On Jan. 10, over 200 veterans residing on the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Campus were evacuated due to the Los Angeles fires.
The West LA VA Campus, a 388-acre property located just west of the Interstate 405 freeway, was originally deeded by private landowners to create an Old Soldiers Home. Part of the site has long provided veterans with housing to ease their transition back to civilian life, but the campus has recently seen a legal challenge over UCLA’s use of the land.
One leased space on the site is UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium, included in “Powers v. McDonough,” a class action lawsuit arguing the Office of Veteran Affairs has mismanaged the West LA VA Campus and allowed for several illegal leases.
The lawsuit criticizes the VA for leasing the campus land out to private tenants, including UCLA, the Brentwood School who used the campus for their athletic facilities, an oil drilling company and parking lot companies.
Rob Reynolds, an Iraqi War veteran and veterans advocate, said that he believes the university’s continued use of the land does not do anything to service veterans and their families – what the land is intended to do.