A town hall meeting at a Philadelphia VA hospital is getting heated.
Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Tricia L. Nadolny is at the meeting:
The #VATownHall at the Philly #VA hospital is starting now. About 55 are people here.
— Tricia L. Nadolny (@TriciaNadolny) September 10, 2014
Speaker No. 1 is a patient at the hospital: "The government is so slow and yet they're so fast at giving out benefits." #VATownHall
— Tricia L. Nadolny (@TriciaNadolny) September 10, 2014
"The gov't can spend millions to fight a war. … But we don't have enough money to hire professionals to treat our veterans." #VATownHall
— Tricia L. Nadolny (@TriciaNadolny) September 10, 2014
The tone at the #VATownHall is pretty heated. It was billed as a Q&A, but mostly vets are using the time to vent instead of asking Q's.
— Tricia L. Nadolny (@TriciaNadolny) September 10, 2014
Moderator to vet: "I'm sorry if that's been your experience."
Audience echoes: "It's been everybody's!"
People are jumping for the mic.— Tricia L. Nadolny (@TriciaNadolny) September 10, 2014
Emotions are boiling over. Admin asks for respect. "I have no respect when you disrespect me in this hospital," vet screams.
— Tricia L. Nadolny (@TriciaNadolny) September 10, 2014
As tensions rise, they are ending the #VATownHall early. It's scheduled until 4. But they are saying it's time for the media availability.
— Tricia L. Nadolny (@TriciaNadolny) September 10, 2014
So much for ending the town hall early. Another vet has grabbed the mic and is sharing his story.
— Tricia L. Nadolny (@TriciaNadolny) September 10, 2014
People not OK w/ admins just listening. Daughter of vet: "It is 1 thing to be empathetic and sympathetic. But someone has to have a plan."
— Tricia L. Nadolny (@TriciaNadolny) September 10, 2014
It doesn’t sound as if those running the meeting wanted to take the time to hear from everybody:
Town hall is over. A lot didn't get to talk. Admins promised to hold more events. Vets ask for them to be in the community, not @ hospital.
— Tricia L. Nadolny (@TriciaNadolny) September 10, 2014
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