Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 | 2 a.m.
Most local veterans’ arranged transport has now been outsourced to private providers.
Recently, when I went to the main Veterans Affairs hospital, I learned that patients who do not own cars can no longer be dropped off in front of the hospital, and their transporters must drop us off or bring us in from the side of the hospital.
Many who use the transport are the most severely disabled, and many are poor. In the case of the most severely disabled, they are now exposed to heat or rain longer, which could endanger their already poor health.
Also, veterans with cars can not only exclusively access the building from the front entrance, they have parking valets and a golf cart taxi to their cars.
All veterans should have equal access to the Veterans Affairs hospital. This is discrimination based on private vehicle ownership. These circumstances also make it harder for transport workers, who already have a hard job, work long hours and have become my friends.
