BREAKING GROUND — It’s been a long time coming, but the building of the new Holyoke veterans home is underway. Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Rep. Richard Neal, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jon Santiago and others attended a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday to kick off the $263.5 million grant-funded reconstruction. On one hand, the groundbreaking for the new facility is a reminder of one of the deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks that killed dozens at the Holyoke Soldiers Home. It’s also a reminder of the state's $56 million lawsuit settlements during the Baker administration following multiple reports and investigations. On the other hand, the groundbreaking starts a new era for a 234-bed home that will incorporate lessons learned. “We cannot change what happened in the past, but we can change the future,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jon Santiago told Playbook. “And that is what we are determined to do every day.” Santiago is one of those changes. The physician, veteran and former statehouse legislator is the first to lead the new Executive Office of Veterans' Services. In the wake of the Holyoke tragedy, Healey bumped the former Department of Veterans Affairs to the executive level within her first few months in office. Playbook chatted with Santiago following the groundbreaking ceremony to talk about lessons learned from the Holyoke outbreak and what more can be done to ensure quality care for veterans: Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity: What was learned from the Holyoke Covid outbreak? How are you implementing those lessons into the new veterans home? JS: Leadership matters and leadership begins with listening. We have completely changed how these homes report to the government and to veterans, through chapter 144, which I voted for as a legislator. As Secretary, part of my task is to verify that veterans homes are hiring staff, following certain protocols, and providing the best care they can. As a physician and as a public health practitioner, I bring a unique skill set to this role — I can speak to the medicine and public health aspect, but I can also speak to being a veteran myself. What work still needs to be done to improve conditions for veterans in Massachusetts? JS: Right now we are trying to determine what gaps are in our services and figure out what major issues our veterans are facing. We have an interest in addressing veteran homelessness, mental health and substance use and being inclusive toward the increasingly diverse veteran population. These are priority issues for Gov. Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll who also committed large investments to veterans services in the recently passed state budget. What needs to be done to restore trust in state government after the outbreak? JS: We need to make a clear message to all stakeholders here — but particularly to veterans and their families — that we hear you, we see you, and we are going to honor you with our actions. Gov. Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll have made this clear with their budget, showing up to Holyoke and meeting with veterans and their families that we are going to listen. Our mantra is how can we serve those who have served us and that is what we continue to do as we build this new agency. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TODAY — Attorney General Andrea Campbell announces Maternal Health Equity Grant recipients and hosts a roundtable discussion on maternal health disparities at 9:30 a.m. in Roxbury. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on GBH Boston Public Radio at noon and delivers remarks at District 8 City Councilor Sharon Durkan’s swearing-in ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Planning a Kowloon wedding? Let us know: Email us at mmccarthy@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com and give us a follow at @Reporter_Mia and @KellyGarrity3.
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