MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION EXPANDING
VETERANS' ADVISORY BOARD

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The next bill before me is Introductory Number 216-A, sponsored by Council Member Nelson and eleven of his colleagues. The bill amends the Charter to expand the composition of the Veterans' Advisory Board.

"The Charter provides for the creation of a Veterans' Advisory Board to advise the Director of the Office of Veterans' Affairs on issues of concern to the City's veterans' community. Currently, the Charter provides that the Advisory Board be comprised of five members; three members appointed by the Mayor and two members appointed by the Speaker of the Council. Members of the Advisory Board are not required to be veterans themselves. This bill will increase the membership of the Advisory Board to nine members: the Mayor will appoint five members, and the Speaker of the City Council will appoint four members. In addition, this bill mandates that there be at least one representative from each borough of the City and that all members of the Advisory Board are veterans.

"Intro 216-A expands the composition of the Veterans' Advisory Board in a way that will allow a greater voice for the nearly 400,000 veterans who reside in our City and will better ensure that their concerns will be heard and considered."