ST. LOUIS — The temporary closure of Homer G. Phillips Memorial Hospital in north St. Louis has touched off a big firestorm.
From concerned neighbors to 14th Ward Alderman Rasheen Aldridge to City Hall, everyone is weighing in on the hospital's sudden announcement Tuesday it was shutting down after opening just 11 months ago.
A majority of the hospital's employees are now furloughed.
"I think not having that hospital there would have a great impact on the area," neighbor Dayah Rice said. "It is convenient to have that place there so where people won't have to go to Barnes on South Kingshighway. If they have even just a small emergency, that place is there for them. Not to mention so many people who don't have transportation, it may be walking distance for them."
"We do need some level of health care attention in north St. Louis, " Alderman Rasheen Aldridge said.
The hospital says it's temporarily shutting its doors "due to a blood shortage." State officials confirmed the hospital does not have a reliable blood supply.
"I don't believe the hospital," Aldridge said.
Instead, Aldridge thinks the shutdown was the result of multiple employees not receiving their paychecks as of last Friday.
"I think there's more to this story, and I don't think the hospital is being honest and genuine," Aldridge said.
In a statement released Wednesday, Mayor Tishaura Jones said in part, "My thoughts are with the workers unjustifiably impacted by this sudden closure."
Jones also said, "The closure of this hospital right before the holidays represents another failure from Bob Clark and Paul McKee, two developers whose reckless disregard for our city continues to impeded needed progress on the north side."
Developer Bob Clark fired back with his own statement sent to 5 On Your Side, saying in part, "The mayor's comments are reckless and dishonest, in that, she knows that I have never had any involvement whatsoever with Paul McKee's northside development, the hospital development or any other residential developments in the city."
For decades, the original hospital, named after the late Homer G. Phillips, a prominent attorney and civil rights advocate, made a difference in the city's Ville Neighborhood. Now, many hope the scaled-down medical facility recovers.
"And whatever the reason may be that's causing that temporary closure that it will be resolved," Rice said.
5 On Your Side also reached out to Developer Paul McKee for comment and has yet to hear back.
On Thursday, members of Homer G. Phillips Nurses, Incorporated and Change The Name Coalition plan to hold a news conference outside of the hospital.