Official Point Of View (The WAVE)

Are We Doing Right By Our Veterans?

By Councilman Eric Ulrich

Councilman Eric UlrichAfter World War II, American GIs returned from war to a hero’s welcome. Many of our soldiers came home battle-scarred and in need of housing, employment and educational opportunities. Bold new programs were designed to help them pay college tuition, access quality healthcare and transition back into civilian life.

We invested in our veterans then, and they in turn created an economic boom that lasted throughout the 1950s and ‘60s. We cared and supported our heroes because it was good for them, good for the nation, and simply the right thing to do.

Suffice it to say, a far more aggressive and comprehensive strategy is needed to confront these issues and guarantee their successful integration.But today’s soldiers are coming home to a reality much different than their grandparents’ time - the Veterans’ Administration is broken, jobs are scarce, and our veterans face many other new and unique challenges.

Our work starts with ensuring that all veterans have access to high-quality health care and good paying jobs. Our GIs put their lives on the line every day to defend the freedoms we so often take for granted. We owe them and their families the peace of mind that comes from knowing they have access to quality care. This issue is largely the VA’s responsibility and Congress must ensure that no man or woman that wore the uniform falls through the cracks. However, leveraging and empowering local hospitals and direct providers through city support will help bridge the gap in care when VA services fall short.

Today, almost 12 percent of New York City veterans are unemployed. This is a sad reality faced by many who cannot find job opportunities commensurate with their talents and military experiences. Despite these obstacles, we can still help reduce veterans’ unemployment by offering city incentives to employers who hire veterans and with strengthened advantages for returning service members in the city’s hiring process.

Equally important, veterans deserve affordable housing. Veterans’ homelessness is a serious epidemic in our city and across the country. According to the VA, roughly 25 percent of those living on the street served in the military at some point in their lives. In 2009, the VA pledged to end veteran homelessness and they’ve made some progress, but there is much more to do. For instance, restoring a veterans’ priority system with NYCHA would provide housing waivers for those in immediate need. Building exclusive affordable veterans housing units in each borough would also help combat homelessness.

Earlier this year, I was appointed Chair of the New York City Council Veterans Committee. My thoughts turned to my grandfather and great grandfather who both answered the call to serve, and to the generations of veterans who have sacrificed so much to protect our country and way of life. As a nation, we have no higher responsibility than to honor their service and sacrifice – not only in our words but in our deeds, and I truly believe that New York City can lead the charge nationwide on this important issue
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