By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – With 36 coronavirus-related deaths at one veterans’ home on her watch, Monday was the end for Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs director Linda Chapa LaVia.
She resigned — Gov. JB Pritzker called it a “mutual” decision — after lawmakers on a House committee blistered her department over the problem and its response to it.
“This is exceedingly disappointing,” said State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn). “I have to hear over and over and over again how awesome the staff is and how much they care about our residents. The reality of the situation is they cared so much they went to Halloween parties and they came and openly exposed the residents. Now we have the opportunity to be vaccinated, and they are not getting themselves vaccinated and further making attempts to protect the veterans.”
When Chapa LaVia had difficulty recalling certain documents, adding they are among 16,000 pages submitted, another lawmaker, State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) noted she was able to review 16,000 pages, even if Chapa LaVia could not. Her department has borne criticism over how quickly it responded to the outbreak.
Many Democrats ran on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at the veterans’ home at Quincy, which came to a head under then-Gov. Bruce Rauner.
The interim director is Major General Peter Nezamis of the Illinois Air National Guard.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]
