Veterans rally to save Brooklyn VA Hospital from possible closure
“Hands off the VA,” was a chant heard during a rally to attempt to save the Brooklyn VA Medical Center, 800 Poly Place, on Sunday, March 13, where U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Southwest Brooklyn-Staten Island) joined a crowd of veterans and local leaders to stop a proposal that would close the facility.
Veteran and Bay Ridge resident Mickey Wedlock has a long history with the facility. “Seven years ago, this VA saved my life,” he said. “I would not be here without this VA.”
“A lot of people don’t understand what actually goes on here,” he said. “It’s not just hospital rooms taking care of veterans. That’s one thing that goes on, but we have veterans meet in groups. We get together and talk about things that only veterans can talk to each other about. We come here five days a week to do that.”
He added that if the closure goes through, lack of public transportation would make it difficult for locals to get to other facilities, such as the James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Kingsbridge Road in the Bronx.