Selective Coverage by the El Paso Times

As many of you know, the El Paso Times has been focused on Larry Romero and his questionable activities as a city representative. The local newspaper has gone so far as to publish an editorial asking for Romero to step down. You likely know that I am not fan of Bob Moore’s brand of journalism but the fact remains that the paper’s focus on Larry Romero is good for the community. Unfortunately, it is a selective type of journalism where certain individuals are focused upon while others are ignored.

I like to point out problems via facts. Today, we know, for a fact, that the El Paso Children’s Hospital has been a financial drain on the taxpayers. We also know that it is the taxpayers that are footing the bill for the second attempt at identifying a viable business model for the children’s hospital.

However you may feel about the children’s hospital, I believe it is fair to state that everyone would like to have the best possible individuals on the reconstituted children’s hospital board to ensure that it is successful this time around. The children’s board has been criticized for the way it handled the bankruptcy.

We can also assume that El Paso has many individuals, likely hundreds, if not thousands, that have expertise in large budgets, medical establishments and willingness to serve the community on an important board, such as the El Paso Children’s Hospital.

I just cannot believe that in a city with a population of about 674,000 (2013) that one of the four candidates appointed by the UMC board to serve on the children’s board is the best that could be found.

Many of you might remember that current UMC board member, Miguel Fernandez, was arrested on September 17, 2015 for driving while intoxicated. Fernandez has faced at least two other cases in El Paso for traffic violations that were at least classified as misdemeanors. In the DWI case (20150C10245), Fernandez has contracted criminal defense attorney Joe Spencer to defend him in the DWI case.

Yes, I know that everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence. However, in this case, he is still serving as a UMC board member only to be given additional responsibilities with the reconstituted board of the El Paso Children’s Hospital, while facing criminal charges.

Is it really possible that in El Paso there are no other candidates able to serve in this capacity?

Of course it makes more sense understanding this when you notice that the local newspaper, the El Paso Times, publishes an editorial on December 2, 2015 congratulating the UMC board for putting “forward four strong nominees to serve on the El Paso Children’s Hospital board.”

Although the El Paso Times tacitly acknowledges that it leases office space from Miguel Fernandez, there is still the question of why the El Paso Times does not bother to point out the arrest or question the appointment.

A frequent reader recently commented that anyone else with a DWI would have been “Romeroed” by the El Paso Times. Obviously the reader is alluding to the significant amount of effort that the El Paso Times has put into Larry Romero while ignoring the $22 million gaff and the DWI arrest of an appointee to the children’s board.

As I frequently point out, the El Paso Times selectively targets individuals to scrutinize while ignoring others. Maybe Larry Romero should have given Bob Moore some office space to avoid being scrutinized by the paper for his activities.