Veterans, Youths Rally for VA Land

Opponents to the scheduled sale of 111 acres of Veterans Administration land at two Los Angeles locations rallied in Sepulveda onTuesday, one day before the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a bill that would block the sale.

Representatives of Reps. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) and Anthony C. Beilenson (D-West Los Angeles) said they expect the House to approve the legislation, which would prevent the VA from selling 31 acres of its 164-acre hospital property in Sepulveda and 80 acres of a 442-acre VA complex adjoining Westwood.

The 150 protesters, ranging from World War I veterans to members of the Mission Hills Little League, met outside the VA Hospital in Sepulveda, where land used for youngsters’ baseball fields would be sold under the VA plan.

“I hate to see the government sell veterans out like it’s doing on this issue,” said Los Angeles Clippers basketball player Marques Johnson. Johnson said he has two children who play on baseball fields at the West Los Angeles property.

Speakers said they also were worried that the VA might one day need the land for expansion to accommodate a growing and aging population of veterans.

The VA in February declared the property surplus under a Reagan Administration campaign to sell land to reduce the federal deficit. The Los Angeles land has been valued at about $220 million.

Although the House reportedly is inclined to block the sale, the outlook for similar legislation is not so clear in the Senate. Sen. Frank H. Murkowski (R-Alaska), chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, so far has opposed a proposal by Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.) for an amendment that would prohibit the sale of the properties.