City Councilman Bobby Shriver provided an update last week on efforts to house homeless veterans in Westwood, where there are vacant buildings on the Veterans Administration campus.
So far,he has received no word from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,nor Rep.Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Ca., whom he said are running for re-election, and therefore, may be influenced by some local opposition from neighborhood groups located around the VA property.
“We have been unable to get the land-use designation we need,” Shriver said. “Feinstein has the capacity to make this happen quickly, but so far we haven’t heard from her … It’s an insult to (homeless veterans) who served in the armed services that these buildings are sitting empty.”
Shriver urged residents to write letters and make phone calls to the legislators and put pressure on them to act.
“Feinstein is running for re-election …” Shriver said. “She’s a smart lady. She’ll respond (to the calls from her constituents).”
Calls to Feinstein’s office were not returned.
Waxman said he is supportive of all efforts to house the homeless.
“Veterans face a full range of housing needs, including emergency and transitional housing,” Waxman said. “I strongly believe the West LA VA should provide therapeutic, supportive housing, and my goal is to continue to work with our veterans for programs they believe will best serve their needs.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 5, 2006. Read the original PDF.