NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER METRO NOVEMBER 25-DECEMBER 1, 2009 A5
Tyler Perry
Hospital closing spurs standoff
Courier honors
gives $1M
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something like this takes place this isn’t
to NAACP
something that happens overnight. So
they have known, but they decided not to Men of Excellence
share this with the community or even
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their employees.”
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all,” Bond said.
The hospital employs 652 people, 70 of pressed their gratitude for being noticed. Sev-
“Tyler Perry exemplifies
whom are Braddock residents. Jones also eral awardees also said it was especially impor-
an unyielding commitment
said the hospital serves as an economic tant to be recognized by the Black community
to uplifting and bringing
hub for the borough and its closing could and an African-American newspaper in particu-
hope to the disenfranchised
hurt surrounding businesses. lar.
and those less fortunate,”
“They have been promised jobs at other “I grew up in Pittsburgh my whole life and
said Benjamin Todd Jeal-
UPMC hospitals, but these jobs are not the Courier is huge to me so it was a hum-
ous, president and CEO of
comparable with the jobs they’ve had,” bling honor that I was selected,” said hon-
the NAACP. “Both in his
Jones said. “The borough itself would oree Chuck Sanders. “The African-American
films and in his life, he re-
lose a great deal of money from the hos- community, period, has shown a lot of love to
flects an impressive ethos of
pital closing.” me.”
caring and conscientious-
UPMC has said their reasoning for clos- “Anytime you can get recognized by an Afri-
ness. We are deeply grate-
ing the hospital is because the facility is can-American paper, it’s an honor,” said hon-
ful for his support.”
being underutilized. However, Jones said oree Sean Gibson. “I’m thankful to the Courier
“I feel so honored and
these statements are not true, specifi- for recognizing my work with the Josh Gibson
blessed to be in a position
cally referencing to the mental health Foundation.”
where I can give to the
and detox, which have waiting lists. This year, the Courier added two special
NAACP.” Perry said. “Had
“A lot of the residents who rely on the honors to their list. One was in recognition
it not been for the persever-
hospital are senior citizens. The hospital of Dee Thompson, a former general assign-
ance and vision of the thou-
does not just serve the community of ment reporter for WPXI-TV who recently re-
sands who came before me
Braddock, as they would have you be- tired in September. Thompson served the
in the 100 years of this leg-
lieve,” Jones said. “The numbers they
DRESS UP—From left: Lisa White, Israel Wright, Destiny
community for 35 years, providing coverage
endary organization, I
have given to justify the closing are not
Naletta, Egypt Wight and John Wight dress up as nurses, doc-
on a variety of topics from sports to weather
would not be in the position
realistic. They have adjusted those num-
tors, patients at UPMC Braddock to protest the hospital closing.
to news.
I am in today. I continue to
bers to meet their needs.” Another special recognition was given to
be thankful for the tireless
Allegations have also been made that UPMC’s mands for UPMC’s services from patients and police officer Eric Guy Kelly, who was killed
work of the NAACP, and I
decision was born out of the decision to build fa- physicians in that area,” Wood said. “Already 80 in the April standoff in Stanton Heights
am proud to be able to help
cilities in Monroeville. However, UPMC spokes- to 90 patients per day are choosing to travel after responding to a call when he was off-
in their mission to fight for
man Paul Wood said the cause of underutiliza- from the Monroeville area for treatment at our duty. Allegheny County Jail Warden Ramon
the equality of all people,
tion at the Braddock hospital is because many hospitals in the Oakland area, which are at or Rustin, a fellow honoree, accepted the
and to work towards the
area residents are already visiting facilities in near full capacity. Braddock area residents are award on behalf of his fallen colleague who
elimination of discrimina-
other areas. coming to our Oakland-based hospitals for the served with the Pittsburgh Police Depart-
tion against race.”
“The decision to close UPMC Braddock was same reasons as Monroeville area residents and ment for 14 years.
“This is a paradigm shift-
made solely as a result of continuing declining why shouldn’t they have access to highly spe- “I think it’s great to be recognized for the
ing moment in Black phi-
community utilization of the facility and is inde- cialized clinical expertise by some of the best work that we do in the criminal justice sys-
lanthropy. Here is a civil
pendent of any plans to build a new hospital in physicians available anywhere?” tem,” Rustin said. “I’m especially thankful to
rights organization that is
Monroeville. UPMC Monroeville is not sched- Wood dismissed concerns regarding employ- be in the company of the other men who are
receiving a donation that is
uled to open until 2012 to meet the growing de- ees, highlighting how several have already been all strong leaders in our city.”
usually targeted only at ed-
successfully transferred to other facilities. He This year’s list encompassed a wide range of
ucation or cultural institu-
also explained that those being transferred professions from presidents and CEOs to edu-
tions. Tyler Perry is setting
would retain their pensions and insurance. cators and community activists. The men rep-
a high standard for others
“UPMC did not cut jobs to save costs or to re- resent the best of what African-American
to follow,” said Maxim
duce losses—if the closure of UPMC Braddock males have to offer and many said they hope
Thorne, senior vice presi-
was about anything other then the facility’s un- their achievements serve as inspiration to
dent of the NAACP.
derutilization, UPMC would not have taken the Pittsburgh’s young men.
steps it has to preserve jobs,” Wood said. “It’s “I think it’s really special in the sense that
still very early in the process, just five weeks the perception of African-American males
Correction
after the announcement, but full- and part-time has been so downgraded,” said honoree
employees whose transfers to other UPMC facil- Oscar Worthy. “It’s an honor to be able to
ities have been completed are seeing, on aver- stand up and accept an award and become a
In last week’s 50 Men
age, an increase of more than five percent. This role model for my character and hard work.
of Excellence special sec-
is due to many factors, including shift changes Character lasts forever, talent comes and
tion, Marc Little’s title
and where they may be transferring to, and it goes.”
and company were listed
certainly should not be construed as indicative The evening’s emcee was WPXI/PCNC-TV
incorrectly. Mr. Little is PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO
of what will happen to each individual full- or news reporter Timyka Artist. The reception’s
President/CEO of the
part-time employee as the process continues.” sponsors were University of Pittsburgh Medi-
Minority & Women Edu-
PUBLIC OUTCRY—Wanda Sawyer, senior pastor of
UPMC has offered to donate the Braddock build- cal Center, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield,
Emmanuel Baptist Church, speaks out at a meeting
cational Labor Agency.
held by Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato Nov.
ing to the city, however, many do not want to con- Urban Settlement Services LLC, Macedonia
We regret the error.
16.
sider other options for the building until they have Baptist Church, Eat’n Park, Geneva College
done everything possible to prevent the closure. and Real Times Media.
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