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In a bizarre turn of events, the UCLA Bruins baseball team has been locked out of its own stadium by a federal judge because of a lawsuit over the use of veterans’ land.
Following an 11 hour hearing on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter ordered the UCLA baseball program to vacate Jackie Robinson Stadium and an adjacent practice field.
Why?
According to the Los Angeles Times, the stadium is to remain closed until UCLA comes up with a plan that ensures service to veterans is the predominant focus of the 10 acre facility.
Why?
Because UCLA leased the land for the stadium and practice field from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and a class-action lawsuit was filed against that lease.
Why was the class action lawsuit filed?
Because, according to the lawsuit, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs failed to provide adequate housing for disabled veterans and that the leases it provides on UCLA’s 388 acre campus are illegal. Therefore, they violated the the 1888 deed of the land given to the U.S. government for the “establishment, construction and permanent maintenance” of a home for disabled soldiers.
Judge Carter wrote in his ruling that VA in West Los Angeles “has been infected by bribery, corruption, and the influence of the powerful and their lobbyists, and enabled by a major educational institution in excluding veterans’ input about their own lands.”
The judge also invalidated leases to the Brentwood School, an oil drilling operation and two parking lots that leased land from the VA.
Now, UCLA baseball has to wait until the VA can come up with a plan that satisfies the judge’s wishes.
NBC Los Angeles reports the judge’s ruling now means the VA must build 750 units of temporary housing within 18 months and to form a plan within six months to add another 1,800 units of permanent housing on the land it rented to UCLA.
Carter stated that the VA “has allowed the drastic reduction of the size of the original plot of land deeded in 1888 to be an old soldiers’ home. In a series of lengthy, renewable leases, the VA authorized leaseholders to build permanent athletic facilities — after permitting these concrete structures to be built on veterans’ land.”
So until all of that happens, there will be locks on all of the entrances and exit gates and no trespassing signs placed at Jackie Robinson Stadium and the practice field.
“The VA has leased a small part of its land to UCLA since 1963,” UCLA said about the ruling. “In exchange, the VA receives annual compensation that supports several veteran programs. Last night, a judge prohibited UCLA’s use of this lease by noon today — we are disappointed with the ruling but are complying.
“UCLA Athletics is actively working to adjust operations and training, as this means our students are no longer able to access Jackie Robinson Stadium. We hope for a swift legal resolution that lets our student-athletes return to the facility.”