Heroes must wish we treated them as well as criminals

Today: We compare and contrast.

We're going to look at two distinctly different sets of people who nonetheless are oddly attached because of the need for taxpayer dollars in their respective situations.

And, yes, some will quibble over the differences between state and federal funding. They'll argue that apples are being compared to oranges.

Doesn't matter. We'll still compare and contrast.

Consider Group A: It's comprised of veterans from all branches of the United States military. They've served in Vietnam or Korea or more recent wars. There are some - although sadly, a shrinking number - from World War II. Some served the United States military in times when there was no war, but their patriotism and dedication was no less important. They protected our freedom. Many are left with physical and/or mental health needs.

We'll call Group A, quite simply, the Heroes.

Consider Group B: They were arrested and convicted of crimes. They are murderers. Or rapists. Or wife and child abusers. Or drug peddlers. They preyed on people and, in some, cases took the lives of others. They are prisoners. Many of them also are left with physical and/or mental health needs.

We'll call Group B, quite simply, the Criminals.

The Heroes have been commuting over the Altamont Pass, for the most part, for their health care needs. But they've been promised a new 150,000-square-foot Veterans Administration outpatient clinic and 120-bed nursing home in French Camp. Just might take a little longer. A lot longer. There were delays upon delays until the VA finally chose French Camp. Now there's the matter of actually getting the money to build the facility.

The Criminals are steadily moving into a new 200-acre facility off Highway 99 in Stockton. By mid-December, 1,722 beds will be filled. It took only 31 months to build the California Health Care Facility, with a court order providing the push and the Public Safety and Offender Services Rehabilitation Act of 2007 raising the funding.

The Heroes get by with what they are provided, which now includes a 10,000-square-foot clinic - and five additional modular buildings that are left empty and unused.

The Criminals are moving into a facility that cost $839 million, consists of 54 buildings and takes up a whopping 1.4 million square feet.

The Heroes? Remember, they get to gaze at those five modular buildings probably more Spartan than some of the Quonset huts many once lived in during military service.

The Criminals will have a facility that is well-lit, has patient cells with oxygen hookups and much more modern medical equipment. The Criminals' needs are being met by a work force of almost 1,300 - and growing.

The Heroes arrive to patches of dirt and weeds. They get services from a small and dedicated staff at the VA clinic, but they're waiting on the VA and county to work out details so the size of the clinic can be doubled. November's the latest estimate.

The Criminals are amid an absolute buzz of activity. Construction is almost finished and very experienced medical personnel and other staff are taking high-paying state jobs.

The Heroes show up at the current VA clinic in a state of constant frustration. Says local American Legion commander Tino Adame in an interview with The Record: "It's like you have a bucket of water and you're giving them a spoonful to drink."

The Criminals' health care facility is relatively close to being finished. It has taken less than three years from the time the state and local officials worked out a deal to erect the complex.

The Heroes' new health care facility likely is on a best-case-scenario of opening in 2018 in French Camp. That would be one year for design and three years for construction. But the funding isn't there. It could be 2019. Or 2020. Or whenever.

All of this does not mean that the Prisoners' health care facility is a negative for Stockton and San Joaquin County. Far from it. There are immense economic benefits and local officials elicited excellent community infrastructure guarantees from the state.

But while every physical and mental health need is being taken care of for murderers, rapists and other felons of virtually every ilk ... Lest we forget the plight of the Heroes.

Recordnet