Diane Feinstein – January 16, 2008

Exclusive 2019 Update: VICTORY AT THE VA – West LA Veterans Administration master plan protects old nuclear dump from development

EnviroReporter.com did not receive an invitation to this event though we managed to get the particulars and attend. We wanted to ask Sen. Feinstein if she knew about the veterans’ tombstones in the West LA VA’s biomedical nuclear and chemical dump.

The press release to the event read:

Senator Feinstein and Supervisor Yaroslavsky to Discuss Future of West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Campus

Washington, DC – On Wednesday, January 16 at 10:30 a.m., Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) will join with Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky to discuss the future of the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus.

The news conference follows the successful passage of legislation by Senator Feinstein – signed into law by President Bush on December 26 – that prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from allowing commercial development at the 388-acre site, and from selling any portions of the land.

Senator Feinstein will discuss the next steps needed to ensure that any future development of the land will benefit veterans and take into account the needs of the surrounding community.

Afterwards, I had a chance to talk to Sen. Feinstein, and her district director, Trevor Daley, as I described in the December 10, 2009 LA Weekly article “Brentwood’s Toxic Grave.” Following is a transcript of that brief taped conversation:

Michael Collins: “Senator, there’s another issue in that dump that may not be aware which is there are tombstones taken from the National Cemetery and just tossed into it. You can actually see them with the naked eye right now. It’s actually in where the nuclear dump is.”

Senator Feinstein: “Really?” Okay.”

Collins: “I wanted you to be aware of that…

Feinstein: “Okay.”

Collins: “… because if Trevor maybe calls me about it, I can show him that.”

Feinstein: “[To Trevor Daley] Yes, go out and look at it, will you?”

Trevor Daley: “I will. I will.”

Collins: [To Daley]: “Did you hear what I said?”

Feinstein: “He did. He’s got good ears.”

All laugh.

Collins: “Thank you. [To Daley] You’ve got my card?”

Daley: “I do, I do.”

I never heard from Daley and he did not return repeated requests for comment from the LA Weekly and EnviroReporter.com for the “Brentwood’s Toxic Grave” story and questions about why he had taken no action on the matter in nearly two years.

(Click thumbnail to view entire photograph)

There was plenty of media there but very little print press other than EnviroReporter.com

Sen. Diane Feinstein and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.

VA police were at the back of the crowd where some Vets shouted at the Senator

Veteran Francisco Juarez, left, speaks with the Senator.

At far right is Feinstein aide, Trevor Dailey, who has been the subject of attacks by veterans who say he has been derelict of his duties regarding the West LA VA.

Behind Sen. Feinstein, left to right, is Lisa Pinto, District Director for Rep. Henry Waxman, Joel Bellman, Press Deputy for Sup. Yaroslavsky and, right foreground, is Flora Gil Krisiloff, Senior Field Deputy for Yaroslavsky.

Sen. Feinstein is delighted to meet John Keaveny from the VA's drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, New Directions, established in 1992.

Westwood Village activist, Laura Lake, right, greets Sen. Feinstein as Sup. Yaroslavsky and Feinstein's Trevor Daley look on.

Left to right: Trevor Daley, Sen. Diane Feinstein, Rep. Waxman's district director Lisa Pinto, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky

Brentwood community activist and restaurateur, Jay Handal III, left, speaks with another community stalwart, realtor Paul Reznik, center.

Emmy-winning reporter, Walter Richards, interviews the Senator for KTLA/CW News. Flora Gil Krisiloff is in background, at right. The newscast transmitted that night showed the Senator talking about making the West LA VA a center for treating veterans with PTSD.