If you can, please attend this evening’s meeting of the Veterans Advisory Board (VAB) at the NYC Family Justice Center at 80 Centre Street in Manhattan, Fifth Floor (Access to the building after 5pm is from 10 Hogan Place.). The meeting will begin as a closed session with previous appointees and those newly appointed, and the meeting opens its doors to the public at 6:30 pm.

Reform of the Veterans Advisory Board is something we pushed for with City Council, and we’re proud to have played a role in the

 progress that has been achieved thus far. While we have also brought up a long list of issues on which Mayor de Blasio has been either inactive, tone-deaf, or actively against us (such as on the pension buy-back which, had the Mayor not lobbied against it, would have extended eligibility to Afghanistan veterans)—we are nevertheless pleased that the VAB is meeting and opening up to the public for the first time.

Please come out as a show of support for this important progress for the VAB and also to support those who will be urging the VAB and MOVA (whom the VAB advises) to take notice of all that yet remains to be done for NYC’s veterans.

IAVA is also encouraging members to attend, and has additional information as well as an RSVP button here: https://my.iava.org/cov_event?id=a5PC0000000CbrRMAS

I hope to see you there.

Kristen

PS – In case you missed it, below is the press our event at City Hall received last week:

Observer: As Veterans Groups Knock de Blasio, Commissioner Welcomes the ‘Energy’: http://observer.com/2015/04/as-veterans-groups-knock-de-blasio-commissioner-welcomes-the-energy/

Post: Veterans groups say de Blasio has ignored their needs:  http://nyp.st/1NVbY9F

Daily News: Vets, advocates protest at City Hall against de Blasio: http://nydn.us/1CUCC6L

Capital NY: After delays, city veterans commissioner promises movement:  http://capi.tl/1HcM8Iu