Q&A
Debate on establishing veterans committees on community boards
1:19:56
ยท
3 min
Council Member Holden and Commissioner Hendon engage in a debate about Intro 684, which proposes establishing veterans committees on all community boards. They discuss the potential benefits and concerns associated with the legislation.
- Holden argues that the bill aims to address the issue of veterans not self-identifying by creating more local-level engagement
- Hendon expresses support for the spirit of the bill but raises concerns about setting a precedent for dictating community board governance
- The debate touches on alternative approaches to increasing veteran self-identification, such as using VA Squares and asking Local Law 37 questions
- Holden emphasizes the unique obligation to veterans and the potential for community-level impact on issues like homelessness and mental health
- There's a discussion about the political challenges of passing such legislation and the need to convince leadership of its importance
- The debate highlights the tension between addressing veteran issues at a local level and respecting the autonomy of community boards
Robert F. Holden
1:19:56
the community board, the six eighty four?
James Hendon
1:19:57
Community board one, it I I it's the same thing I always say where love the spirit of Community Boardman.
1:20:03
The worry being speaking beyond me is we're setting a precedent where the council is now, you know, dictating the governance of all community boards, and so it's about crossing that Rubicon.
1:20:15
So for me, as far as the principle of it, very much in support of it.
1:20:18
You know, we already do work to help liaise with different community
Robert F. Holden
1:20:20
boards Again, I'm I'm this bill, I'm trying to help with the with veterans who don't self identify.
1:20:29
And that the more we could drive that home, do, or else how do we address that?
1:20:35
I mean, I'm looking for answers, if you can come up with better answers.
1:20:38
So on the community board level, 59 community boards, if we had a veterans committee to address some of them, I'm not saying how many times they have to meet.
1:20:46
All I'm saying is get the word out, have a hearing, you know, from time to time, it could be whatever, quarterly, you know, it's up to each community board.
1:20:55
We're not saying mandatory monthly meetings, no, we're saying let's create a veterans committee and let's try to deal with some of the issues, and the biggest one is only 24% of New York City Veterans self identify.
1:21:10
So how do we address that?
1:21:12
If you have some other ideas,
James Hendon
1:21:14
you might have.
1:21:15
You know me.
1:21:15
I mean, my ideas are everyone should ask the question as far as local law 37 questions.
1:21:20
I think that everyone should use VA Squares.
1:21:21
If you are a government entity or social service provider, it's a nonprofit, you should use Squares as far as ways to identify.
1:21:27
What's tough about this is I'm with you on it.
1:21:29
I just worry that it you know, I know you've spent many years in a community board, and so to have a law come down saying so three decades.
Robert F. Holden
1:21:38
Right.
James Hendon
1:21:38
The law comes down saying, community board, you must do x.
1:21:42
I think it's the worry of what next as far it's the precedent.
1:21:45
In other words, it's this could be the first one, but then this could become Yeah.
Robert F. Holden
1:21:48
So It's
James Hendon
1:21:49
not the precedent now where you may have care about that.
1:21:50
No.
1:21:51
I'm calling that out, mister Chao.
1:21:52
I know.
1:21:52
Might you
Robert F. Holden
1:21:53
should you know, the city government might have to care, but I think it's different dealing with veterans.
1:21:58
That, you know, the we owe veterans.
1:22:02
And if this is one little step on a community board just to, you know, recognize how we help veterans and how we help, and again, this could come up where, you know, the community board's dealing with, they, oh, I know this veteran that's on 30 Fourth Street in Manhattan and he's on the street, and again, on a local level, it starts to deal with homelessness, it starts to deal with self identification, it starts to deal with mental health issues, so I think it, any way we could have more conversations on this Mhmm.
1:22:35
On a local level.
James Hendon
1:22:36
And I'm supportive of this.
1:22:38
I wanna be clear.
1:22:39
I am.
1:22:39
I'm just flagging this larger issue that's beyond me on it as far as the It's funny.
1:22:44
I'm hearing That's what I absolutely But I I
Robert F. Holden
1:22:45
hear the same pushback from not only the council.
1:22:50
I'm hearing it from the administration, and I'm wondering why.
1:22:54
So that's why I don't understand.
1:22:56
It's not I thought this would fly through, and that's why I don't I I I well, we're dictating what community boards are saying, and I don't buy that, you know.
1:23:04
I'm just like saying, if we have a problem and the mayor knows there's a problem and the the city council knows that there's a problem with self identification, tell me how we can deal with it, and I'm trying on a local level now with this bill.
1:23:19
It's not just to have a veterans committee, it's to bring the issues forward.
1:23:24
But if, you know, and if leadership doesn't want this to go through, this bill will never see the light of day.
1:23:29
That's how this this council works.
1:23:32
If they don't want it to happen, it won't happen.
1:23:35
So I have to convince people that it should happen.
1:23:37
And I think that's my role as as chair of this committee.
1:23:41
Thank you, commissioner.
1:23:42
Thank you, the associate commission.
Sonya Russell
1:23:43
Yeah.