Judge David O. Carter has ordered UCLA to cordon off its baseball stadium and practice field located on the sprawling Veterans Affairs campus in West L.A., calling the plan to benefit veterans brought back to him by the university's chancellor "inadequate."
UCLA is among several outside leaseholders under intense scrutiny from Carter, who ruled last month that more than 2,000 new homes must be built on the VA property for unhoused veterans within six years. He also made it clear that existing leases that don’t primarily benefit veterans must be canceled.
Willingness to make tough calls
During a Wednesday hearing, Carter had signaled he was ready and willing to make tough calls. He warned a UCLA attorney that if the school's chancellor — Darnell Hunt is in the interim role — did not appear in court, Carter guaranteed that he'd rule the facilities off limits.
According to a release, the chancellor did show up later Wednesday with the order from Carter. While Carter thanked the chancellor for appearing and making an effort, according to minutes released after that conversation Wednesday, Carter found: "After hearing UCLA’s proposal regarding how the land on which the UCLA baseball stadium and the Branca Practice Field might be repurposed, the Court finds that it is inadequate."
Carter said the facilities need to be cordoned off by noon Thursday.
He said opening up the facilities again will hinge on UCLA proposing a "position on how the ten acres it currently occupies can be put to a use such that the provisions of services to veterans is the predominant focus of the activities of the Regents at the campus."
That decision came after the federal judge spent hours Wednesday urging outside groups to reach an agreement on major changes at the sprawling Veterans Affairs campus in West Los Angeles.
He also cautioned that he would order the swimming pool at the Brentwood School, which has expansive athletic facilities on the VA campus, "filled in with sand" if he was dissatisfied with their proposal.
Where things stand
Now, current leaseholders — including the private K-12 Brentwood School, an oil drilling company and a parking lot management company — must figure out how to exit the property to make way for more housing and services for veterans currently living on the streets.
The ultimate goal in this case is to build 750 units of temporary housing within the next year and a half, plus another 1,800 units of permanent housing within the next six years.
Those targets for new housing were set by Carter when he sided with disabled veterans who sued the VA over what they saw as long-standing land misuse. Amelia Piazza, a Public Counsel attorney who is one of the lawyers for the veterans, said Wednesday’s hearing was the most packed she’s seen in this case so far.
“We have this land on which housing can be constructed, and it's being leased out to private entities who aren't really using it for a purpose that principally benefits veterans,” Piazza said. “This is really about taking advantage of this resource and putting it to the best use possible for veterans in need.”
What happens now?
The UCLA proposal to the judge came after the hearing went into recess so the parties involved could discuss the logistics of exiting the VA campus. Carter warned he was prepared to take swift action, potentially voiding the parking lot lease by Wednesday evening. He also said if UCLA’s chancellor failed to appear in court to discuss an exit plan, he would order the VA to cordon off the university’s baseball stadium.
“You’re about to lose those 10 acres,” Carter told a UCLA attorney, who initially said the chancellor was unavailable. “I’m getting the message that this land isn’t very important to UCLA.”
More on the Brentwood School and other leaseholders
The Brentwood School has spent a considerable amount of money building a large athletics complex on land leased from the VA. Carter said that while he hoped students would still get to use the baseball fields, the track, the swimming pool and tennis courts under an agreement with the VA, he was willing to shutter the facilities if no voluntary deal was reached.
Carter suggested Brentwood School officials call Rick Caruso, the developer and former L.A. mayoral candidate whose name is emblazoned on the school’s Caruso Watt Aquatics Center. Carter described Caruso as patriotic, saying, “I bet you if he was asked, he would donate it” to the VA. Without a deal, though, Carter said, “I will fill this pool in with sand if I have to.”
Another lease under review is tied to oil drilling on the VA grounds. Representatives from Bridgeland Resources appeared in court to defend the company’s claims. Carter again said he would order the company removed if needed. He said many veterans have severe lung problems due to exposure to burn pits.
“These veterans are not going to be at or near an oil well,” Carter said.
According to the latest homeless count, approximately 3,410 veterans are currently experiencing homelessness across Los Angeles County.
