Veterans in New York City have finally seen their City Council petitions pay off. On Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a law to create a new Department of Veterans' Services that will help the more than 225,000 veterans living in the Big Apple. De Blasio had opposed the bill for some time, but was persuaded to reverse course last month after the City Council proved overwhelmingly in its favor.
"Our veterans fought for us and served us and served through all the challenges," said de Blasio, standing on the deck of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, according to SIlive.com "So many continue to face challenges and they should never have to face them alone."
De Blasio had stated concerns over the intended future for the department, but perhaps his own father's fight with PTSD in his life after service in World War II had something to do with his decision to give it the greenlight. "He came back with the physical wounds and the mental health wounds of that war," the mayor said. "And so many families can tell a similar story. It's not abstract. What happens in war does not end for anyone at the conclusion of that war. Unfortunately, it carries on."
According to the New York Daily News, the new veterans' department will replace the Mayor's Office of Veterans' Affairs at the cost of an extra $335,000 a year, with additional costs likely in the future as the agency works out what veterans benefits it will provide and on what scale.
The 20,000 veterans living in Staten Island will be among those helped. Charlie Greisnky, the only member of the Mayor's Advisory Board for Veterans Affairs from Staten Island, was more than pleased to be involved in the decision.
"I'm proud to be part of this historic step forward," he said in a statement, "the greatest step forward since MOVA was founded in 1987."