Earlier this week we received the welcome news that the lawsuit filed by disabled veterans against the Department of Veterans Affairs has been settled. Secretary of Veterans' Affairs Robert McDonald visited the West Los Angeles VA campus on Wednesday with advocates for the plaintiffs to announce details of a settlement designed to find lasting solutions for our local homeless veterans.
It calls for a new master plan for the VA's campus, one with a renewed focus on how best to serve veterans. Chancellor Block said that UCLA is prepared to help tackle this challenge by building on UCLA's work, making certain that the West Los Angeles VA, including Jackie Robinson Stadium, can truly meet the unique needs of today's veterans.
Before the settlement was announced, Secretary McDonald met with a group of stakeholders, including officials from UCLA. Secretary McDonald repeatedly stated his intention to strengthen the VA's relationship with UCLA. We also are eager to work collaboratively with the VA and through the master planning process to better serve veterans. We are gratified to learn UCLA has a willing partner in the Veterans Affairs Secretary.
For nearly 70 years, UCLA has worked in partnership with the VA, providing vital physical and mental health as well as social services to veterans at the West LA campus, on our own campus and beyond. For 50 years, Jackie Robinson Stadium has been part of that collaborative partnership. We fully intend for that to continue. We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that Jackie Robinson Stadium enhances its contribution to the core mission of the VA's campus. And now, we are happy to report there is a process through which we can do that.
I realize many of you will have questions. We will provide answers as they become available. For now, there is much work to be done. We understand that soon the VA will name a new project manager to report directly to the VA Secretary and will launch an accelerated process to develop a long-term Master Plan for the future use of the West Los Angeles campus -- targeted to be completed by October 16, 2015.
Representatives from the UCLA community will be actively involved in providing input to the Master Plan and we fully anticipate being a part of a solution that is a win for veterans, for UCLA, and for UCLA baseball.
Sincerely,
Dan Guerrero
UCLA Director of Athletics