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TESTIMONY
Armando Crescenzi, Associate Founder of Put Veterans First, on Challenges and Injustices Faced by Disabled Veterans in Street Vending in New York City
1:15:38
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3 min
Armando Crescenzi, Associate Founder of Put Veterans First, advocates for better support and rights for disabled veterans in street vending in New York City.
- Crescenzi discusses the difficulties and injustices disabled veterans encounter in street vending, including enforcement issues with General Business Law 35.
- He points out the city's failure to acknowledge state-granted rights to veterans, rendering these rights ineffective.
- Crescenzi emphasizes the disparity in treatment between illegal vendors and disabled veterans, urging the city to offer the same respect to both groups.
- He calls for a moratorium or grace period to free disabled veterans from city placement restrictions, enabling them to pursue entrepreneurship.
- Crescenzi's mission through Put Veterans First is to empower fellow veterans through small business street vending.
Armando Crescenzi
1:15:38
Good morning.
1:15:40
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
1:15:42
The team members of the council on veterans extend my heartfelt gratitude to the committee for this opportunity to speak.
1:15:53
To the veterans advocates and the service holder visations present, your unwavering commitment to our cause is evident here today.
1:16:02
You stand as a beacon of hope, ensuring the voice of New York City veterans will resonate throughout these chambers and that our city will never forget its duty to those who served.
1:16:15
My name is Amanda Crescanti.
1:16:18
I'm a life member of the DAV.
1:16:22
The military officers association of America and the American Legion, where I'm currently a post commander.
1:16:30
While my academic credentials speak to political science and law.
1:16:36
My most profound badge of honor is my DD 214.
1:16:42
In 2010, I embarked on a mission close to my heart.
1:16:47
By founding a nonprofit organization, called put veterans first.
1:16:52
As service disabled veterans, our mission is clear.
1:16:57
To empower our fellow veterans, to forge their own path through small business street vending in the bustling heart of New York City.
1:17:08
My journey into street vending began in 2003, where I became acquainted intimately with the hurdles and injustices that disabled veterans face daily.
1:17:22
It's a reality stand with disgrace.
1:17:26
Our New York State legislature, boast laws designed to favor veterans, such as the freedom for a disabled vet to vent wow the state throughout the state in any city, unshackled by local placement restrictions.
1:17:44
Yet despite the promise enshrined in general business law 35, an upheld the appellate division in Kazwan via punting.
1:17:55
The reality falls far short.
1:17:59
The competitive landscape of street pending presents formidable challenges even for the most resilient.
1:18:06
While general business law 35 theoretically grants a veteran access to prime locations.
1:18:14
The city refuses to acknowledge our state granted rights rendering them null and void.
1:18:22
Mear Adam's recent visit to corona queens painted a stark picture of sidewalks overrun by illegal vendors.
1:18:33
While I empathize with their plight, it's disheartening to witness a de facto moratorium enforcing vending laws against illegal immigrants.
1:18:47
Today, I employ the city of New York to extend the same courtesy and respect to its disabled veterans.
1:18:56
And to show the tens of thousands of the same respect it shows to his disabled veterans.
1:19:03
That it shows to the tens of thousands of immigrants who are vending illegally declare a moratorium or a grace period liberate the service disabled veterans from the shackles of the city placement restrictions.
1:19:19
Let a veteran pursue the American dream with the same fervor as any other New York City resident with the entrepreneurial spirit.
1:19:29
Thank you.