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Councilman Ulrich said he’s “thrilled” to sponsor the bill.
By Forum Staff
City Councilmen Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) recently introduced a bill that would expand the City’s property tax exemption to include Cold War veterans.
Because City law does not recognize the Cold War as a “specified period of conflict,” currently, Cold War military service members are not eligible to receive the veterans property tax exemption.
“As a proud advocate for our nation’s heroes, I am thrilled to sponsor this bill, which would expand New York City’s veterans property tax exemption to Cold War veterans,” said Ulrich, the co-prime sponsor of the proposed measure, which was originally crafted by Borelli. “Although it would be impossible to fully repay the debt we owe our veterans for their service, our government should make every effort to commemorate the sacrifices of our brave men and women in uniform.”
The councilmen noted that there were a number of active combat engagements involving U.S. troops during the Cold War, including the Iranian hostage rescue-attempt, known as Operation Eagle Claw, the 1983 Beirut Marine Barracks bombing, and numerous expeditions into Latin America and the Caribbean. Veterans who served during this period have expressed their disbelief that the government would draw lines in the sand, which only serve to divide those who have served in different conflicts and imply a greater value for the service of some compared to others.
“The fact is, as a city, we have been excluding women and men who have served their country and stared down the tangible danger that accompanies combat because the engagements they’ve served in have not been sanctioned by bureaucrats which would allow them their due benefits,” Borelli said. “There is no one who would dispute the risks or dangers faced by the participants of these engagements and the semantics of what is or is not deemed to be a ‘specified’ combat engagement is insulting to the participants. The correction that this bill makes is long overdue, and I’m proud of the support that I’ve received from my colleagues right out of the gate, which exemplifies the importance of this issue to so many New Yorkers from such a diversity of districts across our city.”
Councilmen Paul Vallone (D-Bayside), Steven Matteo (R-Staten Island), Mark Treyger (D-Brooklyn), and Chaim Deutsch (D-Brooklyn) have also signed onto the legislation.
If passed, the law would take effect immediately. A vote date has not yet been announced.
