Gen. Eric K. Shinseki (USA Ret.)
Secretary, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
Since you were appointed Secretary of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (DVA) less than two years ago, three major parcels of Veterans’ land at the Los Angeles National Veterans Home have been leased to non-Veteran, special-interest, non-profit corporations.
This was done after the so-called Feinstein-Waxman Bill that was supposed to stop any sale or leasing of Veterans property. Either this bill is a fraud and a hoax, or the DVA has seriously violated it.
Of the three parcels taken away from Veterans under your watch, the first to go was the “Vet's Garden,” then the “Veterans Golf Course,” and most recently MacArthur Field was leased to “Westside Breakers Soccer Club.”
From the first day you were approved by Congress as Secretary of the DVA, and continuously thereafter, we have respectfully requested that you bring an end to the egregious history of the West Los Angeles VA of leasing Veterans’ sacred land for non-Veteran use, which has led to more than 20,000 Veterans being homeless in Los Angeles County, even though this is their rightful “Home.”
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In brief, more Veterans’ land has been given away during your short “watch” than your predecessors over a decade; meanwhile the homeless Veteran population has increased..
For the year 2010, which is almost over, you and President Obama set aside $3.2 billion to purportedly help reduce Veteran homelessness.
The only thing the largest VA in the nation with the highest homeless Veteran population in the nation received was a paltry $20 million to supposedly refurbish Building 209 that has been vacant for decades.
Even worse, it will not be refurbished for two more years and it will only house approximately 80 Veterans. They are not really homeless but in transitional housing. Still, that's $250K per Veteran. We could buy each one a nice personal home for that same amount.
In July 2008, Ralph Tillman, Director of Asset Management, declared that Building 209 “will require significant corrections costing approximately $7,211,090.” See article link: “West LA VA Schedules Only One Building for Homeless” — Terence Lyons, Santa Monica Mirror — http://www.smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArchiveArticle.asp?eid=8205
Could you please explain how these “significantly correction costs” tripled significantly under your watch in less than two years?
Veterans are tiring quickly of your empty promises and neglect of the Los Angeles National Veterans Home. There are 11 buildings reported “vacant,” and more than 40 that are designated as “historic.” Meanwhile, there are 20,000 homeless Veterans.
Attached is a promotional flyer for a “2010 Holiday Soccer Camp” on MacArthur Field at the “Home.” Local children of wealthy parents will be paying $275 for this camp while fellow Veterans remain homeless along the perimeter fences.
Sir, this is “MacArthur Field,” named after the same General who gave his 1962 legendary “Duty, Honor, Country” speech at West Point that you were so fortunate to be in attendance for.
How do you think Gen. MacArthur would measure your “Duty” to our Veterans by allowing this sacred land to be used for a non-Veteran soccer camp?
Remember, these are the same ungrateful VA bureaucrats who have given away Veterans land that allowed the local high-mucky-muck to plagiarize this noble creed and desecrate it with “Beauty, Honor, Country.”
That act alone should have called for immediate termination of these bureaucrats and permanently barred Sue Young and her ilk from ever stepping foot on this sacred land.
Meanwhile, hungry and homeless Veterans sleep outside the pretentious wrought iron fence that the VA donated $1 million of Veterans healthcare money to help beautify the entryway into Brentwoood.
Does any of this insult you in the slightest? Apparently not, because you continue to support the VA bureaucrats and ignore the 20,000 homeless Veterans in Los Angeles.
Once again, this is to respectfully request that you
a) Terminate the top-level VA bureaucrats at the WLA VA, posthaste;
b) Fully rescind the public park agreement with the wealthy Brentwood homeowner group, posthaste;
c) Fund the establishment of a Veteran Stand Down on the Grand Lawn, posthaste;
d) Implement the attached “Veterans' Grand Plan,” posthaste.
Lastly, why don't you give Los Angeles Veterans something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday, and execute and implement the foregoing?
We await your response.
By the way, did we mention there are 20,000 homeless Veterans in Los Angeles County?
Sincerely,
Robert L. Rosebrock
Director, Old Veterans Guard;
Director, Veterans Revolution;
Chairman; Veterans Affairs Committee,
West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council
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