Stealing from homeless veterans

At the “guerrilla artist” Banksy’s L.A. show in 2006, Angelina Jolie reportedly spent nearly $400,000 on three pieces of his work. It was widely reported by the media, that the actress purchased a costly painting entitled “Picnic” portraying a family of four eating lunch while starving Africans stand around them. Isn’t it ironic that in Brentwood, just under Hollywood’s nose in the air, a real life “Picnic” is taking place?

Wealthy elite members are treating themselves to dining alfresco and a Shakespeare play, while homeless and disabled veterans agonise in back alley squalor… To add paradox to allegory and insult to injury, the symbol of “Picnic” became reality on veterans ground, “misappropriated” by the rich and powerful.

388-acre property in West Los Angeles, Brentwood “to be used exclusively by homeless and disabled Veterans.”

In 1888, John P. Jones and Arcadia B. de Baker bequeathed 388-acre property in West Los Angeles, Brentwood “to be used exclusively by homeless and disabled Veterans.” Under the deed, anything done on the land should directly benefit Veterans and Veteran’s health, and other activity would be considered illegal. In 2001, WLAVA began leasing land to commercial organizations to be used as they please, even if their businesses have nothing to do with providing health benefits to Veterans, which constitutes breach of fiduciary duty. Private biz of Brentwood elite is thriving on inaction of current government; a dog park, a commercial car rental, a hotel corporation, a movie studio, botanical gardens and some more popped up on the land destined for veterans’ sanctuary. WLAVA’s assertion that “sharing is not leasing”, is so disingenuous and intricate that the whole thing can be summarised as “sleazing the agreements”.

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Corruption and Cronyism Surround the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs

On August 29, 2013, U.S. District Judge S. James Otero entered a Federal Judgment against the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Eric K. Shinseki, and his Los Angeles VA executive director, Donna M. Beiter, for engaging in nine separate illegal real estate dealings. Shinseki and Beiter dared to appeal the judgment “using the full force and power of the United States and the Department of Justice”, (a comment from Brian Hews and Randy Economy, authors of “Corruption and Cronyism Surround the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs”). Will the Brentwood elite have time and opportunity to grab some more? With Shinseki gone, Donna Beiter, still lives rent free in a posh mansion on the “misappropriated” property, while homeless veterans are kept away from their land by a metal fence…President of the United States could and should end the entire farce and give to our veterans not only their land back but announce much needed humanitarian relief for the vulnerable population in the area. Instead, Obama nominated U.S.Attorney André Birotte Jr.to be a U.S.district judge for the Central District of California.The same André Birotte ruthlessly fought ACLU lawsuit filed against Beiter and Shinseki for misuse of veterans’ property…He states that lawyers in his office “have not assisted with substantive issues involving the litigation of the matter” and is as elusive about his participation in the process, as Obama when asked about his birth certificate. If Obama’s administration doesn’t react when veterans’ sanctuary is being exploited by a corrupted gang, what action can they actually promise to the homeless heroes? At the annual National Conference on Ending Homelessness (July 29-31, 2014), the first lady stood by her man: “My husband vowed to put an end to veteran homelessness and over the past five years he’s cut through red tape, directed record funding to veteran programs and together we made tremendous progress on this issue.” Michelle Obama called the number of homeless veterans “a stain on our nation's soul”, forgetting that present government is notorious for making choices which are an outrage to the people. Decisions such as: flooding the country with immigration while our veterans agonise on the streets, catering to illegal aliens’ needs while our own people are jobless and homeless, are clearly reflecting government’s priorities. Meanwhile, in the corruption oozing L.A County, the “Picnic” continues. Local authorities visibly can afford a “beautification” project which consists on cutting out bushes (our veterans’ bedrooms…) and pushing out both veterans and protesters from public sidewalks surrounding the stolen sanctuary. General George Patton considered that “Fixed fortifications are monuments to the stupidity of man”. What would he say seeing homeless, disabled and exhausted veterans in front of padlocked gates separating them from their property? Patton’s patriotism and great military leadership was magnified by his trust in God and disgust to injustice. He would probably combine a message such as “"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't" with a quote from the Bible. Maybe this one, 1 Timothy 5:8, King James Bible, 1611: “But if any prouide not for his owne, & specially for those of his owne house, hee hath denied the faith, and is worse then an infidel”.