Bakersfield veterans react to new VA Clinic heading to City Planning Commission

Latest Kern County, California and US &amp; world news from 23ABC in Bakersfield, Calif.

Transcript

00:00 Well, more than 10 years ago, Congress authorized the construction of a new outpatient VA clinic

00:06 set to be located here on Knutson Drive just off of Olive.

00:10 However, as you can see, 13 years later, this area is still a vacant lot.

00:15 It just makes us feel like it's never going to get done.

00:19 A long time coming.

00:20 I see the frustration along with that and I'm looking forward to when you get it started.

00:25 This group of veterans ranging from Vietnam to post-9/11 are gearing up for another mission.

00:30 We get to the point that that ground gets broken and our veterans get a new community-based

00:35 outpatient clinic here in Bakersfield.

00:37 Our veterans deserve the very best medical care and facilities.

00:41 Following its congressional approval in 2010, the project lagged until 2018 when San Diego-based

00:47 developer SASD was awarded the $40 million contract from the VA.

00:52 This new clinic would be state of the art.

00:54 Be able to care for the rise in female veterans, the homeless veterans out there as well.

01:01 Bakersfield native and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy working to secure those funds.

01:05 But owners of the existing VA clinic objected, according to city documents, filing appeals

01:10 and a lawsuit under the Beverly Hills-based organization, Progress for Bakersfield Veterans,

01:15 LLC.

01:16 Several, what I would call dilatory actions.

01:19 Most of them have been resolved or dismissed.

01:21 A lot of us Vietnam veterans are dying out.

01:24 I'm 74.

01:25 I won't even be around.

01:27 Some of my other brothers that served in Vietnam won't be around.

01:31 Department service officer for the existing VA clinic, Larry Walker, said the delays are

01:35 frustrating as a new facility is greatly needed.

01:38 I have an office in the clinic as a service officer and I see it every day.

01:42 The latest appeal citing review of the new clinic under the California Environmental

01:46 Quality Act.

01:47 However, the report concluded the new VA project was found to be consistent with the general

01:52 plan and city zoning requirements.

01:54 Army veteran Jason Geis saying now it's time for the whole community to speak up.

01:58 Contact their city council members.

02:01 We just want to see this thing get going because we know we're still a few years probably from

02:06 us being able to go in there and get our care.

02:10 Now the Bakersfield Planning Commission is set to review this SECA report on Thursday.

02:15 According to the agenda, the staff is recommending the commission approve it.

02:20 That meeting is taking place at 5.30pm at city council chambers off of Truxton Avenue.

02:26 Reporting in Bakersfield, I'm Veronica Morley, 23 ABC News, connecting you.