Swain & Tully Welcome New Leadership at DMAVA & Paramus Memorial Veterans Home

(PARAMUS) – Following the resignation of Major General Jemal J. Beale, the New Jersey Adjutant General and Commissioner of Military and Veterans Affairs, and the replacement of the administrator in charge of the state-run Paramus Memorial Veterans Home in their district, Assembly Democrats Lisa Swain and Chris Tully issued the following statements:

“We are grateful to see this change in leadership at the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) and the Paramus Memorial Veterans Home. This change is long overdue after we saw COVID-19 claim the lives of 80 residents at the facility in Paramus,” said Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-Bergen, Passaic). “The tragic loss of life and the terrible grief the families of these residents are forced to continue to deal with is unacceptable, and the leadership that allowed this to happen needed to be held accountable. We fully support the Attorney General’s investigation, and if wrongdoing is found and confirmed, justice must be served.”

“Our seniors and veterans deserve accountability. We fully support the Attorney General’s investigation as well as the change in leadership at The Paramus Memorial Veterans Home, for the sake of the residents and their families who need honest, transparent and competent leadership during this public health crisis. Our office has moved swiftly to open a dialogue with the new Commissioner of Military and Veterans Affairs, Colonel Dr. Lisa J. Hou, and the incoming leadership at the Paramus facility,” said Assemblyman Chris Tully (D-Bergen, Passaic). “Having experienced the heartbreaking stories from families in our district, and after participating in multiple hearings as a member of the Assembly Health Committee and the Assembly Aging and Senior Services Committee, that exposed the tragic impact of COVID-19 across our long-term health care facilities, Assemblywoman Swain and I remain committed to continuing to do everything legislatively possible to repair the systemic failures across our state.”