When the county closed the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Santa Cruz because of safety concerns, the vets decided to fight back. They argued that the reports were exaggerated and that the replacement facility on Emeline Avenue did not meet their basic requirements. It may have been the same size as the original location, they argued, but it was difficult for elderly and disabled vets to get to. Furthermore, it didn’t even have a kitchen, they added, which is why they decided to forego their traditional Thanksgiving dinner for the needy next week.
One thing about vets—they are fighters. The United Veterans Council of Santa Cruz County, led by Bob Patton, not only complained about the new facility. They decided to fight the county in court. And they won. After two days of testimony, a jury ruled that the new facility is indeed inadequate.
Now the county is forced to find an alternative solution. State law requires it to find an alternative or repair the existing facility. With the recession, however, and a shaky budget, the county doesn’t have the $1.4 million needed to fix the original Vets Hall.
The judge is scheduled to decide what measures the county must take on Jan. 7. Supervisor Neal Coonerty has promised to help find a solution before then. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
