The New Social Security Office

Well.....finally got a reply to my inquiry about why the Social Security office was built just 100 yards from the old one on Towne Blvd., now up for sale (or lease)

Letter received today from Johnny Boehner's office. This letter was in response to Boehner on my behalf and is signed by Nancy Berryhill, Regional Commissioner.

Dear Mr. Speaker:

Thank you for your letter dated March 13,2012 on behalf of your constituent VietVet (won't give my name here) who inquired about why we moved to a new field office in Middletown, Ohio.

The Middletown Field Office had a 10 year lease that expired on June 1,2011. Whenever a lease for one of our field offices is expiring, we evaluate whether we should renew the lease, consolidate the office, or look for a new office space. (DOESN'T SAY THAT BUILDING AN ENTIRELY NEW OFFICE IS AN OPTION, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY DID). Due to population changes, our old office was not large enough to accomodate our needs and we could not expand the office. After considering multiple factors, we determined that we could no longer continue to efficiently and effectively serve the public in this space.

We worked with the General Services Administration (GSA), the agency responsible for real estate decisions for the Federal government, to identify other space that would better suit our service delivery needs.

During that process, GSA determined that building a new office to serve the Middletown residents was the most viable and cost-effective option. The new space allows us to provide optimum service to the public in a safe environment large enough for both the public and our staff. AND MOVING 100 YARDS ACROSS THE STREET TO A BUILDING THAT IS THE SAME APPROXIMATE SIZE WILL PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE? NOW, YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COST OF UPKEEP ON THE BUILDING YOU OWN AS OPPOSED TO THE LEASED BUILDING. MORE TAXPAYER MONEY WASTED. The new space includes an upgraded closed circuit television system, and the supervisor and security officer are located where they will have a better visibility of the reception and interviewing areas, providing greater security for the public and our employees. We relocated to the new space earlier this month.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or your staff can contact Catherine Langel, GSA Public Affairs Specialist, at (no number givern in letter) or Carmen M. Moreno, our Regional Communications Director, at (no number given in letter)

Sincerely,

Nancy A. Berryhill
Regional Commissioner

Well.....do I have questions for Berryhill, Moreno, Langel and Johnny Boehner!!!

1. The new building is, at best, the same size (maybe smaller) than the old one negating the comment concerning more room in the new building. I may be wrong but I thought I heard they had part of the old building cordoned off because they didn't need the space. What gives?

2. The new location is across the street from the old location. "The new space allows us to provide optimum service...." Nonsense. My understanding there was room in the old building.

3. The security officer (and supervisor for one officer (what a waste))could have been relocated for a more strategic view of the reception and interview areas couldn't they? THIS was one reason to justify building a whole new building at taxpayer expense? RIDICULOUS!

This whole letter seems to be more government lip service/double talk/horsecrap aimed at putting this to bed and not asking more questions. Typical of government responses. Never hit the nail on the head, do they? Ain't gonna work. I will get on Boehner's site again and make appropriate comments related to this. This letter says alot of nothing and turns on itself as to validity. Like this forum, there will be some people in Boehner's office that won't like the Vet for being too persistent and aggressive. The Vet doesn't care.