Politics & Government
ACLU Sues Dpt. of Veterans Affairs Over Land Use
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed suit against the Department of Veterans Affairs over alleged misuse of a parcel of land in Brentwood.
The American Civil Liberties Union announced Wednesday it filed a class action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs alleging misuse of a parcel land in Brentwood donated by a prominent West Los Angeles family.
The ACLU filed the suit on behalf of four homeless veterans and the descendents of the family that originally owned the land.
The announcement took place during a press conference held in front of Veterans Park. In attendance at the press conference was Carolina Barrie, a former member of the Board of Directors of the Veterans Park Conservancy and descendant of Arcadia Bandini de Baker.
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In 1888, de Baker and Sen. John Percival Jones deeded 300 acres of land along Wilshire and San Vicente boulevards in Brentwood “for the sole purpose of giving veterans a place to heal from war.”
The land become a compound housing a veterans hospital, the Los Angeles National Cemetery, and a recreation area. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs has rented out portions of the land to private corporations.
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The ALCU says it wants a federal judge to order the Department of Veterans Affairs to use the land soley to house veterans or provide medical and psychiatric care to them.
There are 8,200 homeless veterans living in Los Angeles.
Please check Patch later for more details.
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