Major House Cleaning Needed at the Los Angeles National Veterans Home
March 3, 2009 posted by Robert Rosebrock · 11 Comments
By Robert L. Rosebrock, Staff Writer
The bureaucrats at the VA Greater West Los Angeles Healthcare System (VA GWLAHS) have once again crossed swords with Veterans, and once again they have stabbed Veterans in the back.
Sunday, March 1, was “Veterans Appreciation Day” as fellow Veterans gathered on the sacred grounds of the “Great Lawn” at the Los Angeles National Veterans Home to pay tribute to John P. Jones and Arcadia B. de Baker.
It was on March 3rd, 1888, that these two American patriots benevolently deeded this pristine land to the U.S. government with the repeated proviso that it was “to be permanently maintained as a National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.”
Land Being Prostituted and Raped
Tragically, over recent years this sacred land has been violated, abused and misused in every manner imaginable. The egregious abuse extends from the prostituting of Veterans land and facilities to the highest non-Veteran bidder to the raping of 16 acres of virgin soil where Veterans from the Civil War once walked by giving it away “rent-free” to a wealthy neighboring homeowners group for a “grand community park.”
And once again, the bureaucrats at VA GWLAHS targeted fellow Veterans and friends of Veterans by singling them out and punishing them simply because they revere and celebrate this hallowed land and want to protect, preserve and defend it exclusively for today’s Military Veterans as well as future generations of Veterans.
Delay, Delay, Delay
Julio Yniguez, the highly respected 77 year-old Adjutant of the American Legion Post 123 of Santa Monica, applied for a use permit with the office of “asset management” at the VA GWLAHS to host the Veterans Appreciation Day and Anniversary Celebration, and he did it with advanced notice.
Nonetheless, the bureaucrats of “asset management” continuously delayed approval, which complicated the coordination of this event. The intentional delay prevented strategical planning and also prevented the sending out of invitations far enough in advance for interested parties to attend the event.
Inhuman Treatment
As though the intentional delay was not insulting enough, the “asset management” bureaucrats would not allow the attendees of the event to have general access to the restrooms on the ground floor at Veterans building #220, which was just a short distance away from the gathering on the “Great Lawn.”
Several of the Veterans who attended were disabled; one in particular was Steve Palmer, a popular 86 year-old World War II Veteran in a wheel chair. Plus, there were several Korean War Veterans in their 70s and 80s, while the majority were Vietnam War Veterans in their 60s.
For Veterans to unite on this solemn day to pay tribute to the land donors of this sacred property for Veterans use only, and then have VA GWLAHS bureaucrats deny Veterans use of restroom facilities, the very basic of human accommodations, defies any ounce of decorum, respect, civility and common dignity toward the very men and women who served this country, and for whom these VA bureaucrats are hired and responsible to serve.
Once again the VA GWLAHS refused to accommodate America’s Veterans with basic courtesy and respect. Instead, they rubbed more salt into a very old, deep and painful wound through even more abuse and disrespect.
More Respect in Other Countries
During World War II, including virtually all other Wars, America’s soldiers were welcomed and respected on foreign soil. Today, some of those same soldiers are not even welcomed or respected on their own Veterans land here in the USA.
At yesterday’s event, the VA GWLAHS even had a "site monitor," an employee from “asset management,” observing our every move and spoken word.
What an incredibly sad, sad state of decline this once great nation has fallen into when those who have defended our many freedoms are now being denied these same freedoms in their own country, on their own exclusive land, and by our own government.
It’s time for the bureaucrats at the VA GWLAHS to stop fighting against Veterans and put their hateful swords in their sheaves and do the job that they were hired to do, which is to serve all Veterans with equal respect and dignity, not to antagonize, berate, belittle, begrudge and insult them.
Honoring General Shinseki
At yesterday’s event that paid tribute to the Land Grantors, Veterans also honored in absentia, General Eric K. Shinseki, the newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington D.C.
Mr. Yniguez gave the new VA Secretary glowing praise for his distinguished military career and offered new hope that during his watch, things will be different and more Veteran friendly.
Make no mistake; this dirty mess at the largest VA healthcare center in the nation is not the creation of General Shinseki, nor is it of President Obama’s making.
To the contrary, this ugly mess has been building up over the past two decades under the Bill Clinton and G.W. Bush Administrations, but it has now reached an embarrassing all-time high of shameful abuse and neglect.
Time to Clean House at “The Home”
As the new and entrusted “watch commander” for America’s Military Veterans, it is now General Shinseki’s duty and responsibility to take full control and extinguish this flaming, out-of-control abuse against Veterans and their sacred land.
There’s only one solution and it’s that the new Secretary must immediately “clean house” at the National Veterans Home.
Accordingly, Ralph Tillman, “asset manager” at the VA GWLAHS must be relieved of his duties posthaste, as he has persistently acted in defiance toward Veterans while kowtowing and facilitating the neighboring communities and commercial businesses with sweetheart land deals.
It was the “asset management” office under his supervision that stabbed Veterans in the back by not only delaying the approval of the permit for the Veterans celebrative gathering on the “Great Lawn,” but also denying these Veterans of a most basic human accommodation by not providing restroom access at nearby Veterans buildings on Veterans land.
Who Do They Really Work For?
As the “asset manager” and “contracting officer” of the VA GWLAHS, Mr. Tillman has facilitated, negotiated and signed off on a multitude of privileged “enhanced sharing land use agreements,” including the 21 acres of Veterans land to the most expensive private school in the nation, Brentwood School.
In another long-term agreement, he leased away two Veterans theaters to Richmark Entertainment Group for a “community cultural center” while Veterans who are patients at the VA GWLAHS have no theater or entertainment of their own.
Mr. Tillman has leased away acres and acres of Veterans land to Enterprise Car Rental and Laidlaw Buses for vehicle storage and further leased major Veterans buildings to UCLA for research studies while 20,000 Veterans are homeless in Los Angeles.
Mr. Tillman facilitated and recently signed away 16-acres of Veterans land “rent free” for a “grand community park,” even though this parcel of Veterans land is estimated to be worth more than a billion dollars while Veterans healthcare services are seriously under-funded.
Not Professional
Instead of Mr. Tillman’s “asset management” office asking Mr. Yniguez, "how can we help" with Sunday’s event, they deliberately worked against Veterans every step of the way and persistently ran interference on this most sacred and historical day of the National Veterans Home.
If Mr. Tillman were a real professional “asset manager” for which he was hired on behalf of Veterans and their land, then he and all members of his office staff would have proudly joined and celebrated this honorable occasion instead of intimidating and begrudging America’s Veterans.
“Dereliction of Duty”
Mr. Tillman’s “asset management” office also facilitated Veterans Park Conservancy, not a Veterans organization by any stretch, to plagiarize and denigrate America’s revered watchword of “Duty, Honor, Country,” by allowing this special-interest homeowners group to irreverently engrave in stone on Veterans property, “Beauty, Honor, Country,” because it’s their group’s mission to beautify the entryway into their community of Brentwood.
These are only a few of the many violations against Veterans and the Deed of 1888 facilitated by Mr. Tillman. The bottom line is that Veterans do not need an “asset manager” who prostitutes away their sacred land and revered heritage for the benefit of non-Veterans.
To the contrary, Veterans need a responsible and caring steward who reverently protects, preserves and defends their land from the aforementioned land heists by fully respecting and honoring the Deed of 1888.
There’s Only One Asset at Any VA Facility
Veterans’ sacred land is not a business or a commercial "asset," i.e., “a property to which a value can be assigned.” No, the only “real asset" at any VA facility is each and every Veteran and the Department of Veterans Affairs needs to manage the healthcare services of these Veterans first and foremost.
In short, no price or value can be assigned to any single Veteran and his or her healthcare and rehabilitative needs.
Change the Name and Attitude
The bureaucratic name of "asset management" is a term that needs to be replaced along with Mr. Tillman’s defiant attitude. How about changing the name to “property protection" and the manager’s title to “property steward?”
This would certainly indicate that the VA GWLAHS is actually serious about taking care of our Veterans "needs" and their land instead of running a real estate brokerage company and facilitating the "wants" and whims of the neighboring community and commercial businesses.
This sacred land and the buildings upon it must be returned to the Deeded promise for Veterans use only, and the must change the existing negligent and belligerent attitudes while restoring the revered grandeur and glory of this beloved National Veterans Home.
Time For Change
For way too long, this sacred land has been violated, abused and misused at the painful expense of America’s Military Veterans.
It’s time for change and that means the Department of Veterans Affairs must put an end to all of these manipulative and deceptive “enhanced sharing land use agreements” by terminating them posthaste, including rescinding the special interest public park agreement.
Albert Einstein rightfully noted: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking that created them.” And the only way to solve the monumental problems at the Los Angeles Veterans Home is to make monumental changes with new thinking.
This can only be accomplished with a thorough house cleaning by Secretary Shinseki through the termination of those who created this dirty mess and multitude of problems in the first place.
About the author:Rosebrock is a U.S. Army Veteran, Vietnam War-era, HQ USARHAW, Schofield Barracks. He is Co-Director of We the Veterans and Director of The Veterans Revolution, and a Member of the American Legion Press Association.
The 2nd annual celebration in recognition of the Signing of the Grant Deed of 1888 was, this year, named “Veteran Appreciation Day” and will, going forward, be referred to as such.
The actions and intentions of the organizing committee are honest, specific (SAVE THE HOME) and without any individual agenda.
Mr. Rosebrock is right on target in that the bureaucrats, including the newly appointed director, co-director and Vision 22 Manager/Director, Mr. Norby, need to “embrace” Veteran advocates and address, head on, our concerns, not, as before, put us on “ignore”.
Thanks to the Veterans Revolution and We The Veterans, these last two, most important, recognition of March 3, 1888 signing of the Grant Deed, and, the March 2, 1887, act of congress recognizing the importance of the “Home”, would not be brought to public attention, especially by the people who are trying to steal this land from Veteran patients.
The public demands an audit. It’s simple…people who feed at the public trough are accountable to those who provide the feed. Where does the money for all of those “managed assests”, go, and are they offered at fair market value? The VA is short of money for healthcare, for services, for personnel…and yet they make what appear to be sweetheart deals with special interests and people who are politically connected. It’s taxpayer money. Open the books.
why are they so short on money? Afterall they charge ny WWII Veteran husband and arm and a leg for the little care they provide.
I understand that all monies gained from land lease or for leased to the movie studios is money in the Directors pocket? Please correct me if I am wrong.
Respectfully,
Military Brat
Yvonne, Military Brat, get’s the cupie doll for hitting the proverbial “nail on the head”! VA, WLA, and, VA, SEPULVEDA in Los Angeles, CA, make buku bucks from film companies, millions we are told. However, there is no transparency for the community it is supposed to serve, the Veteran community! Quite the reverse! The film companies are given access, within 24 hours from applying in some cases, to VA facilities where Veterans, attempting to use a lawn area to celebrate the 121St Anniversary of the signing of the Grant Deed in 1888, are made to wait. In Sepulveda facility (not campus), the film companies have been given buildings “carte blanche” at the expense of removing a successful program that provided a day center for aging Veterans and their spouses, go figure!
I guess the “accounting” that Richard Berger is calling for is as far away as finding out what Yvonne is calling for, after all, we are just Veterans and friends of Veterans calling for some honest reporting, transparency and to save the precious few land resources for today’s and tomorrow’s Veteran patients (not public parks and film crews). The elected officials that facilitated their being on our land, actually, like being closer to the glitz than to America’s heroes.
What a travesty! If I hadn’t seen similar reports from Mr. Rosebrock’s keyboard, I’d appreciate his latest report as a bit of surrealist literature. I’m surprised the VA didn’t call out the SWAT squad to teach these uppity vets a lesson in humility.
That the Veterans Administration would treat veterans this poorly–delaying the permit, denying access to bathrooms, converting a day of celebration into one of humiliation–would have been SOP under the previous Administration. I look to the Obama/Shinseki administration administration to step in immediately and clean house at West LA.
Folks, don’t just read and be mad. Take action. Send this VeteransToday.com article to your Senators and Representative. Send a letter to the editor of your local newspapers, attach a link to Rosebrock’s article. Write Obama. Write Shinseki.
Raise a ruckus!
Obama: http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/
White House: Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD
Comments: 202-456-6213
Visitors Office: 202-456-2121
Shinseki: Go through the Inspector General’s Abuse Reporting system:
Write the VAOIG Hotline:
VA INSPECTOR GENERAL HOTLINE (53E)
P.O. BOX 50410
WASHINGTON, DC 20091-0410
E-mail the VAOIG Hotline: vaoighotline@va.gov
FAX the VAOIG Hotline: (202) 565-7936
“We the Veterans” have Resolutions in opposition to the public park and other misuse and abuse of Veterans land from the California American Legion (150,000 members), The Gathering of Eagles (35,000 members) The American GI Forum of California (5,500 members), National Veterans Coalition (4,000 members), Veterans United For Truth (1,700 members) and several other organization, including the Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party, (Bobby has endorsed this), the Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, The Los Angeles Democratic Central Committee, Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee, and the San Fernando Valley Republican Club. Our support continues to grow and as we move forward, it’s probably not a good idea to be on the wrong side of this very responsible and patriotic mission.
When Sue Young, the executive director of Veterans Park Conservancy, not even remotely a Veterans organization but a wealthy homeowners group that is hell-bent on taking Veterans land for their own use, was essentially asked in the November 2007 issue of the “Brentwood News” how she was able to expropriate a 16-acre parcel of Veterans land for a public park that is “rent-free,” and she responded: “Because this arrangement was unprecedented, it required lengthy discussions and compromises with Veterans Administration in Los Angeles and Washington. The agreement also called for approvals at the highest levels, i.e., Secretary Nicholson, and the involvement of the Congressional delegation.”
Congressman Henry Waxman of the 30th District and a powerful member of the aforementioned “Congressional delegation” that facilitated these “unprecedented / compromises,” is the responsible steward for protecting this sacred trust that is within his District. However, the Congressman supports the public park and other land lease abuses, including the 21 acres of Veterans land for the wealthiest private school in the nation, and is “off limits” to America’s Veterans.
As a Congressman and a lawyer, why does Waxman facilitate these unprecedented compromises against the legal Deed of 1888 that is also backed up by an Act of Congress?
The Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party, the Congressman’s own political Party, have a “Resolution to Protect a National Sacred Trust,” yet he refuses to support the Resolution and America’s Veterans within his own political Party? Why is that?
Nicholson was another facilitator of these land grabs during the GW Bush years. In fact Veterans Park Conservancy claims on their website that their “government supporters” include former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Senator Feinstein, Congressman Waxman, Governor Schwarzenegger, former VA Secretary’s Nicholson, Principi and others.
This is an enormous opportunity for the Obama Administration and his Secretary of Veterans Affairs to break rank and show new leadership by respecting both Veterans their Deeded land.
Get a movement underway to replace waxman, California has a lot of veterans and if the veterans in that district vote as block, they can get rid of him.
“We the Veterans” have Resolutions in opposition to the public park and other misuse and abuse of Veterans land from the California American Legion (150,000 members), The Gathering of Eagles (35,000 members) The American GI Forum of California (5,500 members), National Veterans Coalition (4,000 members), Veterans United For Truth (1,700 members) and several other organization, including the Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party, (Bobby has endorsed this), the Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, The Los Angeles Democratic Central Committee, Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee, and the San Fernando Valley Republican Club. Our support continues to grow and as we move forward, it’s probably not a good idea to be on the wrong side of this very responsible and patriotic mission.
When Sue Young, the executive director of Veterans Park Conservancy, not even remotely a Veterans organization but a wealthy homeowners group that is hell-bent on taking Veterans land for their own use, was essentially asked in the November 2007 issue of the “Brentwood News” how she was able to expropriate a 16-acre parcel of Veterans land for a public park that is “rent-free,” and she responded: “Because this arrangement was unprecedented, it required lengthy discussions and compromises with Veterans Administration in Los Angeles and Washington. The agreement also called for approvals at the highest levels, i.e., Secretary Nicholson, and the involvement of the Congressional delegation.”
Congressman Henry Waxman of the 30th District and a powerful member of the aforementioned “Congressional delegation” that facilitated these “unprecedented / compromises,” is the responsible steward for protecting this sacred trust that is within his District. However, the Congressman supports the public park and other land lease abuses, including the 21 acres of Veterans land for the wealthiest private school in the nation, and is “off limits” to America’s Veterans.
As a Congressman and a lawyer, why does Waxman facilitate these unprecedented compromises against the legal Deed of 1888 that is also backed up by an Act of Congress?
The Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party, the Congressman’s own political Party, have a “Resolution to Protect a National Sacred Trust,” yet he refuses to support the Resolution and America’s Veterans within his own political Party? Why is that?
Nicholson was another facilitator of these land grabs during the GW Bush years. In fact Veterans Park Conservancy claims on their website that their “government supporters” include former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Senator Feinstein, Congressman Waxman, Governor Schwarzenegger, former VA Secretary’s Nicholson, Principi and others who have put Veterans last and their special interests and politics first.
This is an enormous opportunity for the Obama Administration and his Secretary of Veterans Affairs to break rank and show new leadership by respecting and honoring both Veterans their Deeded land.
I am a 100% disabled Viet Nam vet. I am generally treated at VA Sepulveda, unless I need an MRI.
I agree with every word you say, but cannot send this to Senator Fienstien. A few months ago, I forwarded a letter to her, and received a response that she would not respond to letters from “third party organizations.” When I asked her if this meant labor unions, political parties, lobbyists, and other such groups, she did not reply. Appearantly, she only wants to hear from those who contribute to her re-election campaign.
I am a 100% disabled Viet Nam vet. I am generally treated at VA Sepulveda, unless I need an MRI.
I agree with every word you say, but cannot send this to Senator Fienstien. A few months ago, I forwarded a letter to her, and received a response that she would not respond to letters from “third party organizations.” When I asked her if this meant labor unions, political parties, lobbyists, and other such groups, she did not reply. Appearantly, she only wants to hear from those who contribute to her re-election campaign.
Gary Sinise, Executive Producer of “Brothers at War” to be released soon portrays what current war is like. Suggest Wilshire uppities view it.