I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed relocation of the Veteran’s Service Office from 405 Observatory Avenue to 1120 S Dora Street. As a veteran and a resident of Mendocino County, I am deeply concerned about the negative impacts of this move on the Veteran community and the quality of service they receive.
The Veterans Service Office provides vital assistance and support to the Veterans of Mendocino County, such as helping them access their benefits, health care, education, employment, and housing. The office's current location is convenient, accessible, and comfortable for the veterans and their families. It offers privacy, tranquility, and security for the veterans, who often must deal with sensitive and personal issues, such as physical and mental health, trauma, and disability. The current location also has a history and a legacy of serving the veterans, as it displays memorabilia and photos of the Veterans and their organizations.
The proposed relocation of the office to the public health building is unacceptable and detrimental to the veterans and their well-being. The public health building is crowded, noisy, and chaotic, which is not conducive to the veterans’ needs and preferences. The public health building also poses a safety and privacy risk for the Veterans, as it is frequented by a known “Public Citizen” who has been harassing and filming the county employees and the private citizens seeking services. The public health building also lacks the space and facilities to accommodate the Veterans and their documents and equipment.
The county decided to relocate the office without proper consultation and communication with the Veterans and their representatives. The county gave 0 direct notice to Veterans, and by the time the handful of Veterans found out, they had less than three weeks’ notice of the move. This lack of communication is insufficient and disrespectful to the Veterans and their rights. The county also failed to provide a clear and reasonable justification for the move and did not address the concerns and objections the Veterans and their advocates raised. The county also showed a lack of respect and appreciation for the veterans and their service, as the county’s employees external to the Veteran’s service office packed up the current office in an inappropriate and careless manner, throwing away veteran memorabilia and photos in the trash piles. One such photo picked out of these trash piles is that of Veterans from various VSOs throughout the county (American Legion / Veterans of Foreign Wars) standing hand in hand with previous County Supervisors.
I urge the county board of supervisors to reconsider and reverse the decision to relocate the veterans service office and keep it at 405 Observatory Avenue. I also request the county board of supervisors to apologize to the veterans and their organizations for the mishandling and mistreatment of the Veteran’s Service Office and its contents. I also demand the county board of supervisors engage in a transparent and respectful dialogue with the veterans and their representatives and address their needs and concerns promptly and effectively.
The veterans of Mendocino County deserve better than this. They deserve to be treated with dignity, gratitude, and honor. They deserve to have a Veteran’s Service Office that is convenient, accessible, and comfortable for them. They deserve a voice and a say in the decisions that affect them and their service.
DO NOT make the mistake of thinking that continuing the move of the Veteran’s Service Office to the proposed Public Health location is in any way an acceptable outcome for this situation. No amount of beautification or mediation will right the disruption caused by your actions.
As I said in the public expression on 01/09/2024:
AS VETERANS -
IT IS NOT THAT WE CAN AND OTHERS CANNOT
IT IS THAT WE DID AND OTHERS DID NOT
Thank you for your attention and your hopeful action.
To the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed relocation of the Veteran’s Service Office from 405 Observatory Avenue to 1120 S Dora Street. As a veteran and a resident of Mendocino County, I am deeply concerned about the negative impacts of this move on the Veteran community and the quality of service they receive.
The Veterans Service Office provides vital assistance and support to the Veterans of Mendocino County, such as helping them access their benefits, health care, education, employment, and housing. The office's current location is convenient, accessible, and comfortable for the veterans and their families. It offers privacy, tranquility, and security for the veterans, who often must deal with sensitive and personal issues, such as physical and mental health, trauma, and disability. The current location also has a history and a legacy of serving the veterans, as it displays memorabilia and photos of the Veterans and their organizations.
The proposed relocation of the office to the public health building is unacceptable and detrimental to the veterans and their well-being. The public health building is crowded, noisy, and chaotic, which is not conducive to the veterans’ needs and preferences. The public health building also poses a safety and privacy risk for the Veterans, as it is frequented by a known “Public Citizen” who has been harassing and filming the county employees and the private citizens seeking services. The public health building also lacks the space and facilities to accommodate the Veterans and their documents and equipment.
The county decided to relocate the office without proper consultation and communication with the Veterans and their representatives. The county gave 0 direct notice to Veterans, and by the time the handful of Veterans found out, they had less than three weeks’ notice of the move. This lack of communication is insufficient and disrespectful to the Veterans and their rights. The county also failed to provide a clear and reasonable justification for the move and did not address the concerns and objections the Veterans and their advocates raised. The county also showed a lack of respect and appreciation for the veterans and their service, as the county’s employees external to the Veteran’s service office packed up the current office in an inappropriate and careless manner, throwing away veteran memorabilia and photos in the trash piles. One such photo picked out of these trash piles is that of Veterans from various VSOs throughout the county (American Legion / Veterans of Foreign Wars) standing hand in hand with previous County Supervisors.
I urge the county board of supervisors to reconsider and reverse the decision to relocate the veterans service office and keep it at 405 Observatory Avenue. I also request the county board of supervisors to apologize to the veterans and their organizations for the mishandling and mistreatment of the Veteran’s Service Office and its contents. I also demand the county board of supervisors engage in a transparent and respectful dialogue with the veterans and their representatives and address their needs and concerns promptly and effectively.
The veterans of Mendocino County deserve better than this. They deserve to be treated with dignity, gratitude, and honor. They deserve to have a Veteran’s Service Office that is convenient, accessible, and comfortable for them. They deserve a voice and a say in the decisions that affect them and their service.
DO NOT make the mistake of thinking that continuing the move of the Veteran’s Service Office to the proposed Public Health location is in any way an acceptable outcome for this situation. No amount of beautification or mediation will right the disruption caused by your actions.
As I said in the public expression on 01/09/2024:
AS VETERANS -
IT IS NOT THAT WE CAN AND OTHERS CANNOT
IT IS THAT WE DID AND OTHERS DID NOT
Thank you for your attention and your hopeful action.
Very Respectfully,
Kennedy A. Cooper
SGT, USA
Retired
Willits, CA