Jesse Figueroa describes Borden visit and demands leadership resign

Good afternoon, everybody.

Buenas tardes a todos.

My name is Jesse Figueroa, U.S.

Army veteran.

I was a guardsman during 9-11, right down the street where it happened, with the 369th and Harlem Health Fighters.

That dates back to World War I.

I'm Puerto Rican.

I live in Brooklyn.

I'm in City Council District 43.

So I wrote, I have a testimony right here, but unfortunately my battery is going to die any moment.

But here's what happened.

I was there on Borden Avenue, October 1st.

I witnessed everything firsthand from outside.

Including two of our beloved city council members, Philip Wong and Julie Wong.

I call them the twin W's.

But I saw what happened outside.

I heard testimony from the former residents and current residents, and it turned my stomach upside down.

And the two council members did exercise.

eyes what was the mandate of the city charter, whatever was explained.

And it was embarrassing.

The previous speaker was with me and other, Mike Matos was with me and everybody else was there.

And it was embarrassing.

I was embarrassed.

Shame on the organization who runs it.

I'm sorry.

Shame on you.

The hell is wrong with you people?

We veterans took that flag off for that flag right there every day.

That's that.

And the way the flagpole was positioned incorrectly, it should be on the left side when you're outside.

It's supposed to be this way, not that way.

That was an embarrassment.

I'm asking that the council oversights that matter.

That was a total disrespect.

Of us veterans.

We were born by the grace of God through our families.

We are all created equal regardless of race, religion, color, gender, etc.

And we all deserve respect and we demand respect.

We all have a place to live.

I'm also a trauma survivor.

I'm not going to bring that up right now.

And that's that.

That's that.

I'm very, very disappointed at the local organization.

And we are not going to give up.

We're going to keep advocating until we are.

On our last breath.

And we will call on the organization's leadership to completely resign.

And we need people to step up as leaders.

I lead.

I lead by example.

And also as a VFW member, the same thing.

We lead by example.

We fail, we resign.

That's that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Figueroa.

Mr.

Meggett, and I'll note I had the privilege of hearing you at the New York State Veterans Summit at the Intrepid last week.

And as always, your words were very impactful and forceful.

So I look forward to hearing your testimony today as well.