Phoenix veterans group urges more accountability from administrators
Apr 16, 2014, 9:16 AM | Updated: 9:16 am
PHOENIX — The local chapter of Concerned Veterans for America, an organization which advocates for policies that directly benefit the nation’s veterans, is hosting a rally in central Phoenix on Wednesday.
The goal of the 12:30 p.m. event at Steele Indian Park is to draw attention to the problems plaguing the Veterans Affairs office in Phoenix.
According to a news release from the advocacy group, “Recently, the Arizona Republic uncovered evidence that employees of the Phoenix VA Healthcare System manipulated data to cover up the deaths of up to 40 veterans due to long wait times and negligence. …
“If a company or a private entity behaved this way they’d go out of business or they’d be held accountable in a court of law,” said Dan Caldwell, a spokesman for Concerned Veterans. “There’s not a culture of excellence among senior-level and mid-level managers at the VA. They’re inefficient, they’re not dynamic and they are not being held accountable.”
Organizers will be showing public support for HR 4031, the VA Accountability Management Act, which would “implement much needed reforms at the VA.”
The park is near Third Street and Indian School Road.