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VETERANS OBJECT TO CLOSING OF LIVERMORE VA
FACILITY -- "Dealing with the VA is the most
frustrating thing I've ever dealt with."
Livermore, California VA Facility
Story here...
http://www.contracostatimes.com/
mld/cctimes/news/16967996.htm
Story below:
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Vets object to closing of Livermore facility
By Dogen Hannah
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
PLEASANTON - Pleas to keep open a Department of Veterans Affairs medical
facility serving the Tri-Valley dominated a Saturday afternoon forum
hosted by Rep. Jerry McNerney.
Many of the two dozen or so people who attended the hour-long event to
discuss veterans issues told the Democratic congressman from Pleasanton
that the VA facility on the southern edge of Livermore is valuable
because it is close to where they live and provides great care.
"I use virtually every service they've got," said Martin Kenneally, a
60-year-old veteran from Pleasanton. "These guys are the best I've ever
seen."
The VA is considering closing at least part of the 115-acre Livermore
campus, which includes a hospital and nursing home, or improving and
expanding the facility. One option would be to move outpatient, nursing
home and other services to San Joaquin County.
Pleasanton resident Eugene Walls told McNerney that many Tri-Valley
veterans, many of whom are elderly, object to such a move because it
would require them to travel farther for care.
"It would put a hardship on me," the 62-year-old veteran said. "I'm
still fairly young, but I don't get around so well."
McNerney replied that he is opposed to moving services out of the
Tri-Valley area.
"In fact, I think we need to expand the Livermore VA facility," McNerney
said. "There's no reason we can't have a facility here and in the (San
Joaquin) Valley."
In an interview after the forum, the freshman congressman said he would
use his position on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs to fight for
the Livermore facility.
"I'm going to make it clear to the VA that it's unacceptable to close
the facility," McNerney said. "They should listen; Congress controls the
money."
Saturday's forum also included several relatives of veterans. They told
McNerney of their frustration with the VA bureaucracy.
Bridget Whittaker of Livermore said she and her sister had to pressure
VA officials to get proper care for their father, a paraplegic veteran.
Officials took an interest only after news broke about the poor
treatment of soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, she said.
"The care, when you receive it, can be very, very good," Whittaker said.
"It's very, very difficult to get into the system."
Veteran and Pleasanton resident Patricia Schmidt, whose deceased husband
also was a veteran, echoed Whittaker's complaint. Schmidt said she had
to wade through paperwork, red tape and perfunctory denials of requests
for services when she was arranging care for her husband.
"Dealing with the VA is the most frustrating thing I've ever dealt
with," Schmidt said.
McNerney pledged that he and his staff would help constituents having
trouble getting what they need from the VA.
"There's no excuse for that, for that sort of treatment," McNerney said.
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Larry Scott --
