PHOENIX – Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego is being criticized for recent statements she made that some allege are “false and misleading” about the COVID-19 health situation in Arizona. Gallego’s fellow City Council member Sal DiCiccio has charged that Gallego’s claims are part of a fight she is waging against the Trump administration.
It’s unfortunate PHX is picking a fight during a crisis with the fed govt when they’ve done so much to help us. Fact: the feds sent PHX $293 million for COVID. PHX squandered it. Very little was used for testing but MILLIONS went to hand outs for arts & liberal activist groups. pic.twitter.com/RMAPNgfgss
— Sal DiCiccio (@Sal_DiCiccio) July 8, 2020
The seemingly partisan attack caught the attention of physician and Chair of the AZGOP, Dr.Kelli Ward as well. “It is irresponsible and dangerous for Mayor Gallego to be spreading lies and misinformation during a public health crisis, and Phoenix residents deserve better,” said Ward in a tweet. “Maybe she should spend less time booking national TV interviews for herself and more time getting the facts straight.”
It is irresponsible and dangerous for @MayorGallego to be spreading lies and misinformation during a public health crisis, and Phoenix residents deserve better. Maybe she should spend less time booking national TV interviews for herself and more time getting the facts straight.
— Dr. Kelli Ward ?? (@kelliwardaz) July 9, 2020
According to her critics, Gallego inaccurately asserted on cable news that Arizona “medical professionals don’t have the resources they need” and that they are “being asked to make difficult decisions” to decide “who lives and who dies.”
In fact, “health care officials say they are not to the point where they will need to move into crisis care mode,” according to the Arizona Republic. Banner Health say they “have adequate beds, staffing, equipment, supplies and medications at this time.”
Ward noted in a tweet that Gallego even caught the attention of Admiral Brett P. Giroir, Assistant Secretary for Health:
MORE: @HHS_ASH responds to Mayor Gallego’s false claims about insufficient federal support.
“It was clear to me that Phoenix was not in tune with everything the state was doing…it really pains me when somebody says the federal government isn’t doing anything.” pic.twitter.com/JEF4XNZabO
— Arizona Republican Party (@AZGOP) July 9, 2020
Primarily at issue is Gallego’s recent appearances on national new programs in which she has claimed that not enough testing is being done.
Today Maricopa County reported a #COVID19 positivity rate of 28.8%. We have seen testing sites where people have waited for more than 8 hours in 110 degree heat to get tested. This is unacceptable. AZ needs more testing and contract tracing to #SlowtheSpread. https://t.co/zDItm81pCn
— Mayor Kate Gallego (@MayorGallego) July 6, 2020
Well over 800,00 tests have been conducted in Arizona since March.