Local lawmakers and veterans advocates are smarting over concerns their counterparts in Eastern Massachusetts are raising over regional equity amid a debate over a new, $400 million Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.
During a lengthy hearing Tuesday before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administration and Regulatory Oversight, some argued the price tag was too high to spend on one project in Western Massachusetts while more veterans live in other parts of the state — namely Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable counties.
Detractors cited previous academic studies tracking declining numbers of veterans, and recommendations to move away from institutional care that were never acted upon. Senate Committee co-Chairman Marc Pacheco and other lawmakers also wondered about regional equity since the state’s two soldiers’ homes are located in Chelsea and Holyoke. Chelsea received a greenlight for a $200 million new facility in 2018.
State officials and advocates for the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home have been hurtling toward an April deadline to secure $260 million in federal reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, also chairman of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal affairs, bristled over the suggestion that Holyoke is getting preferential treatment.
“In 2018, I don’t recall anybody from Western Massachusetts, or anywhere else, coming out and saying we shouldn’t do Chelsea,” Velis said. “For people to come up with these 11th-hour reasons and these studies, which, oh by the way, have existed for several years, is disingenuous and misguided.”
“And, if someone wants to have a conversation about regional equity, it starts here in Western Massachusetts,” Velis added, referring to the long-held impression that state government favors cities and towns east of I-495.
Pacheco repeatedly clarified that he is not suggesting Holyoke does not deserve financial and legislative support.
The great loss of life at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home during the pandemic generated a groundswell of support from the Baker administration and the federal government.
Former Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Superintendent Paul Barabani was among dozens who testified before the committee Tuesday, reminding members of the “gruesome” milestone coming up along with pressing federal funding deadlines bearing down.
“You want to talk numbers? Let’s talk about 77 veterans dead at the home. That’s the better number to think of,” said Barabani, who retired in 2016 over frustrations the state was ignoring staffing shortages and other problems at the facility.
Barabani and his former deputy, John Paradis, lead the grassroots Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition formed in the wake of the outbreak. The group has been a driving force behind the campaign for the new facility.
The death toll at the Soldiers’ Home began its climb just about a year ago and progressed at breathtaking speed. At least 76 veterans died after contracting COVID-19 at the state-run facility between March and June of 2020 and another died at Holyoke Medical Center; many more were sickened. Dozens of staff also fell ill with the virus.
Among the surprise detractors Tuesday was Jesse Flynn, a statewide representative for Disabled American Veterans, who argued the state should pump the brakes in favor of spreading dollars more widely to support veterans across the state. But, fellow DAV member and Purple Heart recipient Sgt. Brian Willette, of South Hadley, clapped back.
“That’s something I take personally. For the organization to change gears from their wholehearted support of Chelsea two years ago … They’re not keeping their promise,” Willette said, referring to the organization’s motto, “Keep the Promise,” on behalf of all veterans.
Willette called the pushback “unexpected” and said the Holyoke proposal is a “no-brainer,” shovel-ready project.
As proposed, the new Holyoke Soldiers’ Home would be an eight-floor facility with primarily private rooms, more open spaces, an adult day health center and other amenities. In addition to questionable management decisions as the virus took root in the home, experts have said the facility’s cramped design was a factor in the outbreak.
The new home will have the capacity to serve 235 veterans — an increasing number of whom are expected to be women, amputees who’ve served multiple combat tours and those suffering from the emotional tolls of battle.
Cheryl Turgeon, of East Longmeadow, lost her father, Korean War veteran Dennis Thresher, as the pandemic wore on and he developed pneumonia. She also offered testimony on Tuesday, leading hers by presenting a photo montage of men and women who died after contracting COVID-19 at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. Turgeon asked for a moment of silence before she began to speak about her family’s experience.
“This didn’t happen on a battlefield. This didn’t happen in a war zone. This happened in Holyoke. This happened to us, and our loved ones,” Turgeon testified.
The committee is expected to debate the bond bill internally and report its recommendations soon, before the proposal moves on to a bonding committee, the Ways and Means Committee, both legislative chambers and on to the governor.