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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sharon Brown on Veteran Support and Rights
1:41:49
·
3 min
Sharon Brown testified on the need for comprehensive support for veterans, emphasizing the importance of recognizing homelessness as active duty and providing veterans with resources to achieve the American dream. She advocated for improved benefits, housing, and employment opportunities for veterans.
- Called for veterans to be considered on active duty during periods of homelessness, with corresponding pay and benefits
- Emphasized the need for veterans to own businesses and property, not just be street vendors
- Criticized the current system for debilitating veterans and argued for more proactive support, including immediate housing and financial assistance for homeless veterans
Sharon Brown
1:41:49
My name is Sharon Brown.
1:41:50
Before I begin, remember Israel released the hostages.
1:41:54
Let Yahweh's people go.
1:41:56
Defend Israel.
1:41:57
Okay.
1:41:58
We have to really help the veterans, and we can't just keep talking about it.
1:42:05
We have to make sure that the veterans are declared to have been active duty while they were homeless.
1:42:14
They were out on the streets.
1:42:16
Their skill set is to defend the nation.
1:42:20
While they were out there on the these streets of New York City and around America, they should be deemed to have been serving and been on active duty.
1:42:31
And I have said this before.
1:42:33
For the time that they were homeless and whatever time that they were in the military prior, they will be getting paid and the benefits will be assessed for the time that they were homeless and the time that they actually served.
1:42:50
As the gentleman spoke about the vendors, I was trying to figure out what he was speaking about.
1:42:56
There are vendors that line City Hall near the bridge side, and I don't see any stickers or anything that show that there are veterans there.
1:43:06
That is very concerning that there are no veterans represented.
1:43:10
But I still do, like I said before, want veterans to own stores, brick fronts, and, you know, things like that.
1:43:19
They shouldn't only be out on the street vending.
1:43:24
They should also have the right to own stores, houses, property, vehicles.
1:43:31
We should be funding them to make sure that they have the best.
1:43:36
So because they have defended this nation, they should get everything that is a part of the American dream.
1:43:42
A house if they want to or an apartment, whichever one they choose, a vehicle for them to drive if they are able.
1:43:51
If they aren't able and they don't understand that they are able, they can learn that disabled people know how to drive.
1:43:59
I had an uncle who was missing a leg.
1:44:02
He was military, and he was driving a car even though he had a leg amputated.
1:44:09
So military can function when they are not being debilitated by the system.
1:44:15
They should not be forced into, mental health programs and things like that.
1:44:21
They need to be active in life, owning property, owning vehicles, teaching other people things that they know.
1:44:29
They have, taken care of this nation, and we should take care of them.
1:44:35
It's not about drugging them and telling them what to do.
1:44:39
They have the skills to tell society what they need to do to be safe, secure, and to progress and to prosper.
1:44:47
They were paid for this kinds of thing.
1:44:50
Also, for those who are homeless, I'll just say this the last, those who are homeless, when they are out on the street, there should be people from the HRA to go out and hand out food stamp cards for them to use and cash while they're out on the streets.
1:45:08
We need bathrooms for them.
1:45:10
We need them to get permanent housing now.
1:45:13
There are veterans out on the street.
1:45:16
This is obscene.
1:45:17
Veterans living on the street is obscene.
Robert F. Holden
1:45:20
Thank you.