Homeless Los Angeles veterans are furious with President Joe Biden over a visit to Veterans Affairs property to promote a parking lot for a new subway extension rather than fix their living situations, an advocate for the group says.
The move poured gasoline on a simmering feud between the federal government and veterans who have sought permanent housing on a sprawling VA campus near the celebrity enclave of Brentwood. The property was deeded over for the sole use of housing veterans following the Civil War.
“Biden grandstanded on veterans’ land and didn’t even include veterans in his speech,” AMVETS social worker Rob Reynolds told the Washington Examiner. “He is such a disgrace.” AMVETS is a social service organization aimed at helping house and care for veterans.
Biden held a press conference on the property Oct. 13 with Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Rep. Karen Bass (D) in tow. Los Angeles has among the worst traffic congestion in the nation, as most commuters find the subway system either inconvenient or too dangerous to use. Lawmakers are attempting to expand routes to ease gridlock.
“Every year, people take more than 22 million rides on your subways, your light rail, and your buses,” Biden said. “It’s how so many people get to work, school and how tourists and locals explore this world-class city. But the transit system needs an upgrade, badly. … You need to connect more neighborhoods, ease traffic congestion, air pollution — make it easier for people to get around to where they need to go.”
VETERANS ROW HOMELESS SETTLE INTO NEW TENT CITY DIGS BUT PROBLEMS PERSIST
But Reynolds was not buying any of it. Last year, he helped dozens of homeless veterans who lived on a sidewalk outside the premises move onto the VA property and into a tent city and then tiny homes. Over the years, he has placed hundreds in various housing situations, but most want to be at the VA, which does not currently have a large number of beds. Apartment units are currently under construction.
Now, Reynolds is writing to VA Secretary Denis McDonough because veterans were angered to witness the press conference about infringement on what they say is their land, he said.
“[Biden] proved our point that our elected officials are more concerned with developments unrelated to veteran housing on the Soldiers’ Home property,” Reynolds wrote. “It highlights how our President is more concerned with a train than ensuring the men and women who serve this country have a roof over their heads. President Biden should have held his infrastructure speech at the Westwood Purple Line station less than half a mile away instead of at the VA.”
Reynolds criticized local politicians for having their “priorities wrong” and being more concerned about an infrastructure project than veterans sleeping on the streets.
“I have numerous physically and mentally disabled Veterans begging me to help them get housed at the VA because they fear it will not go well for them if they are placed somewhere away from the VA,” Reynolds wrote. “I have said this many times over the years…many issues facing our Veterans are not hard to fix, but it requires honest and productive communication from the VA and proper engagement.”
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McDonough’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
