ACLU BLOCKS ILLEGAL INTIMIDATION OF VET PROTESTORS
“ZEN GARDEN” NOT HOUSING FOR HOMELESS VETS IN FATCAT NEIGHBORHOOD
By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER/Senior Editor
Beverly Hills multi-millionaire socialite and retired insurance exec Frank Raab wrote the LA Times complaining that the ACLU was defending veterans opposing his “Zen Garden” project meant to take the place of housing for the 20,000 homeless veterans of the Los Angeles area.
The ACLU stepped in against Raab’s group and their Veterans Affairs partners when political fixers tried to stop protesting vets. Charges against veterans protesting Raab’s project, said to be a “con” meant to keep homeless vets away from the wealthy elite, were dropped when the ACLU announced its support for protesting veterans supported by the American Legion and other groups.
With General Shensiki, head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, calling homelessness among veterans a national disgrace, the Raab project to take land designated for veterans housing and build a “contemplative garden” has an odd ring about it.
Research shown that the group working to block the proposed veterans housing project is made up of millionaire residents of Brentwood and Beverly Hills with nary a homeless vet among them.
Retired VA official, Ralph W. Eckard, highly decorated Marine combat veteran states:
“In 1887, a time in America when its citizens, politicians and leaders had appreciation and respect for her veterans; families began donating land. This land was deeded for the sole purpose of establishing the first Soldiers Home west of the Rockies. The home was intended to assure that no honorably discharged disabled veteran would be left homeless. Over the years the land donations accrued to approximately 600 acres along what is now known as Wilshire Boulevard and San Samente.(sp)
Over the years, the land has come under attack many times. At one point Route 405 cut through the property, then Wilshire Boulevard itself was laid down reducing the property significantly. Veterans, who are truly the ultimate public servants, understand the need for growth and expansion and the sacrifices were made. The donated and deeded land now, only 128 years later, consist of approximately 16 acres.
In recent years there have been a number of attacks on the property. In 1988, an attack was made when a group wrestled for control of the veterans land under the false wrap of designating it as a veterans Conservancy. No one seemed to know what the function of the Conservancy was to be. The only thing clear at that time is that the intended use was not to serve veterans.
Today the veterans face the “Waxman machine”, supported by individuals employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Ralph E. Tillman, Director of Asset Management for greater LA, is actively involved in this endeavor. It was always assumed that individuals employed by the DVA were selected or appointed to their positions to support and protect the interest of our nations. It now appears that Mr. Tillman and his Waxman machine are doing so to acquire this land.
Due to this, 1 million dollars has been spent to fence in the property which actually has a two sided purpose. The fence not only keeps our nations veterans off the land deeded for their use but additionally beautifies the entrance to Brentwood. Not only has the fence been erected, the ground now has built upon it a police headquarters, and is patrolled by multiple police vehicles all having been procured using funds intended for veteran care.
The grounds are patrolled by un- sworn Department of Veterans Affairs employees dressed in police uniforms. One would have to believe that the facility would have to request additional funding to support such a program from DVA Central Office in Washington, D.C. Since such facility improvements and staff would need to come from the Medical Centers annual budget additional funds would need to be granted by Washington. Does anyone wonder what Washington’s position is on this matter?.
The individuals wearing police uniforms who work for DVA are not sworn officers nor do they have independent arrest authority. Generally, Police and Security Services within the DVA try to garner authority from an agency within the Department of Justice such as, the Federal Marshal’s. The authority can vary from facility to facility as with the authority of these individuals to carry firearms.
In most instances permission to carry firearms is approved or disapproved by the Medical Center Director. In addition, Police and Security Service will have a varied structure. In some facilities the Chief of Police and Security Service will work for the Medical Center Director, in others it may be for the Chief of Engineering Service or even the Chief of Facilities Management Service. Any authority granted to these individuals is restricted to the grounds that the VA facilities occupy and only those grounds.
In consideration of what has been previously stated, it only garners one question, why there are volumes of photographs depicting VA staff in uniform performing functions off the DVA grounds? Case in fact is that these individuals have been executing arrest off DVA grounds.”
Billions of dollars of veterans land, designated over a century ago for housing has been used for exclusive private schools, fundraisers, Broadway theatre projects and even storing rental cars, everything but housing veterans.
With a small group of local vets moving toward their 3rd year of protests, under increasing threats of violence, illegal arrest and intimidation, the powerful political groups wishing to wall veterans off from some of the countries weathiest neighborhoods that grew up around the Los Angeles Veterans Home, the threats by the ACLU to stifle illegal intimidation tactics has frustrated millionaire Raab.
Vets involved in the protest report assaults, phone threats and illegal surveillance, admitted by the VA.
VET LAND USED TO HOUSE VA EMPLOYEES IN STYLE
Aerial photos of the former veteran’s home shows an area of private housing rumored to be used by VA employees, housing worth many millions. We are told that, at one time in the distant past, employees of veterans facilites were provided housing on some military posts.
Photos, however, show million dollar properties with acres of private guardens, some worth up to $100,000 a month in rent, used by employees, oddly enough, closely aligned with Raab’s group and key political leaders in the area. It is possible that millions in back taxes may be owed on “sweetheart” deals like this one.
TAX QUESTION
With properties of such value being used either “gratis” or for rent that is only a small fraction of fair market value, the protesting veterans have asked if this “value” is being declared on the income taxes of the recipients.
Tax law indicates that, for instance, if an individual uses a company car on private business, even for a trip to the store, the value of that trip is taxable as income. If a VA employee were to receive a subsidy of free rent, let’s say, of up to $1 million a year, would laws that apply to all other federal and private employees apply to them also?
Is there a law that exempts certain VA supervisory employees from Federal Income Tax? Regulations meant to keep doctors and nurses protected from “Indian attack” may now be providing untold luxury on land designated for housing poor veterans.
INVESTIGATION REQUESTED
Raab’s complaint that the ACLU came in to block his Veterans Affairs police from protesting his “pet” Zen Garden project brings to mind a number of potential issues.
With several billion dollars of land in question, the law violations by VA employees are unlikely to have happened unless a pattern of illegality were involved. Trained police officers are unlikely to break numerous laws without, themselves being subjected to threats and intimidation.
Privately, Veterans Affairs police admit to being pressured to force veterans protests to stop, “no matter what.”
With so much money involved and the cast of characters, millionaires, politicians and questionable government officials involved, an investigation into all dealings involving this land is demanded.
Zen garden or homes for vets, which makes sense? Why have so many who have so much found it so easy to forget there is a war going on?
VT Senior Editor Gordon Duff is a Marine combat veteran and regular contributor on political and social issues.
Gordon Duff posted articles on VT from 2008 to 2022. He is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. A disabled veteran, he worked on veterans and POW issues for decades.
Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of the top global intelligence specialists. He manages the world’s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with governments challenged by security issues.
Duff has traveled extensively, is published around the world, and is a regular guest on TV and radio in more than “several” countries. He is also a trained chef, wine enthusiast, avid motorcyclist, and gunsmith specializing in historical weapons and restoration. Business experience and interests are in energy and defense technology.
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