Q&A
Council Member Paladino inquires about veteran advocates in schools
1:20:03
·
93 sec
Council Member Vickie Paladino raises the issue of having veteran advocates in every school, mentioning a pending legislation from 2022. She questions the current number of schools with advocates and expresses concern about the city's pushback on the proposed legislation.
- Paladino reveals she has legislation pending since 2022 for veteran advocates in schools
- The city claims there's an existing advocacy program and insufficient demand
- Initial confusion about the number of schools currently with advocates
Vickie Paladino
1:20:03
I have several questions pertaining to the kids in school.
1:20:08
Just I wanna just put it out there that when I first took office, I had met with some young veterans, late thirties, early forties.
1:20:20
And they had suggested to me in my office that we have a request in right now from 2022.
1:20:29
To have veteran advocates in every school.
1:20:34
This city pushed back telling us that the schools already have an advocacy program.
1:20:42
And there's no reason and there's not that many veterans who really need it, families, or require it.
1:20:51
That piece of legislation is still sitting.
1:20:53
We renew it each year.
1:20:56
So while you're looking for your outside resources and collaboration and coalitions to fund you, I have legislation in that the city is pushing back on not even to introduce, to bring it on to the floor, to bring it to committee.
1:21:13
Because I do believe that how many schools do you have right now that have the advocates in the schools?
Lauren D'Mello
1:21:20
It's it's a number that's continually growing because we're onboarding weekly.
Vickie Paladino
1:21:24
Right.
1:21:24
Well, how many schools are there in the city of New York?
Lauren D'Mello
1:21:26
About 1800.
1:21:28
Right.
Vickie Paladino
1:21:28
And how many do you have?
1:21:29
How many schools?
James Hendon
1:21:30
It's 242 in Staten Island, but we've got 2 more we have 3 more districts now.
1:21:33
But the 1st year of this, which is last year is 242.
