Ryan Graham testifies on Intro 1051 and Borden contract

Funny, I have good morning on here.

Good afternoon, chairs and members of the Committees on Veterans and General Welfare.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

My name is Ryan Graham.

I'm a U.S.

Air Force and Iraq War veteran.

I serve as the chair of the New York City Veterans Advisory Board, a member of the VFW's National Legislative Committee, and state legislative vice chair for the Department of New York VFW.

My testimony draws on these responsibilities and my continued work with and support of the veterans of the foreign wars of Department of New York legislative leadership team.

I strongly support Introduction 1051 and Resos 560 and 634.

Together, these measures address keeping veterans in their homes.

Expanding access to home ownership, and strengthening the organizations that help veterans navigate life after service.

Introduction 1051 deserves particular attention.

In 2018, I was the original writer of this property tax exemption proposal.

Advanced through the Queens County Council VFW Legislative Committee, and then on to, which was introduced by State Senator Joe Adabo and Assemblywoman Stacey Pfeffer-Romato.

That work helped establish the foundation for my continued advocacy on this issue, which I have carried forward through my ongoing role with and

support of our Department of New York VFW legislative leadership team.

For me, this is a commitment that began eight years ago and continues today.

I thank Councilmember Frank Marano, Chair, and the bill's co-sponsors for advancing this legislation.

I'll pause for a second.

A lot of, I've noticed quite a few legislatures are jumping on board with this.

Buffalo just did it.

And hopefully it doesn't take eight years to do this here in New York City.

Hopefully we get this through right away.

Furthermore, for these veterans, the financial consequences of service can last a lifetime.

A permanent disability can limit employment, increase the cost of daily living, and place additional responsibilities on family caregivers.

Property taxes remain a recurring obligation even when a veteran's ability to earn additional income is permanently constrained.

This exemption would provide meaningful stability and help eligible veterans remain in the communities they call home.

Housing policy must also include

preventing displacement before a veteran reaches a shelter door, keeping an eligible disabled veteran in an existing home preserves family stability, community connections, and access to care.

The council now has an opportunity to turn state authorization into tangible local relief.

I urge prompt

passage accompanied by a clear implementation plan from the Department of Finance and Department of Veteran Services.

The same commitment to housing stability must guide our response to ongoing issues at Borden Avenue's residents.

As chair of the New York City Veterans Advisory Board, I take these concerns seriously.

We will be providing recommendations to the mayor and the city council in our 2026 New York City VAB report on the way forward.

Those recommendations will follow further review.

The points I offer today reflect an initial assessment.

First, funding through the U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs GPD program must remain available to support veterans who need those services, these services.

GPD supports transitional housing and services that help veterans move toward permanent housing.

I'm going to move forward.

At the time, preserving federal support requires a serious examination of who is entrusted to deliver the services.

There is a legitimate question about whether the current provider should continue to hold the operating contract.

That question should be answered through a document, a review of contract compliance, conditions, staffing, resident concerns, corrective actions, and permanent housing outcomes.

The city's operating contract and the VA's GPD program must be examined by the responsible authorities.

With coordination between them.

I'm going to stop right there.

I got more here.

My take, it's going to come out from the VAB that something like this, there's way too much evidence.

One of the biggest smoking guns was a FOIA request that I saw.

In a year and a half period, three, on average three a day, 911 calls.

That's a problem.

Somebody here in one of the prior panels mentioned it.

Honestly, I mean, something like this, if it's been going on for a long time, you know, it's, it's, and then the other big concern, I happen to be there and well, in the background with Councilman Wong, Councilwoman Julie Wong,

New York City Council, you're the oversight.

You should have access to these facilities.

But like I said, we're going to have something extensive in our VAB report, especially on housing.

So the council and the mayor's side will see it.

But, I mean, from an initial assessment, I mean, I've been around the block a long time.

Something like this, honestly, I'd sever the contract.

And I would just do a complete reset.

Thank you, Mr.

Graham.

First of all, thank you for all of the work that you've done to lay the groundwork for Intro 1051 and the property tax exemption for disabled veterans that we're trying to pass.

And as far as your comment about oversight, the differences of opinions that you've heard from council members

today, I think the one thing that unites all of us is that we all agree that part of our oversight responsibility should be able to include dropping.

into Borden Avenue and similar shelters whenever we'd like.

So I appreciate that.

Mr.

Figueroa.