(See pdf here.)
Fellow Veterans and Friends of Veterans,
At yesterday's press conference held by VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald, he announced that the VA and ACLU had joined forces, a deceptive sellout of America's military Veterans. This was what we predicted before the press conference — a Trojan horse.
For 3½ years, Veterans believed the merits of the ACLU lawsuit would force the VA to vacate the nine illegal leases. Now, though, the VA has turned the tables and forced the ACLU to vacate the lawsuit. Go figure. What a hoax.
Here is an excerpt from the text of Patrick Healy's NBC report of yesterday: “In recent years, Robert Rosebrock of the Veterans Revolution, and other advocates, have argued the VA could make an immediate impact by erecting tents and modular housing as temporary shelter in what is now open space on the campus. This would serve as temporary shelter until new permanent structures can be planned, approved, and built.
“When the issue was raised at the news conference, some in the audience applauded.”
In the actual NBC video, when the Secretary was asked about tented shelter as a temporary solution, he answered:
“Maybe I'm not smart enough — I need to get out there and learn.”
So where's the “not smart enough” Secretary going “out there” for his education?
He refuses to sit down with knowledgeable Vietnam Veterans who advocate a long-term stand down concept with large, pre-fab style industrial tents. See attachment that has been sent to him repeatedly, including before yesterday's press conference. On the other hand, yesterday we received a response from a highly respected member of the American Legion with just one word and it was capitalized, (i.e., shouting) “POWERFUL!!”
Nevertheless, the admittedly “not smart enough” Secretary of the VA claims that he's going downtown to L.A.'s Skid Row to learn about the merits of a proposed tented shelter program for the Los Angeles VA.
Last night, we participated in the West L.A. homeless count and our team included Rafer Johnson, one of the most credible individuals in the USA, a staunch advocate for our homeless Veteran cause.
Counting Homeless Veterans
Our team of four participants counted more than 25 who are homeless within walking distance of the West L.A. VA. Much of this homeless community we found was near the VA's south gates on Ohio Avenue.
Rules for counting the homeless do not allow you to ask them any questions, including if they are a Veteran. However, our experience from the past has proven that the homeless living close to the West L.A. VA are likely Veterans who are silently crying out for help.
It's important to know that Secretary McDonald was formally invited to last night's West L.A homeless count by Jay Handel, chairman of the West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, and the Secretary did not attend or even respond to Mr. Handal.
Yet, he's unilaterally going to skid row miles away instead of walking out the gate of the largest VA in our nation's capital of homeless Veterans. Even worse, he audaciously dismissed our plan for emergency tented shelter.
Correspondingly, the entrusted Secretary refuses to declare a state of emergency for homeless Veterans in Los Angeles, which Rafer Johnson, a National Guard Vietnam-era Veteran, called for in his recent talk before the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition.
Once again, the Secretary of the VA confirmed his own “not smart enough” claim when he refused to meet with Rafer, even though he was sent two previous requests prior to his arrival to Los Angeles.
So who does Secretary McDonald have standing next to him when he delivers his press conference settlement: Non-Veteran Bobby Shriver.
Yes, this Secretary is “not smart enough” to choose between one of America's most respected and trusted Citizens and a non-Veteran charlatan.
Moreover, the VA continuously ignored fellow Veterans at ground zero and then came up with their unilateral plans that appeases the wealthy neighboring community and not the community-at-large.
After 25 years of Vietnam Veterans holding successful stand downs with tents and support by all former VA Secretaries, Secretary McDonald is dismissing this demonstrated success by trying to prove Vietnam Veterans wrong.
Once again Vietnam Veterans gets insulted. When will this assault end?
John Rowan, President and CEO of plaintiff Vietnam Veterans of America,constantly reminds that there are more Vietnam era Veterans who are homeless today than were killed during the war that ended nearly 40 years ago. Yet the Secretary does not consider this a state of emergency.
When the ACLU prepared to file the second lawsuit, they asked what VSO would be the best plaintiff. I proudly recommended Vietnam Veterans of America.
Now this historic lawsuit is being vacated as though it never existed. This is just another of a long series of insults against Vietnam Veterans.
Yesterday, Secretary McDonald proclaimed: “The VA is proud of the progress we've made in ending veteran homelessness — down 33 percent since 2010. But we won't be satisfied until every veteran has a home.”
If the VA has only reduced Veteran homelessness by one-third over the last five years, how can it possibly end it in 11 months using the same strategy? It cannot.
Yesterday's insensitive assault on the knowledge and integrity of Vietnam Veterans is unacceptable. We have been defending this cause to since long before Secretary McDonald came on board, including before his predecessor was confirmed six years ago.
On the other hand, if Secretary McDonald wants to open-mindedly discuss the merits of an emergency humanitarian relief project on the VA property that will be operated in semblance to the successful 1975 Vietnamese-Refugee project at Camp Pendleton and the Homeless Veteran “Stand Down” projects that were originated by Vietnam Veterans of San Diego more than 25 years ago, Rafer Johnson and fellow members of the Old Veterans Guard are ready to meet.
We have operating manuals and guidelines to organize and execute the project similar to a normal three-day stand down, except it will be fully operational until we accomplish our mission to end Veteran homelessness in Los Angeles in the shortest time.
You don't have to be smart see this is a win-win solution.
God Bless America and the Veterans Revolution!
Mr. Rosebrock may be contacted at RRosebrock1@aol.com