Q&A
Discussion of proposed legislation related to veteran services
1:14:45
ยท
5 min
Commissioner Hendon provides his thoughts on several proposed bills related to veteran services, discussing potential benefits and challenges associated with each piece of legislation.
- Intro 465: Requires HPD to report on federal veteran preference in Mitchell-Lama developments. Hendon is optimistic about using SQUARES to help identify veterans but notes challenges with reporting on denied applications.
- Intro 1171: Proposes a feasibility study for implementing RTM (Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories) therapy for veterans. Hendon discusses potential costs ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 depending on the scope of the study.
- Intro 685: Relates to procurement opportunities for veteran-owned businesses. Hendon notes that many aspects of this bill are already being addressed through existing programs and systems.
- The discussion highlights the need for careful consideration of implementation details and potential unintended consequences of proposed legislation.
Robert F. Holden
1:14:45
By the way, commissioner, what do you think about our bills?
James Hendon
1:14:48
I I you never ask.
1:14:52
I mean, if want to talk about the bill.
1:14:56
Yeah.
1:14:56
Just kidding.
1:14:56
Just kidding.
1:14:57
For the for legislation from council member Vernikov, this is the one that HPD, where it's basically asking HPD submit reports.
1:15:04
Sorry.
1:15:05
The for legislation, you know, that four five, you know, asking HBD to submit annual reports regarding, those who are using the veterans preference for Mitchell Lama.
1:15:15
We're optimistic we can use squares to help them identify the veterans who are in that system.
1:15:21
The only issue with this one is the there's a part here where it says that they need to HPD's report on the number of applicants denied due to failure to provide satisfactory proof of veteran status.
1:15:33
HPD doesn't deal with that.
1:15:34
HPD only the providers, the actual Mitchell Lama developments themselves, you know, screen for eligibility for Mitchell Lama for the veterans preference.
1:15:42
All this screening for, did you serve during a time of war?
1:15:45
You know, so during a a war period.
1:15:47
Do you have a an honorable discharge, and do you live in New York?
1:15:51
And so right now, that's one thing that HP doesn't have a handle on data wise, and it's simply because it's something that it's more of a binary check off that's done by the housing developer themselves.
1:16:00
But for these other things, it's something that that we believe can't be.
1:16:04
I it's what's give what's documents.
1:16:07
What what we're talking about is we we don't know if this happens if someone is already told these are the standards to apply for this preference, and it's not us but another entity, the developer that's obtaining these, and somebody says, okay, well, I have a dishonorable discharge.
1:16:22
I'm not gonna apply.
1:16:23
Or I didn't serve during a time of war.
1:16:24
I'm not gonna apply.
1:16:25
I didn't I don't live in New York State.
1:16:27
I'm not gonna apply.
1:16:28
So we we you know, it's it's a but that's the only issue with that one as far as April.
1:16:32
As far as November, with November, it's the and this is the one about a feasibility study with doing a reconciliation of traumatic memories, you know, the RTM protocol.
1:16:44
With November, it's about the price point.
1:16:47
Just to you've got, you know, from doing our analysis, the fiscal impact is anywhere from 50,000.
1:16:52
If it's just a feasibility study on the city rolling out RTM, you're looking at 50,000.
1:16:58
It goes up to as high as 250,000 if you're saying we need to have some sort of validation of the therapy itself, which is more of an academic exercise and something that, the Department of Health typically does not do.
1:17:09
The Department of does not do those types of studies that validate health care modalities.
1:17:14
But it's 50 to two fifty based on where things stand with that so you can see.
1:17:19
Yeah.
1:17:30
And so it's you're right.
1:17:32
It's really the sliding scale where if it's just something we're just talking about, looking at the operational aspects of it, that's the lower end at the end of the day.
1:17:39
If you're looking at can we validate can the city validate a particular health care modality, that's on the higher end.
1:17:46
And then we run into issues with our friends at Department of Health who say it is our policy to not, as a city, validate specific health care modalities.
1:17:55
So but yeah.
Robert F. Holden
1:17:56
So are you in favor the bill?
1:18:00
We can pilot pro yeah.
James Hendon
1:18:01
If we can pay for it?
1:18:03
I mean so mister mister Not you
Robert F. Holden
1:18:04
pay for it, but if we could if we the city council would have to get, you know, along with the mayor, negotiate that.
1:18:11
It's a pilot program, and we could we could put parameters in there.
1:18:14
So it's still room for negotiation.
James Hendon
1:18:16
So for me, if we if we're able to if the funding is not an issue and if it's a focus on the operational aspects of rolling this out, then I think that's something we're
Robert F. Holden
1:18:24
gonna you.
James Hendon
1:18:25
As long we have the funding, it's more operational.
1:18:27
No.
Robert F. Holden
1:18:27
The funding has to be attached to this.
1:18:28
That's that goes without saying.
1:18:30
So but you you would support it.
1:18:32
Mhmm.
1:18:32
Right?
James Hendon
1:18:33
That is correct, mister.
1:18:34
Okay.
1:18:34
Yep.
1:18:34
That's correct.
Robert F. Holden
1:18:35
And the other one, k.
James Hendon
1:18:36
So so for procurement and veteran owned businesses and different things there, first off, we currently have the Veteran Business Leadership Association, which accounts for a lot of the things that are addressed in this legislation.
1:18:48
And so it would really be saying instead of SBS being in the driver's seat, that DVS would be in the driver's seat on how this community is is organized.
1:18:56
And right now, we do a lot of these things already with the veteran business leadership association.
1:19:00
Beyond that, when it comes to the question of veteran status for those who are registering to do business with the city, MOCs already does that.
1:19:07
So the mayor's office of contract services, when someone's applying to be a part of the payee information portal, that is already something that's already a question there, which it's a voluntary question.
1:19:16
So whether folks are answering yes or no, it could be right back to other things we discussed, but that already occurs.
1:19:22
So and then for the So you're saying you're Yep.
Robert F. Holden
1:19:25
This already exists.
1:19:26
We don't need the bill.
James Hendon
1:19:27
I'm saying that it already we haven't it's not codified.
1:19:30
So this is not so So this is codified.
1:19:33
It were to be codified, we already do this, so it should be that it's DVS that because right now, it's written in such a way where it's SBS should run this.
1:19:41
If it is to be codified, then it should be codified with DVS that owns this piece.
1:19:45
And just acknowledging we already do the identifier question for folks who are entities that are, you know, doing business with the city of New York.
1:19:52
They're already asked that by mocks.
1:19:54
Alright.
1:19:55
Alright.
1:19:55
What about
Robert F. Holden
1:19:56
the community board, the six eighty four?