Reid likes chances of veterans hospital being built in LV

Dan Kulin

Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003 | 9:48 a.m.

Bolstering the hopes of local veterans, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Wednesday that he's confident a new veterans hospital and clinic will be built in Las Vegas during the next two or three years.

However, Reid said he doesn't know where the medical campus, which is also expected to include a veterans nursing home, would be built.

Speaking before a group of veterans Wednesday, Reid said that when he spoke with Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi about 10 days ago the secretary said he would recommend the VA build a new hospital in Las Vegas.

"This doesn't mean it definitely will happen, but it means it probably will happen," Reid told the veterans who met with him at the George Federal Building in Las Vegas.

After the meeting, Reid said he doesn't see any more obstacles to bringing a new VA hospital to Las Vegas.

"We couldn't get it if he didn't want it," Reid said of Principi. "I think it's a done deal."

Reid said a new VA clinic should be open in about two years, and a hospital could open a year later.

The Las Vegas VA medical services moved out of the Addeliar D. Guy III Ambulatory Care Clinic earlier this year, and have been completely out of the building since June. Veterans medical services have been shifted to 11 temporary sites while VA officials decide where to build a new clinic.

Local VA officials, veterans, and prominent politicians have pushed for a full-service veterans hospital, and last week the VA announced it was considering such an option.

The VA is expected to hold a public hearing on the latest proposal on Sept. 26 at the Hyatt Regency at Lake Las Vegas.

Charvez Foger, a Reid aid, said the proposed medical campus could cost $187 million, and require 50 acres.

Allen Rifkin, senior vice commander of the Jewish War Veterans Post 21 in Las Vegas, said he was happy to hear Reid say a new hospital appears on its way to Las Vegas.

"We're very encouraged because he came right out and said it," Rifkin said. "The hospital was our main concern. We have no more VA right now, we just have satellite offices."