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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Michael Inyosu on Cold War Veterans Property Tax Exemption
2:19:33
ยท
3 min
Michael Inyosu, a Cold War veteran, testified about the importance of including Cold War veterans in the property tax exemption program. He emphasized the financial impact this would have on veterans like himself and the need for recognition of their service.
- Inyosu served honorably from 1975 to 1979 on the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier
- He has been advocating for the Cold War veterans property tax exemption for seven years
- The exemption would save him $600 per year, which would be significant for him and his wife on a fixed income
- He highlighted that the exemption is already available in New York State, just not in New York City
Michael Inyosu
2:19:33
I have to say it's an honor to be here.
2:19:35
I just wanted to bring out something is that I know that you've been very helpful to veterans for many years.
2:19:43
And I was hoping to thank the other co sponsors of the Cold War property tax exemption.
2:19:55
And I was I was gonna ask councilwoman Sandra, can't think of her last name, nurse Nurse.
2:20:04
To see if she could also cosponsor the bill.
2:20:07
We lost council member Barelli for his resignation.
2:20:11
So there's only eight left, And I feel that it's very important to me that I was a honorable discharging from '75 to 79 on an aircraft carrier, The US the CVN Kennedy.
2:20:27
And when I call up to try to get a property tax exemption for the Cold War veterans, they do not consider me a veteran.
2:20:39
And I know you're big on cosponsoring that for for for a while, chair Holden.
2:20:47
And I wanted to see if I can I'm trying to do this for, like, seven years.
2:20:53
And with DVS, as part of it, for them to put that out where it would be I pay $6,000 property tax.
2:21:05
It would be a $600 per year savings for me and my wife on a fixed income coming up on our fiftieth anniversary.
2:21:16
I missed it by two weeks.
2:21:18
I joined prior to the Vietnam era.
2:21:21
No.
2:21:21
No.
2:21:21
That's fine.
2:21:22
I'm very thankful for everything that we do for our veterans.
2:21:29
This is something that would affect me, and I'll expect yes, no, or maybe.
2:21:36
And we've been trying for many years for this.
2:21:39
So for $600, it would give me and my wife fifty dollars per month towards groceries or things.
2:21:48
It's not a lot of money.
2:21:50
If I move now, because of the the rate of inflation and things, so if I move one block out of New York City, this is already in New York State law.
2:22:02
I move one block out, I get it.
2:22:06
So the simple this there's five, I think, words.
2:22:10
New York City, please opt in to this program.
2:22:15
We have that alternative that the commission was mentioning.
2:22:18
There's a couple of them.
2:22:20
I didn't use any loans.
2:22:22
So I am looking, I am trying to be a voice for the cold war veterans that are out there that there's there's probably not many of us here, but I'm I wanna be a voice where I wanna be recognized for my service for those four years where we practice for war.
2:22:45
And I'm a veteran.
2:22:47
And governor Cuomo at the time took three times for him to recognize city workers to buy back their pension time of three years that cost me $10,000, which is well worth it, my pension.
2:23:06
But he said that a veteran is a veteran.
2:23:09
And when it comes to Cold War veterans, you're telling not you, sir.
2:23:15
They're telling me that you're not.
2:23:18
Mike, you're not.
Robert Holden
2:23:19
Alright.