Garden State Times

Senator Kristin Corrado is calling for a special legislative committee to be formed to investigate the findings of a recent report by the State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation (SCI) that revealed shocking failures at the veterans homes in Menlo Park and Paramus. Corrado expressed her concern, stating, "The SCI report is devastating and the Murphy Administration must be held accountable for the appalling treatment of our nation's heroes."

Corrado highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that this is the second report in the last month that underscores Governor Murphy's leadership failures. The Department of Justice (DOJ) report released on September 7 also outlined significant issues at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes, accusing the state of causing "unreasonable harm and risk due to inadequate infection control practices and inadequate medical care, in violation of the U.S. Constitution."

The SCI report further emphasized the DOJ's findings, citing staffing issues, lack of protective equipment, and communication breakdowns as contributors to the collapse of services at the veterans homes. Corrado pointed out specific deficiencies, such as the absence of basic services like Wi-Fi at the Paramus facility, which led to staff resorting to mobile hotspots for essential communications.

In response to the failures highlighted in the reports, Corrado emphasized the need for action, stating, "During the pandemic, I, along with my Republican colleagues, repeatedly called for investigations." She also criticized the lack of initiative from the Legislature, mentioning that efforts to protect veterans were hindered by the Democratic party's refusal to investigate the issue.

Corrado is sponsoring S-67, a bipartisan bill aimed at establishing the Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities to investigate complaints at State-run veterans' homes. The call for accountability and improved oversight comes in light of the concerning revelations about the conditions and treatment of veterans at the Menlo Park and Paramus facilities.