point. It's oppressive and a disservice to women in the workplace everywhere."
She acts like it was some big secret. It has been known there are financial struggles there for a while now. The board just now put a dollar figure and date on it, so the CA reported it. She is just sounding bitter.
"The release didn’t specifically mention the possibility of closing the emergency room or put a dollar-figure on the hospital’s need."
Is it her job to write the story for you? She was pointing out a direct quote by AC Wharton in a magazine article. Why did no one at your publication think to ask Wharton about it? Granted, he likely would have done the same thing he did when one of the TV stations asked him--- Say "I don't know what she's talking about". But it would have been worthwhile to try.
Were it any other elected official, you guys would have looked into it yourselves. Instead, you let Otis's sycophantic man-crush on AC influence the paper's coverage.
Chumney's still bltching which is one reason she didn't get very many votes.
Seems like she's a bitter old lady.
You lost Carol, get over it. Run for City Council or County Mayor or Commission.
why dont you leave Carol Chumney alone? She is not bitching, she is not bitter. She is just sick of this bulls hit. She could have made a difference in this pathetic town. It is clear the Commercial noAppeal doesnt like her. She could have made a difference in this god forsaken city. So could Myron Lowery. With only a fraction of the voters actually voting, you get what you pay for. the same ol same ol. just more of the same as we had with Willie. OF COURSE THE COMMERCIAL no-APPEAL didnt write the MED article earler, it would have made their candidate look bad.
Memphrica, I agree! While Carol may come across as bitter, to some. She like so many is tried of the games played in Memphis. I personally did not vote for her this round, because I thought Lowery was doing a good job. I like Carol and have supported her in every other vote, but knowing this city as a whole, I knew she did not have a real good chance.:(
Since the med serves as a Regional Hospital, especially in the Trama Center, it's time for the surrounding states to pay their part.
Serving the area's poor,it definately needs to stay open because of the wait lines now in all the other hospitals in the city, or we will all wind up like that place in the California Hospital where the woman died on the floor of the waiting room.
The Med Er serves a large portion of the city/county, and needs to stay open, IF, this team brough in to clean the med up can't manage the system and have to close it, they need to be the first to go!
That the problem of this city now, we pay salaries like we have ton's of money flowing in left and right. When MAYBE a penny rolls along the floor once a month if that often. The people of this city are leaving and the poorer taxbase is not there, to collect from. So these city/county Administratiors need to learn to adjust with the rest of the people out here who are unemployed and scrapping to even eat and maintain a roof over their heads..
Memphrica, I agree! While Carol may come across as bitter, to some. She like so many is tried of the games played in Memphis. I personally did not vote for her this round, because I thought Lowery was doing a good job. I like Carol and have supported her in every other vote, but knowing this city as a whole, I knew she did not have a real good chance.:(
Since the med serves as a Regional Hospital, especially in the Trama Center, it's time for the surrounding states to pay their part.
Serving the area's poor,it definately needs to stay open because of the wait lines now in all the other hospitals in the city, or we will all wind up like that place in the California Hospital where the woman died on the floor of the waiting room.
The Med Er serves a large portion of the city/county, and needs to stay open, IF, this team brough in to clean the med up can't manage the system and have to close it, they need to be the first to go!
That the problem of this city now, we pay salaries like we have ton's of money flowing in left and right. When MAYBE a penny rolls along the floor once a month if that often. The people of this city are leaving and the poorer taxbase is not there, to collect from. So these city/county Administratiors need to learn to adjust with the rest of the people out here who are unemployed and scrapping to even eat and maintain a roof over thier heads..
I do remember reading about Chumney commenting on financial problems at the Med during the campaign. It would almost had to have been the CA website because I wasn't in Memphis for most of the campaign period. I didn't watch any of the televised debacles (uh, debates), but I did read about them on CA and friends Facebook comments.
I'm pretty certain that she's disappointed in her defeat but still wants the media attention. Maybe she'll get the message that her time in Memphis politics is OVER and fade into the background.
Chumney is just a sad person trying to cling on to media attention. She just doesn't get the fact that she is irrelevant.
I guess she thought the CA might tell the truth before the election of their hand-picked candidate. How naive can you get? Now the CA wants to convince their remaining readers that 60% of 25% equals a mandate. In the real world, the one the CA often ignores, 15% of the populace does not equal a mandate, but this is Memphis.