DVA wastes millions on abandoned buildings
Jerry920 sends us a link to a Fox News story about the Department of Veterans Affairs wasting millions of dollars every year on buildings it can’t occupy and won’t fix;
Exactly how much it costs to maintain the run-down and abandoned buildings is a matter of dispute. The General Accountability Office estimates that the VA has spent $175 million every year since 2007. But the VA disputes that figure, saying it spent $85 million on the buildings in 2007 and only $37 million last year.
Get that? “Only” 37 million bucks last year. So given the best case scenario, they wasted enough money to pay more than 1200 people $30k each last year to fix those buildings…or tear the things down.
VA blames complicated federal property rules. Like they’ve never broken other rules to shortcut quality treatment of veterans, but when it comes to being useful or saving some money that could help veterans, they’re suddenly hamstrung by rules.
It’s not entirely Shinseki’s fault, but if he’s really for the veterans like he’s claimed since day one on the job, he should fix this as expeditiously as possible and put that money to work for veterans.
I’m not holding my breath.
Category: Veteran Health Care
I am totally pleased with the level and quality of care that I get at the Joint Ambulatory Care Clinic here in Pensacola; but shit like this can jeopardize that. I think it is foolish for anyone to sell off assets, but are these assets? They are one hell of a liability, and can do nothing less than take funds away from the good things the VA does. And, who in hell up there let these buildings deteriorate to this level anyway? Management? Bureaucracy? Congress? Notice that I put the most likely culprit last?
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Did you happen to notice how many of the buildings are historical landmarks that can’t be torn down? It was quite a few.
This story irritated me so much, such a waste. So is the waste to spend 6 million to study why the military turns to drugs and alcohol post deployments, I think we know the reasons this happens. Disgusting waste of money to keep researchers and bureaucrats in work. A lot of families and Veterans could be helped w/that 6 million. Hell, the 6 million could be used to repair these buildings and make housing for homeless Vets w/enough leftover to feed them, hire staff, help them find jobs, get treatment etc.
Mew, so many more people stay in the service these days than in mine. Nobody gave a crap to study why so many of us turned to drugs and alcohol after coming home to the hate of our peers and the indifferance by almost everyone else.
Having spent almost 30 years working either for the VA or DOD I have welcomed more money for GOOD studies to help military families. I’ve seen more waste though then really pertinant stuff. You are so right though, it doesn’t take an expensive study to figure out why people get drunk and do drugs after a combat deployment. Most of these studies are proposed by college professors looking to increase their publication status to get or maintain tenure.
Honor and Courage
What about the millions wasted on disability claims? I’ve met countless guys who say, “Oh, I’m getting 70%, 75%, etc disability for PTSD, shaving bumps, ringing in my ears.” They make half that stuff up to get a bogus gov’t payment for the rest of their life and then laugh about it, which I think is wrong. When I picture someone who is receiving 75% disability from the gov’t, I definitely don’t picture a perfectly able body individual who’s making six figures as a gov’t contractor.
Sabrina is the greatest!?!
Jean
(Came over here, because “here” was listed under “RECENT COMMENTS”)
Department Of Veteran Affairs — ??
How about the GSA (General Services Administration) ??
Have they not custody of more than a few gov’t buildings ??
Have they not been exposed in recent months ??
(Obviously, this thread or post was begun long before that exposure.)
Guys, what you have to remember is the administrators are professional bureaucrats. Having worked for municipal government for 25+ years, I’ve seen this very thing! The Public Works “HQ building” has been vacant since 2009 yet the city stills pays for it’s up keep and still pay for a lobby security guy. The entire building is EMPTY!!! I cannot/will not condone their practices but I can , at least, understand them…sorta.