Greeson: Green only color that matters in Thompson-Erlanger lawsuit

Jay Greeson

Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson, the former interim Erlanger CEO, is suing the hospital for being passed over for the full-time position.

She claims she was unfairly treated and her severance package was not as good as some other bigshots who left Erlanger.

For this, she says she needs $25 million.

Of course, Ms. Woodard-Thompson also is claiming race - she is black - had something to do with her not getting the job that ultimately went to Kevin Spiegel, who is white.

To say there is not racism is to pretend there are not problems and that we all are perfect. It's simply not true.

The color that ultimately matters between Woodard-Thompson and Erlanger hospital's board of trustees, who made the decision to hire Spiegel, at the time was green, as in cash money.

While Woodard-Thompson was at the helm, Erlanger lost money hand over scalpel - including a $4 million freefall in one month. With Spiegel at the wheel Erlanger is turning record-setting profits.

To be fair, Spiegel's job was likely made somewhat easier by some of the sacrifices Woodard-Thompson made, and maybe she deserved a better severance package than what she received.

That said, it's puzzling how the powers that be on each side allowed this to get to trial.

You be the judge.

Firing range

It's good to hear our powers that be have put a new firing range for our brave men and women in blue in their crosshairs.

And if you think a firing range is not that much of a priority, well, that's your right. That said, if my family ever needs a Chattanooga police officer or a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy and a gun is involved, here's praying their aim is true.

So, there's a committee looking at possible new locations for the shooting range. Here are a few ideas:

Maybe we could put it downtown on Broad Street? No, parking would be too much of a hassle.

Maybe we could put it near Miller Plaza, or would that derail that snazzy nouveau-retro artsy thing that is in the works?

Maybe we open near a mini-mall with a vaccination station, a pool hall, a speakeasy and the firing range.

We can call it Shots, Shots, Shots and more Shots.

Welcome y'all

This paper's ace business writer Mike Pare told us this week that Israeli medical operations are looking toward Tennessee in general and possibly Chattanooga specifically for future endeavors.

That's good news.

Gov. Bill Haslam visited Israel in late August and came away impressed.

One of the primary items mentioned was some equipment used at Erlanger to treat stroke victims that is created by Israeli companies.

Excellent. That said, let's make sure all the details are managed before we get completely in Dutch with another foreign conglomerate.

Pare's article mentioned that Chattanooga could be a low-cost entry point in our market and through federal regulatory testing.

More street pedaling

Yes, another hot-button issue, and another committee. (Holy buckets we have more committees than a sorority.)

This committee is looking at the tragic snarl that is the disaster of Third Street and Fourth Street near Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences.

That thoroughfare is to transportation engineering what the duckbill platypus is to zoology.

The committee is listening to ideas and gauging public input, which is code for pretending to listen right now so when they do what they are going to do they have plausible deniability.

That said, we're pretty sure everyone there had two questions:

First, how can we possibly have a road project and not include some form of bicycle lanes? Oh, the humanity. Think of the children.

And second, what in the world was Butch Jones thinking not going for two in the fourth quarter against Florida?

Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and 423-757-6343. His "Right to the Point" column appears on A2 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.