Q&A
Discussion on VAB's lack of budget and resources
0:42:18
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129 sec
Council Member Holden and Commissioner Hendon discuss the Veterans Advisory Board's (VAB) lack of budget and resources, as well as the challenges this poses for implementing recommendations.
- It is confirmed that VAB has no dedicated budget or resources.
- Commissioner Hendon notes that this situation is common among advisory boards in New York City.
- The discussion touches on the broader implications of providing resources to VAB and how it might affect other advisory boards.
- Challenges in implementing VAB recommendations are highlighted, including bureaucratic processes and jurisdictional limitations.
- Examples of recommendations that face implementation hurdles are discussed, such as veteran-owned business contracting opportunities and changes to federal home loan programs.
Robert Holden
0:42:18
The VAB doesn't have a budget?
James Hendon
0:42:20
Correct.
0:42:21
Nothing.
0:42:22
Correct.
0:42:22
Yep.
0:42:22
That's right.
0:42:23
This goes back to what I'm saying where it's bigger than us in that what we're describing, this is what the advisory boards look like in the city as far as being in this situation.
0:42:32
So it's a bigger conversation on resourcing this.
0:42:35
And so logistical pieces are things that we've worked to triage.
0:42:39
First off, these meetings being at VA facilities this year, tying in with VA.
0:42:44
Also, the Zoom account being already set up where it's accessible such that they have control of that account.
0:42:49
We can still access the recordings.
0:42:50
We can post things more swiftly.
0:42:53
Other issues, it would be I think the I think managing expectations is tough and that there are recommendations VAB will come to us with, and it just takes time for us as government to get these things done.
0:43:06
We work and we hear them, but it's it's it's complicated simply because of this being longer for us going through bureaucracy.
0:43:12
Couple examples.
0:43:14
You know, one of the recommendations was about, allowing for veteran owned businesses to have contracting opportunities with the city.
0:43:21
Contracting opportunities or the contracting rules for the city are, you know, adjudicated by New York State.
0:43:27
That's a New York State legislative issue.
0:43:29
And so that's not us, yet we hear these things.
0:43:32
We try to voice them as best we can.
0:43:33
And so that's one example.
0:43:35
Another one is we know about the the fight to have co ops added to the home loan program.
0:43:38
Same thing.
0:43:39
It's a federal issue.
0:43:40
It deals with our federal elected officials.
0:43:42
It's not us.
0:43:42
We work to try to push it.
0:43:44
There's another one, very important, that we're proud of, but it's taking time.
0:43:48
It's transitioning our VetConnect platform, our online services platform to a new vendor.
0:43:54
And that transition process, it's looking to be in effect no later than May of this year, but it's just taken time.
0:44:01
And so this is things where it's beyond our control when we look at what's around us working in government.
0:44:07
Another one is our Dwyer program, how long it took for us get that off the ground to be able to make that available for our veteran nonprofits to compete for that funding that we got from the state.
0:44:16
Same thing.
0:44:16
So a lot of there are recommendations that VB gives where we, unfortunately, just we if I could snap my finger, I'd love to, but we can't.
0:44:24
And so I think that's a point of friction at times.