To the editor: In 1977, I used to be a preschool trainer working at a church in Westwood Village. On the sting of the play yard there was a thick hedge, and inside lived “Bob.” He was a tall, lean, long-haired younger man — and a Vietnam veteran. He infrequently spoke, spending most of his time inside that hedge besides when he went to the church workplace to obtain a small sack lunch. (“VA’s illegal leases on West L.A. campus pose a tough choice for a federal judge,” Aug. 27)
I labored at that college for almost 18 years, and Bob was all the time there. The U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs campus was lower than a quarter-mile away. The church contacted the VA. Nothing occurred.
The VA campus just isn’t adequately serving homeless veterans. The 1887 deed that granted land to the U.S. authorities for the institution of a nationwide dwelling for “disabled volunteer troopers” has not been honored. Largely, the charitable belief has been ignored or leased out to unrelated organizations.
There must be no extra grasp plans, litigation or settlements. No extra wasted years. If the VA had been doing its job in Los Angeles serving and supporting homeless veterans all alongside, there by no means would have been so many homeless veterans within the first place.
This shouldn’t be a “powerful determination.” These women and men deserve the very best care and assist now.
Genie Saffren, Los Angeles
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To the editor: As somebody who’s accustomed to the huge and priceless West Los Angeles VA campus, I imagine that resolving the problem of using this land by outdoors events is kind of easy.
The Brentwood College and UCLA, each of which lease VA land, have extra money than land. In distinction, the VA has extra land than cash. Using an impartial arbitrator to frequently renegotiate the leases to honest market worth would seemingly be a bonanza for the VA whereas retaining sufficient land to construct the mandated housing and keep away from prolonged and expensive lawsuits.
The VA has quite a few growing old buildings in numerous states of restore that might profit from renovation, along with a number of different wants that this additional revenue might treatment.
Jonathan Kaunitz, Santa Monica
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To the editor: This land was bequeathed to veterans. Now, UCLA, a personal Okay-12 college, a park and oil wells occupy the area.
The place are our American values? Veterans are homeless and residing on the streets.
I’m not a veteran, however the article on how you can use this land outrages me. The VA must be ashamed for permitting this to occur.
So many are in want, and so they had been offered out. A promise has been damaged and must be righted. Housing and facilities are what ought to stand there.
Lisa Hammermeister, Granada Hills
