Castle Point VA is a decision, not a plan

Local officials, vets disappointed with VA plan to move services from Montrose to Castle Point

By SUSAN ELAN AND BRIAN HOWARD
THE JOURNAL NEWS


(Original publication: October 23, 2007)
MONTROSE - Local veterans and government officials are expressing disappointment over a federal decision to transfer some medical services from the Montrose Veterans Affairs hospital to Castle Point in Fishkill.


At the same time, they are expressing cautious optimism that a local plan backed by Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano for a veterans village with housing, shopping, medical care and training may win approval from VA officials in Washington, D.C.


Gordon H. Mansfield, acting secretary of Veterans Affairs, announced late last week that he would support an advisory panel's recommendation to transfer 105 nursing home beds and 70 psychiatric beds from Montrose to Castle Point.


Remaining at Montrose are 21 beds for treating veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, 42 beds for substance-abuse treatment and 53 for homeless veterans struggling with psychological and social disorders, said Nancy Winter, a regional VA spokeswoman. The plan also calls for construction of a multi-specialty outpatient center at Montrose and the modernization of the Castle Point campus.


Dan Griffin, executive director of Vietnam Veterans of America for Westchester County, said yesterday that he feared the Montrose outpatient center might never get built because the VA lacks money.


"Veterans will lay down in front of the bulldozers if the VA starts bulldozing existing buildings before the new buildings are up and running," Griffin said.
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We've all witnessed the devastating consequences of making decisions without having plans in place. Six years of combat operations in two nations without making good plans to care for the wounded are proof of this kind of action. Making a move like this is like deciding to be rich, moving your family out of an apartment, into a mansion without having a clue how to pay for it. You end up losing the mansion and the apartment.

Think about why these veterans are in Montrose, then think about what this is doing to them. None of this is good for them.