County May Sell New Hanover Regional Medical Center

 

(From PortCityDaily) The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners plans to vote at its September 3 meeting on whether to sell the New Hanover Regional Medical Center to a larger healthcare group. NHRMC is currently owned by New Hanover County and operated by a board of directors appointed by the Commissioners. The hospital board operates independently of the county and the non-profit which manages the system receives no tax dollars to support its operations, although much of NHRMC’s property is exempt from county property tax. 

 

County and Medical Center officials said privatizing the hospital could facilitate “adapting to changes in the industry while advancing health and wellness for area residents." Read more here. Skeptics are concerned that sale of the hospital to a larger for-profit corporation will result in higher prices for all, and declining services for poor and vulnerable residents. Read here: US News & World Report, What Happens When A Community Hospital Is Sold To A Large Corporation and here: When Hospitals Merge To Save Money, Often Pay More. According to Suzanne Delbanco, executive director of the Catalyst for Payment Reform, an employer-led healt care advocacy group quoted in the US News & World Report story "[t]he main motivation of for-profit companies is to grow so they can cut costs, get paid more and maximize profits. . . They are not as focused on improving access to care or the community's overall health." If the Commissioners decide to proceed with the sale, selection of a new owner and execution of an agreement could take more than a year. The County will hold two public forums in August to gather input on the idea. See the events calendar below for details. 

 

Statehouse Republicans Continue to Stonewall Budget Compromise

 

(From NCDEMS) It has been 20 days since Governor Roy Cooper offered his compromise budget and Republicans have yet to present a counter offer. In June Republicans proposed a budget that fails to do anything to make healthcare more accessible for working people. Governor Cooper vetoed that budget and proposed a compromise that includes Medicaid expansion, pay raises for North Carolina teachers and state employees and middle class tax cuts. Republicans now refuse to hold a vote or engage in good faith negotiations because they know they don’t have the votes to override Governor Cooper's veto.

New Hanover County Schools Face Lawsuit In Addition To Criminal Investigation 

 

On July 15th a three judge panel began the trial of Common Cause v. Lewis. That case challenged the partisan gerrymandering of NC House and Senate districts. Two New Hanover Democrats, Jim Nesbit and Derrick Miller, served as plaintiffs in that case and Derrick was one of the first witnesses to testify at the trial.

In the Lewis case, the plaintiffs (Common Cause and NCDP) asserted that partisan gerrymandering violates North Carolina's constitution. Lewis follows a successful lawsuit in Pennsylvania that relied on similar constitutional provisions.

The trial ended on time last Friday, and appears to have gone well for plaintiffs. The three judge court admitted computer files obtained from the daughter of deceased Republican consultant Thomas Hofeller, who has been called "the Michaelangelo of gerrymandering." An expert witness for the plaintiffs, Jowell Chen, told the court that based on his review of the computer files, Hofeller drew the maps before he received the criteria that he ostensibly guided his map-making. Chen also testified that Hofeller used data about the race of voters to draw the maps, despite public claims by the legislative defendants that racial criteria were strictly excluded. A defense expert attempted to contradict the testimony about the Hofeller files, but his testimony was thrown out after plaintiffs' counsel were able to demonstrate that the defense expert made fundamental errors in his analysis.

Although it is never wise to confidently predict litigation outcomes, it appears that the trial went very well for Common Cause, and that we may see significant redistricting of the NC legislature before the 2020 election. Defendants wil likely do their best to run out the clock to avoid redistricting before the election, a tactic that has served them well in the past.. The parties have until August 7 to file post trial memoranda, and the Court should rule soon thereafter.

​Watch this space for more because redistricting could substantially change House and Senate elections for the NC legislature in New Hanover County.

Debate Watch Parties

 

There are more Democratic presidential debates on Tuesday and Wednesday! See details on Watch Parties below.

 

When: Monday, July 29, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Where:  NHCDP Headquarters, 5041 New Centre Drive, Wilmington

 

The League of Women Voters will hold a presentation on "How to Get Fair Districts" in our conference room today.The League has done substantial research on districting reform efforts around the country, and will present their conclusions at this event. Our presenter will be Ted Fuller, a member of the League of Women Voters Fair Elections Action Team, and Emeritus Professor of Sociology from Virginia Tech University. Please mark your calendar.

 

Debate Watch Party -- July 30

When: Tuesday, July 30, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Where: Ironclad Brewery, 115 N. 2nd Street, Wilmington

 

Hosted by Precinct W25. Watch Party and Potluck, with Jim Nesbit speaking about the gerrymandering trial in Wake County that ended last Friday.

Dan McCready is running for the District 9 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in a September 11 special election. Local supporters for the Elizabethtown candidate can help by making calls to potential voters. Please RSVP to Jim Fleagle at (919) 426-3355 or [email protected] 

 

Join Marcia Morgan, candidate for State House District 19, and Leslie Cohen, candidate for State House District 20 and special guest Congressman Bob Etheridge for a social hosted by Now or Never NC..

 

 

When: Saturday, August 3, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Where: Meet at NHCDP Office parking lot, 5041 New Center Drive, Wilmington

Volunteers are canvassing in support of Dan McCready who is running in a special election September 10 for 9th District seat in the U.S. Congress. New Hanover volunteers will meet at the NHCDP Office to caravan to Elizabethtown, which is about an hour away.  For details, contact Jim Fleagle at (919) 426-3355 or [email protected]. Jim wants you to know that RSVP's are important so McCready organizers have the correct number of walk packets for canvassers. Also, you should consider lunch at Melvins, just around the corner. The Raleigh News & Observer says Melvin's makes the best and fastest burgers in the state, and has been doing so since 1938.

 

 

 

 

Support StepUp Wilmington at Wilmington Sharks Game -- August 3

 

When: Saturday, August 3, 7:05 p.m.

Where: Wilmington Sharks field, 2149 Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington

 

StepUp Wilmington is teaming up with the Wilmington Sharks baseball team to raise funds for StepUp's jobs program. Purchase tickets here and a portion of each $7 ticket will be shared with StepUp. StepUp Wilmington provides job training and job search assistance to local residents seeking help in improving their lives through employment. The Sharks will be playing the Fayetteville Swamp Dogs, and the Aug. game will also be "Back to School Night." 500 children attending the game will receive a school supply kit. What a great excuse to buy tickets for the whole family!

 

Presentation to Wilmington City Council on Air Quality -- August 6

 

Fundraising Reception in Support of Elaine Marshall, Secretary of State -- August 8 

 

When: Thursday, August 8, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Where: Home of Carol and Todd Atwood, 2009 Montrose Lane, Wilmington 

 

 Forum on Possible Sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center #1 -- August 19

 

When: Monday, August 19, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Where: Northeast Regional Library, 1241 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington

 

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners will seek input ahead of a September 3 meeting where the commission will discuss selling the county-owned medical Center.

 

 Forum on Possible Sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center #2 -- August 20

 

When: Tuesday, August 20, 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

Where: Senior Resource Center, 2222 South College Road, Wilmington

 

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners will seek input ahead of a September 3 meeting where the commission will discuss selling the county-owned medical Center.

 

Third Annual SOBAD Golf Tournament -- August 25 

 

When: Sunday, August 25, 9:00 a.m.

Where: Sandpiper Bay Country Club,  in Sunset Beach, NC.

 

Brunswick Democrats are hosting a Golf Tournament, and you are invited! Captain's Choice (Scramble) with three flights, men's, women's and mixed. The $75 entry fee includes lunch. Statewide candidates are expected to attend. Registration deadline is August 16. Contact Dwight Willis at [email protected] or 910-540-2614. 

 

Taco Monday Event for Leslie Cohen -- August 26

 

2019 NHCDP Unity Banquet With Chief Justice Beasley -- September 21

 

When: Saturday, September 21, 6 to 9 pm

Where: Wilmington Convention Center, 515 Nutt Street, Wilmington 

Keynote speaker: the Honorable Cheri Beasley, Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

 

To buy an Early Bird Ticket to the Unity Banquet for $75, click here.

 

To Sponsor the Unity Banquet and meet Chief Justice Beasley at a VIP Reception, click here.

 

Nominations sought for 2019 Unity Banquet Awards: Awards will be presented recognize the precinct of the year and two individuals who made outstanding contributions to the community over the last year. Please email nominations to [email protected] by Friday, August 2.  For specific criteria for the awards, click here.

 

Silent Auction Items Needed: Organizers of the silent auction are seeking donations of auction items. Please note that these contributions are not tax deductible for the contributor. All items must be submitted by August 31^st, and should be accompanied by an in-kind donation form, downloadable here. Please direct inquiries to Mary Melia at (973) 223-4976, or at [email protected].