Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara today released federal documents obtained in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request he submitted regarding the planned closure of the Schenectady VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.

After repeated outreach to VA leadership seeking answers and requesting a meeting went unanswered, Assemblyman Santabarbara filed the FOIA request to obtain records related to the decision-making process behind the closure.

The 69-page document includes internal analyses, planning materials, and communications related to the proposed closure of the Schenectady clinic and the reassignment of veterans to other facilities in the region.

Assemblyman Santabarbara said the materials raise serious questions about whether the real impact on local veterans – particularly seniors, individuals with disabilities, and those with limited transportation – has been fully considered.

“These documents show the VA is relying heavily on cost projections and drive-time formulas to justify this closure,” Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara said. “But access to care is about more than miles on a map. For many veterans, especially older veterans and those without reliable transportation, even a short increase in travel can become a real barrier to care.”

Santabarbara also questioned whether the documents fully account for the challenges veterans may face accessing care after the closure, including transportation barriers, delayed care, and the impact on vulnerable populations who rely on nearby services.

“The documents repeatedly describe the impact as minimal, but there’s little evidence showing how those conclusions were reached,” Assemblyman Santabarbara said. “If the VA believes this decision will not harm access to care, then they should publicly explain the analysis behind it.”

Santabarbara said he will continue pushing for transparency and fighting to stop the closure.

“This clinic is a lifeline for veterans in our community,” Santabarbara said. “That’s why I’ll keep fighting to get this decision reversed.”

“The Schenectady VA clinic provides medical services to over 1,600 veterans,” said Joseph Booth, Registered Nurse at the Schenectady VA Clinic. “A significant concern for these veterans is the challenge of traveling to and from appointments. Many veterans rely on public transportation, specifically CDTA buses. Veterans residing in Schenectady city lack public transportation to the Clifton Park VA clinic, and traveling to Albany is equally impractical due to the absence of a direct route, requiring multiple bus transfers. Consequently, accessing care becomes extremely difficult, if not impossible.”