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Media Advisory: Local veterans call on Mayor de Blasio to deliver real results

Media Advisory for NYC Veterans Unity Press Event
Local veterans call on Mayor de Blasio to deliver real results

NEW YORK (April 15, 2015) – The city’s top veterans leaders — Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), members of the Veteran Advisory Board, and local and national veteran organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, and NYC Veteran Alliance — will hold a press conference Thursday, April 16 on the steps of New York City Hall. During the unity press event, the groups will call on Mayor de Blasio to deliver real results for the city’s 200,000 veterans.

Since taking office 15 months ago, the mayor has not made veterans issues a priority for his administration despite the enormous challenges that the community faces. During this press conference, the veterans community will stand as one to urge the mayor to prioritize veterans issues and provide concrete policy solutions for the mayor to make a real impact in the lives of veterans in NYC.

IAVA will emphasize that veterans represent generations of leaders in the community and that the mayor needs to show that he cares by presenting a plan with real action and resources. While we appreciate the appointment of Brig. Gen. Loree Sutton (Ret.) as the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs and signing the recent reforms to the Veteran Advisory Board, overall the mayor’s record has not demonstrated that veterans are a priority for his administration. This has been evident in his opposition, which led to a veto of a state-level veterans pension bill as well as the miniscule budget of MOVA.

In October 2014, IAVA provided Sutton, Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, with a set of policy recommendations as a means to develop a comprehensive policy plan for New York City and its veterans. Those recommendations can be found here.

WHO: IAVA, the city’s top veterans leaders, members of the Veteran Advisory Board and local and national veteran organizations including VFW, VVA, MOAA, and NYC Veteran Alliance.

WHEN: Thursday, April 16, 2015, 3:00 – 4:00 pm

WHERE: Steps of New York City Hall
City Hall Park, New York, NY 10007

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