SMC — Veterans gathered here Tuesday to recruit students in their campaign to block commercial development at the Veterans Affairs property in West Los Angeles.
Representatives from Citizens For Veterans Rights said they want to see the remaining 389 acres of open space at the site used only for services helping veterans. They said that money generated from commercial development would be funneled outside of the VA.
The group is planning a march tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. outside of the Federal Building in Westwood to raise awareness of the development proposals, including its own. The group’s plan would include the construction of housing for veterans, a hospice, an occupational training and physical therapy center, and more gardens. CFVR would also like veterans to be employed by companies during construction.
U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson is currently evaluating proposals to develop the property as part of the Capital Assets Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES), a business model developed to streamline the VA to better provide services to veterans. A commission formed as part of CARES recommended selling or leasing excess property to generate revenue.
Representatives from the VA could not be reached for comment.
“Some view veterans’ services as charity, welfare. It’s not,” said CFVR president Francisco Juarez, a veteran of the Vietnam War. “These are services that were promised to veterans, many of who gave their lives serving this country … We want to relate to SMC students and let them know what is going on. Many don’t even know what a veteran is.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 22, 2006. Read the original PDF.