TO: Honorable Board of Supervisors, County of Mendocino
FROM: Don Shanley, Philo, CA 95466
RE: Opposition of proposed move of Veterans Service Office from Observatory Ave to 1120 S. Dora, Rooms 310, 311
Thank you for the opportunity to voice both my complete opposition to this ill-advised move decision and to request the BOS place this matter on a future agenda for consideration.
My name is Don Shanley and I am a 50 plus year resident of Mendocino County as well as a veteran who served as an infantry Lieutenant rifle platoon commander in the US Marines from 1967-1970. I was honorably discharged a Captain in 1970 but it was over 25 years later when I checked in with the Mendocino County Veterans Service Office to address the residual effects of a bullet wound I suffered on Hill 861A, Khe Sanh, Vietnam in February 1968. The VA system’s “point man” was the Mendocino County Veteran’s Service Office where personnel advised, ordered medical evaluations and established an administrative path forward to obtain VA benefits. I stress how grateful I am for the care and attention of our local Veterans Service Office, the Ukiah VA Clinic and the San Francisco Veteran’s Hospital, Fort Miley.
I submit that the present 405 Observatory Ave Veterans Service Office location is a critical tool for the accomplishment of the VA mission to assist men and woman veterans who have served our nation honorably and are entitled to benefits many vets are reluctant to seek. The pleasant home setting is welcoming and calm. The Veteran Service Representative, Michelle Smith, meets veterans in a spacious entry room full of displayed VA benefit literature and posters, listens to their issues and escorts them into her office with a large window and bright natural light. It is not unusual for Michelle to greet 200 or more vets in a month. These are “WALK-INS” with no appointments. The VA in Washington DC reports that over 75% of initial Vet/VA contacts are “WALK-INS” and not scheduled appointments.
Today, January 8th I visited the proposed new location behind a huge sign at the back of a parking lot “Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, Alcohol & Other Drug Services/Mental Health” sign at 1120 S. Dora. Despite entertainment media hyperbole, veterans are neither societal casualties nor “suckers & losers” as our former US President labeled our military wounded and killed. Should a veteran first find this office location, then enters the building he or she approaches a thick glass window with a small “voice cut-out” and informs the desk person why he/she is there. The veteran is then escorted through a door down a hallway to rooms #310, 311—two tiny, 10X10, windowless, drab cells with barely room for a desk & computer station, certainly no room to maneuver a wheelchair in which veterans often arrive. Once inside the closed door the closeness is not only claustrophobic but for the service representative, Michelle Smith there is no security, one way in and out unlike her current office that supports a backdoor to another room. Unlike the label on Michelle’s desk today, “Return to Storage” let’s not do the same with Michelle! the only service rep doing the work of the mandated two representatives. Should her additional help arrive there isn’t even room for three when office veteran director Ulyses Lopez arrives from the Fort Bragg office.
I understand that Mendocino County doesn’t have the funds for the additional help the one current representative needs but when I was informed County Air Quality would take over the Observatory Vet office location I was struck speechless, baffled! Burn permits and smoky diesel engines? “Today is a burn day!” the message machine declares. Whoever made this decision is kidding, I thought. Permission to burn piles of forest slash and vineyard prunings takes precedent over the lives and welfare of combat veterans? Then I decided to be more forgiving and state that in the fog of government bureaucracies mistakes will occur. Let’s not turn our backs on those who have served. “Thank you for your service" shouldn't be a cliché.
I respectfully request you place this discussion as a future Agenda Item so that the general public might be informed and give common sense an opportunity to prevail.
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
501 Low Gap Road, Room 1070
Ukiah, CA. 95482
Relocation of the Mendocino County Veterans Services Office
Dear Members of the Board:
Today, it has come to my attention that a critical agenda item is absent from the Board of Supervisor’s January 9, 2024 meeting that addresses the Mendocino County Veterans Services office being relocated from 405 Observatory Avenue to 1120 South Dora Street.
Although there is no agenda item, as the wife of a Vietnam veteran, I am asking the Board of Supervisors to intervene and stop the relocation for the health and dignity of our veterans and their families. Like my husband and other war veterans, 405 Observatory is a “home” that represents a safe haven. A home where veterans and their dependents go without feelings of fear and stigma. Michelle Smith, Veteran Service Representative, calmly and effectively interacts in this homelike environment providing excellent assistance, guidance, support and knowledge. Veterans have come to rely on her and the sanctity of this home for over 15 years.
Asking veterans, many who have avoided or taken a long time to seek assistance, to now change location from a homelike setting to a multi-door, large-scale, administrative structure will impact the quality and effectiveness of veteran services. Being associated with “health recovery services, alcohol and other drug services and mental health” at 1120 South Dora Street perpetuates stereotypes that encourage stigma and creates a barrier between veterans and services that result in a reluctance to seek support.
Placing Michelle and veterans in a confined 10x10 cubicle without natural window light exacerbates both unhealthy psychological and physical symptoms for staff and veterans. This type of enclosed environment is unsafe compared to the Observatory home with multiple rooms, windows, natural light, and calming atmosphere.
For all veterans who sacrificed for our country and Michelle Smith who provides unconditional support for the past 15 years, the Board of Supervisors must conclude that 405 Observatory Avenue should remain the home for the Veterans Services office.
Thank you for your consideration. Veterans and their families look forward to your favorable response and swift action to this request.
January 9, 2024
TO: Honorable Board of Supervisors, County of Mendocino
FROM: Don Shanley, Philo, CA 95466
RE: Opposition of proposed move of Veterans Service Office from Observatory Ave to 1120 S. Dora, Rooms 310, 311
Thank you for the opportunity to voice both my complete opposition to this ill-advised move decision and to request the BOS place this matter on a future agenda for consideration.
My name is Don Shanley and I am a 50 plus year resident of Mendocino County as well as a veteran who served as an infantry Lieutenant rifle platoon commander in the US Marines from 1967-1970. I was honorably discharged a Captain in 1970 but it was over 25 years later when I checked in with the Mendocino County Veterans Service Office to address the residual effects of a bullet wound I suffered on Hill 861A, Khe Sanh, Vietnam in February 1968. The VA system’s “point man” was the Mendocino County Veteran’s Service Office where personnel advised, ordered medical evaluations and established an administrative path forward to obtain VA benefits. I stress how grateful I am for the care and attention of our local Veterans Service Office, the Ukiah VA Clinic and the San Francisco Veteran’s Hospital, Fort Miley.
I submit that the present 405 Observatory Ave Veterans Service Office location is a critical tool for the accomplishment of the VA mission to assist men and woman veterans who have served our nation honorably and are entitled to benefits many vets are reluctant to seek. The pleasant home setting is welcoming and calm. The Veteran Service Representative, Michelle Smith, meets veterans in a spacious entry room full of displayed VA benefit literature and posters, listens to their issues and escorts them into her office with a large window and bright natural light. It is not unusual for Michelle to greet 200 or more vets in a month. These are “WALK-INS” with no appointments. The VA in Washington DC reports that over 75% of initial Vet/VA contacts are “WALK-INS” and not scheduled appointments.
Today, January 8th I visited the proposed new location behind a huge sign at the back of a parking lot “Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, Alcohol & Other Drug Services/Mental Health” sign at 1120 S. Dora. Despite entertainment media hyperbole, veterans are neither societal casualties nor “suckers & losers” as our former US President labeled our military wounded and killed. Should a veteran first find this office location, then enters the building he or she approaches a thick glass window with a small “voice cut-out” and informs the desk person why he/she is there. The veteran is then escorted through a door down a hallway to rooms #310, 311—two tiny, 10X10, windowless, drab cells with barely room for a desk & computer station, certainly no room to maneuver a wheelchair in which veterans often arrive. Once inside the closed door the closeness is not only claustrophobic but for the service representative, Michelle Smith there is no security, one way in and out unlike her current office that supports a backdoor to another room. Unlike the label on Michelle’s desk today, “Return to Storage” let’s not do the same with Michelle! the only service rep doing the work of the mandated two representatives. Should her additional help arrive there isn’t even room for three when office veteran director Ulyses Lopez arrives from the Fort Bragg office.
I understand that Mendocino County doesn’t have the funds for the additional help the one current representative needs but when I was informed County Air Quality would take over the Observatory Vet office location I was struck speechless, baffled! Burn permits and smoky diesel engines? “Today is a burn day!” the message machine declares. Whoever made this decision is kidding, I thought. Permission to burn piles of forest slash and vineyard prunings takes precedent over the lives and welfare of combat veterans? Then I decided to be more forgiving and state that in the fog of government bureaucracies mistakes will occur. Let’s not turn our backs on those who have served. “Thank you for your service" shouldn't be a cliché.
I respectfully request you place this discussion as a future Agenda Item so that the general public might be informed and give common sense an opportunity to prevail.
Sincerely,
Don Shanley
Philo, CA 95466
January 9, 2024
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
501 Low Gap Road, Room 1070
Ukiah, CA. 95482
Relocation of the Mendocino County Veterans Services Office
Dear Members of the Board:
Today, it has come to my attention that a critical agenda item is absent from the Board of Supervisor’s January 9, 2024 meeting that addresses the Mendocino County Veterans Services office being relocated from 405 Observatory Avenue to 1120 South Dora Street.
Although there is no agenda item, as the wife of a Vietnam veteran, I am asking the Board of Supervisors to intervene and stop the relocation for the health and dignity of our veterans and their families. Like my husband and other war veterans, 405 Observatory is a “home” that represents a safe haven. A home where veterans and their dependents go without feelings of fear and stigma. Michelle Smith, Veteran Service Representative, calmly and effectively interacts in this homelike environment providing excellent assistance, guidance, support and knowledge. Veterans have come to rely on her and the sanctity of this home for over 15 years.
Asking veterans, many who have avoided or taken a long time to seek assistance, to now change location from a homelike setting to a multi-door, large-scale, administrative structure will impact the quality and effectiveness of veteran services. Being associated with “health recovery services, alcohol and other drug services and mental health” at 1120 South Dora Street perpetuates stereotypes that encourage stigma and creates a barrier between veterans and services that result in a reluctance to seek support.
Placing Michelle and veterans in a confined 10x10 cubicle without natural window light exacerbates both unhealthy psychological and physical symptoms for staff and veterans. This type of enclosed environment is unsafe compared to the Observatory home with multiple rooms, windows, natural light, and calming atmosphere.
For all veterans who sacrificed for our country and Michelle Smith who provides unconditional support for the past 15 years, the Board of Supervisors must conclude that 405 Observatory Avenue should remain the home for the Veterans Services office.
Thank you for your consideration. Veterans and their families look forward to your favorable response and swift action to this request.
Sincerely,
Laura Quatrochi
Philo, CA 95466