Letters to the Editor

Editor:

We are surprised by the tone of your front page article in the October issue describing the relationship between some residents in the Richmond District and the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

The San Francisco VA Medical Center, in fact, is working closely with representatives of a coalition of neighborhood groups on many issues of mutual concern. Additionally, we have maintained open and positive communication with the SF Planning Department and political representatives from our district.

We value the close relationship with our community groups and have established a recurring quarterly meeting to brief them on our facility activities and to receive their input.

Contrary to the October article, the San Francisco VA Medical Center is in the process of complying with the National Historical Preservation Act, which is the prevailing federal regulatory statute, and we are in consultation with the State Historical Preservation Office. We are well aware of the unique history and beauty of our site and take seriously our responsibility to protect and enhance it. In fact, we are engaging a consultant to help us with the complex process of applying for status on the National Registry of Historical Places.

The SF VA Medical Center has been at its current site since it was first built in 1934. For nearly 70 years we have remained devoted to our mission to provide the very best health care to America's military veterans. Another of our important missions is to be a ready resource in the event of national emergency. We are committed to this mission and it is important to note that we are the only large health care facility in the Outer Richmond.

As a long-time Richmond District resident, the San Francisco VA Medical Center sees its role as a partner with community groups to ensure that the Outer Richmond is as good a place to live and work. In that regard, we believe that we are and can remain a valuable community resource for the neighborhood.

Sheila M. Cullen
V.A. Medical Center

Editor:

I am writing to correct factual errors in Carol Dimmick's article, "Coalition Threatens to Halt VA Research Center."

I am quoted in the article, but named as Dan Burns rather than David Burns.

As well, my retaining wall has bowed out five inches, not five feet as stated in the article. This is alarming because it occurred over a short time during the VA's construction activity, and the wall had been stable for many years before that construction. Any further subsidence from the VA's property onto mine will probably cause the wall to collapse.

David L. Burns

Editor:

The Richmond neighbors of the Veterans Administration hospital are showing their real patriotism when they continuously "fight" everything the VA does to help and serve veterans. Over the years it has been one thing after another.

The medical research facility is vital and critical right now - not only for sick veterans, but for all of us in this time of germ warfare by terrorists.

For these groups - the Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR), People for a Golden Gate National Recreation Area (PFGGNA), Fort Miley Homeowners and Residents Association (FMHRA) and the Lincoln Neighborhood Association (LPNA) - to fight the VA to stop the building of this facility is un-American in every sense of the word. To use the worn-out excuse that the medical research facility would cause more traffic, noise, less parking (a study on these three complaints would settle this argument forever) in view of the greater good the facility would provide for everyone makes their true agenda suspect.

I urge the entire City (especially veteran organizations) to join the VA in fighting the above groups in their sour-grapes effort to destroy the best Veterans Administration hospital in the San Francisco area.

Mary Taylor

Editor:

In your article entitled "Coalition Threatens to Halt VA Research Center," you failed to include the most important objection to these selfish community groups and that is any expansion will lower property values. That's the bottom line - neighbors don't want anything that might diminish the value of their property but they haven't relied yet on that argument.

Those so-called community groups ought to spend a day at the VA hospital walking around the waiting rooms and see the many disabled veterans who are there who gave their time, energy and health in the service and defense of America.

We live in a crowded city with noise, pollution, traffic problems and all the things associated with urban living. The VA is located in a unique place and expansion surely wouldn't reach all the neighborhoods claiming to be affected.

Rather than oppose expansion for medical research, the neighbors should be thankful that there is such a place as the Veteran's Administration Hospital to serve all American veterans.

Andrew J. Betancourt