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THE DUEL TO DECIDE THE FUTURE OF THE ST. ALBANS VA --

Veterans worry that their needs will be pushed aside

to make way for profitable development.

 

 

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The Duel To Decide Future Of Vets Facility

by Theresa Juva, Assistant Editor

The battle between federal officials and Queens veterans over what to do with portions of land continued on Tuesday during the final public hearing for the development of St. Albans Veterans Hospital.

There are definite plans for a new medical facility for veterans, but what to do with a 27-acre portion of the site is still being debated.

In 2003, the Department of Veterans Affairs conducted a nationwide assessment of veterans facilities and decided that St. Albans should be demolished and replaced with a new facility.

Rather than waiting for federal funding, officials opted for enhanced-use leasing, a process that would lease land to private developers to construct the new building and other facilities, said Ray Aalbue, spokesman for the VA hospital. The leases could last up to 75 years.

The 55-acre campus, a former World War II naval hospital before it became part of the Veterans Administration in 1974, contains vacant and underutilized buildings near Baisley Boulevard and the Long Island Rail Road. The development of this section of the campus is still a question mark.

Veterans worry that their needs will be pushed aside to make way for profitable development revenue that will never benefit veterans.

Councilman Leroy Comrie (D- St. Albans) and Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) have suggested using the land for a public school, assisted living facilities for seniors or a nursing school, while Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed expanding Roy Wilkins Park.

These suggestions have angered veterans, who say the property should be used exclusively for former service members. Officials should focus on improving the quality of care for veterans before dabbling in the interests of private developers, some veterans said on Tuesday.

World War II veteran Frank Pomarico takes small but steady steps with the help of a walker. During his month-long stay at St. Albans Veterans Hospital, there have been problems.

"The sheets are not changed," the former Bayside resident said. "It's gotten worse. The nurses don't seem to care."

Veteran Robert Johnson of Astoria arrived at St. Albans in March and moves through the hallways in a wheelchair. He said the shortage of staff has made his stay uncomfortable. He is skeptical of plans to put the future of veteran care in the hands of private developers.

The current facility can hold up to 386 beds, but only 230 are currently in use between the nursing home and domiciliary, where veterans are rehabilitated. The proposed new facility would house 220 beds, a size that veterans said is too small given the large number of soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Iraq veterans have tremendous healthcare issues," said Michael Porcaro of the Queens chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. "I think the vultures decided there's some easy money to make."

But Aalbue said the reduced size could change once the proposal process begins, and that officials want to give veterans a better version of existing services.

Pat Toro, president of Chapter 32 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, said it's not enough. "We've had hearings, and we've told them what we need and they don't listen to us," he said.

Veterans are calling for a hospice, an assisted living facility and a center for women veterans.

Karen Williams of the Office of Asset and Enterprise Management in the state Division of Veterans Affairs, assured veterans on Tuesday that their needs would be considered, and the land was not being lost.

"This is a lease," she said. "This is our property. We get to control the outcome. That's important."

Veterans pointed to the 40- or 50-year average lease term and said it would prevent the expansion of veteran services once leases are finalized.

Porcaro wondered why involvement of private businesses was even necessary and said the federal government should scrape together the funds.

"If we can build a hospital in Baghdad, and we can build an embassy, we can fund a hospice in St. Albans," he said.

The next step is a request for proposals from developers in July, followed by lease negotiations and congressional notification. Ground could be broken on preliminary construction as early as next spring.

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Larry Scott  --