Open Letter To President Obama
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OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA Oliver Bruce Mitchell III PO Box 27OS Long Beach, California 90801 fanuary L,20Ls THW OBM Presi&nt of The United States of America Presi&nt Barack Obama 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001 Dear Mr. President, My name is Oliver B. Mitchell III I'm a veteran and VA Whistleblower. I'm writing you this letter to call to your attention how current federal agencies, who are bormd to - enforce federal 1aws, seemingly fail to enforce such laws that are meant to protect whistleblowers. When whistleblower laws are not enfbrced, it only "out's" the employee and sets them up for harassment and retaliation. When an employee is harassed retaliated or discriminated against for whistleblowing, in many cases it results in his or her constructive discharge or a forced resignation. Mr. President, while my individual circumstances surrounding my whistleblowing activity may be severe and/or perverse, I'm sharing with you the current end result of me blowing the whistle. As a result of my whistleblowing, I'm now homeless and living on "Skid Row" in Downtown, Los Angeles. In the year and a half since being on Skid Row I have had the pleasure of meeting many of my fellow veterans. Mr. President, the Skid Row area of Los Angeles is characterized as a place of "crime, drugs and prostitution." However, many of Los Angeles homeless veterans find themselves on the streets of or in the shelters of Skid Row. While each veteral's individual circumstances may vary, some veterans are faced with such challenges as PTSD, TBI, mental illness or alcohol and/or drug related issues. In an area riddled with such crime and a history of poverty and destitution, this is no place for any veteran trying to recover from the effects of war or service to this country. 1
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Dear Mr. President,My name is Oliver B. Mitchell III, I’m a veteran and VA Whistleblower.I’m writing you this letter to call to your attention how current federal agencies, who are bound to enforce federal laws, seemingly fail to enforce such laws that are meant to protect whistleblowers.When whistleblower laws are not enforced, it only “out’s” the employee and sets them up for harassment and retaliation.When an employee is harassed, retaliated or discriminated against for whistleblowing, in many cases it results in his or her constructive discharge or a forced resignation.Mr. President, while my individual circumstances surrounding my whistleblowing activity may be severe and/or perverse, I’m sharing with you the current end result of me blowing the whistle.
Transcript of Open Letter To President Obama
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA
Oliver Bruce Mitchell IIIPO Box 27OS
Long Beach, California90801
fanuary L,20LsTHWOBM
Presi&nt of The United States of AmericaPresi&nt Barack Obama1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NWWashington, D.C.20535-0001
Dear Mr. President,
My name is Oliver B. Mitchell III I'm a veteran and VA Whistleblower.
I'm writing you this letter to call to your attention how current federal agencies, who are bormd to -
enforce federal 1aws, seemingly fail to enforce such laws that are meant to protect whistleblowers.
When whistleblower laws are not enfbrced, it only "out's" the employee and sets them up forharassment and retaliation.
When an employee is harassed retaliated or discriminated against for whistleblowing, in many cases itresults in his or her constructive discharge or a forced resignation.
Mr. President, while my individual circumstances surrounding my whistleblowing activity may besevere and/or perverse, I'm sharing with you the current end result of me blowing the whistle.
As a result of my whistleblowing, I'm now homeless and living on "Skid Row" in Downtown, LosAngeles. In the year and a half since being on Skid Row I have had the pleasure of meeting many ofmy fellow veterans.
Mr. President, the Skid Row area of Los Angeles is characterized as a place of "crime, drugs andprostitution." However, many of Los Angeles homeless veterans find themselves on the streets of or inthe shelters of Skid Row.
While each veteral's individual circumstances may vary, some veterans are faced with such challengesas PTSD, TBI, mental illness or alcohol and/or drug related issues. In an area riddled with such crimeand a history of poverty and destitution, this is no place for any veteran trying to recover from theeffects of war or service to this country.
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Most recently during the holiday season we lost another veteran here at the shelter. Because of theunique challenges some veterans face, many are left without close friends and family. This veteran as
so many before him passed away "alone and forgotten."
In recent months our nation's govemment has made a pledge to end veteran's homelessness. Mr.President, I ask while the VA undergoes its 21't Century transformation, you not forget the manyveterans living on the streets of Skid Row. I also call to your attention my own troublesome challengesas a result of whistleblowing that has shattered my own family's life.
In the event you are unfamiliar with Skid Row I have provided several stories for your review:
htto://www.elnuevosol.netlportada,4romeless-veterans-lace-a-daily-battle-in-the-streets-of'-la
http://wr.lrv.oprah.com/oprahshow/Horneless-Veterans-on-Skid-Row-Video
http://**wrr,'.lapro gressive.com/los-ange Ies-homeless-veterans/
htm;//ww'w.my--foxorlando.comlstony'277265 39/a-little-trouble-for-a-skid-row-drone
Mr. President, I thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
on"tfuitcheltIII
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