The location for the new Bakersfield VA Clinic is once again in doubt after a veterans organization filed a lawsuit amid health concerns. (Photo: VA.gov)
The locations of two separate Department of Veterans Affairs health care clinics in California are in question.
First, the Fresno VA Medical Center may be expanding. The exact reasoning has not been made public, but the prospect may come amid concerns that veterans of underserved rural communities may be unable to travel to Fresno for care. As of yet, the VA has not commented on what specific operations, if any, would be moving.
Clovis City Councilmember Drew Bessinger reportedly made comments that a determining factor of the potential move of some operations is whether it would cost more to retrofit the current VA facility in Fresno or to build a new center in Clovis.
The Fresno VA facility is part of the VA Central California Health Care System, which serves approximately 28,000 veterans across six counties.
Second, the Bakersfield VA Clinic is facing yet another set of delays after veterans organization Progress for Bakersfield Veterans filed a lawsuit against the city because the location for the proposed new clinic is not zoned for medical services.
The veterans organization, which is also run by the owners of the existing Bakersfield VA Clinic, claims that city officials neglected to conduct environmental tests in line with the California Environmental Quality Act and that the location for the new clinic contains hazardous materials that could adversely affect the health of future patients.
Progress for Bakersfield Veterans notes in their lawsuit that the new site was once used for an oil refinery and that lasting chemical hazards remain. Additionally, the veterans organization contends that existing sources of air pollution surround the proposed facility. Finally, the organization claims that the VA and city officials would spend less on retrofitting the existing Bakersfield VA Clinic than they would on building a new facility.
The Bakersfield VA Clinic is part of the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, which collectively serves an estimated 1.4 million veterans.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on May 26 to clarify that the Fresno VA Medical Center may be expanding and some of its operations could relocate to another facility. Originally published May 5.
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.
