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Potential improvements for Borden Avenue Veterans Residence
1:11:26
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3 min
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Council Member Holden asks Associate Commissioner Russell about potential improvements for the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence, building on previous suggestions and seeking additional ideas for enhancing the shelter experience for veterans.
- Holden reiterates his suggestion about improving lighting to create a more residential feel
- There's a discussion about the need for better food quality at the shelter
- Holden shares a concerning anecdote about a former shelter leader who didn't want to make conditions too comfortable
- Both Holden and Russell emphasize that this attitude is not acceptable and does not reflect current views
- They discuss the importance of making the shelter as comfortable as possible for veterans
- There's mention of potentially seeking funding from the city council or VA for improvements
- The conversation touches on the need for mental health support and the potential implementation of RTM (Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories) therapy
Robert F. Holden
1:11:26
No, but that should tell you something.
1:11:29
Somebody's gotta think on their feet a little and say, You know what, let's dispense with that for now because the council members are there, it's a, you know, they've done a great thing and we're not gonna fill out paper or we'll do it in advance, way in advance, and then we'll do it in a nice way, But yeah, so just sometimes, sometimes you know, there's a little bit of a human element here that needs to be addressed, but aside from that, I just want to ask you while we end this last question, I think this is the last question, but associate commissioner, what would you do with Borden to improve it?
1:12:08
Other than what I said about the lighting, what do you think we can improve upon?
1:12:13
And the commissioner said we could probably, you know, hopefully get the VA to work on, you know, health, try to get more veterans health benefits, but what else could we do to Borden, with Borden, to make it a little bit more of a better experience for veterans?
1:12:32
In your in your in your visits, that's know, just sort of thinking outside the box here.
1:12:38
If we had, you know, more funding, let's say.
1:12:51
to change.
1:12:52
Yes.
1:12:52
So what you've suggested was it's it's better.
1:12:55
And, again, if you would agree with me on the food, I would look at, you know, certainly I'd have a partner.
1:13:04
I know the commissioner agrees with that.
1:13:06
But, you know, if we can get better food, because I remember one person, and the person's not there anymore at Borden, but this was a few years ago when I first became chair, I was told that we don't want to make it too comfortable for the veterans because they'll stay, and I'll never forget that.
1:13:29
So somebody said that to me who was in leadership, but that person's not there anymore, but it was said to me, and I'm not that's why I don't forget it because I I said, well, that's really that's terrible.
1:13:42
And a person shouldn't be with veterans then because we owe I don't care if
1:13:49
Absolutely.
1:13:50
But they certainly don't deserve a comment like that.
1:13:52
So that's the mentality that sometimes people have, especially, you know, I don't know, again, I don't wanna point fingers at who that was, but it was somebody in leadership.
1:14:04
So that's, that comment is disturbing.
1:14:09
Just That's not your view.
1:14:10
No.
1:14:10
I I understand that because you they're dedicated people, but there are some people that are not that are not.
1:14:15
They're they're doing it as a a job, and then sometimes they get frustrated.
1:14:19
But they'll make comments.
1:14:20
We don't wanna make it too comfortable.
1:14:22
So if we can come up with something, you know, any other improvements we'll meet and we'll talk about it.
1:14:29
Obviously, the lighting, if we can get funding from the council to try to improve that funding from VA, whatever we can do, we'd like to work on that with you and and certainly the mental health and, you know, RTM, I think, you know, it's it's in the bills today.
1:14:45
By the way, commissioner, what do you think about our bills?
James Hendon
1:13:46
they were there ten years.
1:13:47
They deserve that.
1:13:48
They deserve better than that.
Alex Stein
1:12:37
I mean
Sonya Russell
1:12:40
So, of course.
1:12:41
I I would never turn down more funding, and, I think the beautification process that we went through was based on my visits at board in which what led them
1:12:54
Yes.
1:12:55
It is.
1:14:08
That is not our view.