CM Robert Holden has slammed Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and CM Justin Brannan over a perceived lack of assist for veterans within the FY 2026 price range.
File picture by William Alatriste/NYC.gov
Council Member Robert Holden has criticized Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan for “neglecting” veterans within the just lately handed FY2026 Price range.
Holden, Chair of the Metropolis’s Committee on Veterans, criticized the price range for not allocating a “single dollar in additional investment” to veterans companies throughout town.
The Metropolis Council voted unanimously in favor of the $116 billion price range on Monday, which incorporates vital investments in important metropolis companies.
Holden, regardless of voting in favor of the price range, argued that the council’s funding within the Veterans Companies Initiatives (VSI) has remained “flat-funded” regardless of his “years of advocacy” for larger veteran assist.
He famous that funding for the VSI has remained unchanged at its FY2025 stage of $3.37 million, with $340,000 allotted to Homeless Prevention Companies for Veterans and $200,000 allotted to Job Placement for Veterans. An extra $600,000 was allotted to Authorized Companies for Veterans, whereas $420,000 was allotted to Psychological Well being Companies for Veterans.
Lastly, the FY2026 Price range allotted $540,000 to Veteran Useful resource Facilities and $1.27 million to Veterans Group Improvement.
Nevertheless, Holden mentioned the price range didn’t go far sufficient for town’s veteran inhabitants and criticized each Brannan and Adams for “using their positions” inside the Council to run for workplace this yr. Adams launched an unsuccessful bid for mayor, whereas Brannan was defeated within the Metropolis Comptroller race by Mark Levine.
He accused Adams and Brannan of “turning their backs” on veterans whereas working each campaigns.
“For years, I’ve asked Speaker Adams and Finance Chair Brannan to finally care about our veterans,” Holden mentioned in an announcement. “Instead, these two failed politicians—who used their positions as stepping stones for higher office—continue to turn their backs on the very people who defended our freedoms. They didn’t just fail in their political ambitions—they failed our veterans.”
The Price range additionally allocates $5.9 million to the Division of Veteran Companies for core company features and workers salaries – an nearly 9% lower from the $6.4 million allotted to the Division final yr.
Holden additional criticized Adams for “cutting a backroom deal” that gives $54.5 million in funding for immigration companies, together with $41.9 million in funding totally free authorized companies for migrants going through deportation and $12.5 million earmarked for professional bono legal professionals for unaccompanied minors in immigration proceedings.
Holden criticized Adams and the Council for offering a “boost” to immigration companies whereas failing to extend funding for veterans. He described the distinction between the 2 as “glaring.”
“This Council finds $54.5 million to fight deportations and bankroll immigration lawyers, but won’t even increase funding to help the homeless veteran on the corner, or the senior who can’t afford food,” Holden mentioned in an announcement.
“Our veterans, our seniors, and our struggling New Yorkers deserve better than this blatant disregard. The priorities of this Council are morally backward, and Speaker Adams should be ashamed.”
Officers near Adams pushed again towards Holden, stating that each Adams and Brannan have at all times prioritized assist for New York Metropolis veterans.
“Speaker Adams and Finance Chair Brannan have always prioritized investments and support for New York City’s veterans, who have sacrificed so much for our nation and to whom we will always be in debt,” a Council spokesperson mentioned in an announcement.
“That’s why last year, Speaker Adams and Chair Brannan led the Council to implement a new veterans initiative, named after, designed, and championed by the late Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services, Paul Vallone.”
The spokesperson acknowledged that management from Adams and Brannan helped ship over $3 million in Council funding for veterans’ companies and superior legal guidelines to bolster veterans’ psychological well being. They accused Holden of “trying to score cheap political points” and famous that Holden voted sure on the price range.
Officers mentioned the Council has additionally prioritized veterans by means of non-budget initiatives, together with an company report card for the Division of Veterans Companies that recognized challenges related to the company’s supply of companies.
