It takes a lot of gall for Sudders to show up hereDate: 6/13/2022 Late last month, Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Marylou Sudders did a one-day appearance in Western Massachusetts. She visited several locations including Square One in Springfield.
Where she did not appear and what she didn’t mention was the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.
I suppose I shouldn’t blame her for ignoring the Home – perhaps she hopes it will go away –because she had a real role in the management debacle that led to the deaths of more than 80 residents from COVID-19.
The recent in-depth investigation and report from the state’s Inspector General doesn’t mince words about Sudders’ involvement in what happened. To turn up here appearing for grip-and-grin photo opportunities takes quite a backbone.
Here are three paragraphs from the report’s summary:
“The governor, secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EHS) and the Home’s Board of Trustees (Board) did not follow the statute that gives the Board the power to appoint the superintendent. Rather, the Board recommended three candidates, the EHS secretary met only with Mr. Walsh and the governor appointed him as the Home’s superintendent."
“EHS and Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) officials failed to adequately address serious complaints by senior managers and others at the Home. Administration officials, primarily at EHS, failed to recognize that the recurring complaints indicated that Superintendent Walsh did not have the leadership skills or temperament to lead the Home."
“EHS undertook two investigations of Superintendent Walsh’s actions during his four-year tenure, but those investigations were flawed, unnecessarily restricted in scope and biased in Superintendent Walsh’s favor.”
State Senate candidate Sydney Levin-Epstein reacted to the recent visit with a press release that called for Sudders’ resignation. She wrote in the release, “Throughout the [coronavirus] pandemic, Gov. [Charlie] Baker has had Secretary Marylou Sudders as his key advisor and decision-maker. Every step of the way she has failed. From botched website rollouts and vaccine deserts, especially in Western Massachusetts, to the unthinkable tragedy that occurred at the Holyoke Soldiers Home. That tragedy alone cost the lives of 84 veterans and the taxpayers $56 million in a lawsuit settlement.”
Frankly, the candidate is correct, I think. Sudders should resign.
Anyone who has followed the issues surrounding the Soldiers’ Home for the past 20 years understands there has been a real disconnect between the Home and state elected officials. As one local official told me, every time there was a change in leadership – whether Republican or Democrat – the Western Massachusetts delegation had to explain what the Home is and what it does.
The Baker Administration is very much responsible for how the Home was managed during this time of a global pandemic. The recently announced proposed settlement for a civil suit will bring some comfort in the form of payments to the families of the deceased, but of course the pain will continue for a very long time.
The Home is not a Republican issue nor a Democrat issue. It is the acknowledgment that the commonwealth owes something to those who served to protect us. It is a basic and important role for state government no matter which party is in power.
If Baker had decided to run for reelection, the Home and what happened there would have been an issue that would have been used as an effective club by his opponents. I believe he could have lost such a bid because of how his administration handled the incident.
So, I will say when I have the opportunity of speaking with both candidates for governor – if I’m allowed such an opportunity – the first question I will ask is how are we going prevent such a thing from happening again?
And Secretary Sudders, please resign. I’m sure you already are working on your post-government gig. Perhaps you should accelerate it.
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