"Bay Area veterans and elected officials held a news conference Monday to denounce an announcement from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that it intends to terminate plans to build a VA health care facility and columbarium at Alameda Point, citing severe consequences that would result. The announcement comes after a decade-long wait for the project, which was intended to provide vital physical and mental health care services, and a final resting place closer to home for tens of thousands of Bay Area veterans."
"Last week, a formal letter of concern signed by Bay Area U.S. Reps. Lateefah Simon and Nancy Pelosi and California's U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff was sent to VA Secretary Douglas Collins demanding substantiation for the announced decision. Monday's speakers called the decision unacceptable and irresponsible and demanded that the VA reverse its decision. We are not turning our backs on you, Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft said to veterans. You didn't turn your backs on this country."
"This is not a partisan issue. This is about the health and well-being of our veterans and the dignity that we pay to those who take their last breaths and want to be buried in a VA cemetery or columbarium. In 2014, 624 acres of the former Naval Air Station Alameda was transferred from the U.S. Navy to the VA for a new One VA health care clinic and columbarium."
Local veterans, elected officials and the Alameda mayor publicly condemned the VA decision to terminate plans for a health care facility and columbarium at Alameda Point. The project had awaited development for a decade and sought to provide outpatient physical and mental health services and a closer final resting place for Bay Area veterans. Congress approved $395 million for a 158,000-square-foot outpatient center, benefits service center and columbarium designed to serve veterans for the next century. The site included 624 acres transferred from the Navy in 2014, with remaining land reserved for endangered California least terns and other bird species. Officials demanded substantiation and a reversal.
Read at www.eastbaytimes.com
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