Q & A with Michael Benedetto
C&S: The federal government has dealt with questions about funding levels for the military in recent years. Now there is a major scandal unfolding within the V.A. What is the general state of military and veterans’ affairs?
MB: I believe that, in general, our government is respectful and sincere in addressing the needs of our veterans. However, as we are seeing by recent events, there needs to be a major overhaul in how we deliver services to our veterans. This might entail a complete top to bottom restructuring of the V.A., but whatever needs to be done must be done.
C&S: On a state specific level, what is your assessment of how well the state handles military and veterans’ affairs?
MB: New York State is home to nearly 900,000 veterans who have served in wartime and peacetime, and the state has been quite responsive in thanking our veterans for their service to state and country and in responding to their needs.
C&S: Do you believe the state is doing enough to address problems faced by veterans and current military members?
MB: I don’t think that anyone would deny that there is always more we can do to help our veterans. Too many of our veterans are unemployed and homeless. Many have serious mental health problems that lead to breakdowns in their family or to suicide. We have tried to address these serious problems on the state level by giving a $10,000 tax credit to businesses that hire a veteran and a $15,000 credit to those that hire a disabled veteran. The state is developing a veteran job directory so that when the state of New York needs part-time workers, they can hire off a list of veterans who are jobless. We have allocated more funds in the state budget to programs that deliver quality peer-to-peer counseling to those that have mental health issues, and we are continuing to look for other ways to aid our veterans.
C&S: As combat operations in the Middle East continue to wind down, what kind of emphasis should be placed on reintegration of military members?
MB: With the ending of the overseas conflicts, we will be seeing an influx of military, and therefore we must begin to prepare for their arrival. One idea that I would like to see would be the development of what I call “veteran villages.” I have introduced a bill in the state Assembly that would explore this concept: Using unused state buildings and economic development funds, the state would set up “villages” that returning military can live in for three to nine months and “decompress.” While there they could receive job training, counseling, classes informing them of their veteran benefits and possibly daily living skills if needed. It would be a place where they could begin to slowly reintegrate back into a society that they might not have been prepared for.
C&S: What was accomplished during the 2014 legislative session in terms of assisting veterans and military members?
MB: We have passed several pieces of veteran-related legislation this past year: in particular, a set-aside of 6 percent of state contracts for businesses owned by disabled veterans. One bill that I was particularly pleased with and that was passed in the final week of the session was the Military Families Interstate Compact. This bill allows for an easier transfer process for the children of military families coming into our state schools; another part of the bill would allow all veterans who are attending SUNY, CUNY and community colleges to pay in-state tuition rates.