As someone deeply affected by the disparity in New York City's budget allocations, I am compelled to fight for the rights and welfare of our city's dedicated veterans. While the budget for immigrant services is generous at $25 million, the allocation for veterans' services is a mere $5.87 million— a disconcerting figure considering the invaluable sacrifice these men and women have made to our country. 

With the recent reductions in OTPS, the budget for veterans' services was cut by an alarming $1.2 million. This indicates a severe reduction in non-salary support, further straining services that already operate on a shoe-string budget. 

As New Yorkers, we should not sit back and remain quiet. The city's veterans - our relatives, friends, and neighbors - deserve far better. They deserve the same levels of support, if not higher, than what other demographics are receiving.

This is not a political issue, but a human rights issue. A matter of respect for those who have put their lives on the line for our freedoms. We must not let these brave individuals get sidelined. Veterans' are a protected class in New York City, but they are often disregarded and overlooked. 

We urge Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Council to correct this disparity in budget allocations. We call on them to increase the funding dedicated to veterans’ services. 

We owe it to our veterans. Stand with us.

Sign this petition to demand increased funding for Veterans' Services in New York City.

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Immigrant Services vs. Veterans' Services

(Fiscal Year 26 Preliminary Budget)

The New York City budget allocations for immigrant services and veterans' services for fiscal year 2026 indicate a stark disparity in funding levels.

Spending on Immigrant Services

• The Office of Immigrant Affairs received approximately $1.88 million in supplies and materials​.
• The Department of Social Services allocated $15.8 million for the Municipal Identification Card Program, which serves immigrant populations​.
• The Immigrant Opportunity Initiative, which provides legal and social services, was allocated $7.08 million​.
• Services for immigrant families received $2.92 million​.
• Various other immigrant-related programs, including community outreach and legal assistance, saw additional allocations in the millions.

Spending on Veterans' Services

• The Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) had a total budget of $4.2 million for personal services, covering salaries and administrative costs​.
• "Other Than Personal Services" (OTPS) funding for DVS was $1.67 million, reflecting a reduction from the previous year​.
• Specific veteran support initiatives, including outreach programs and peer-to-peer support, received allocations in the low hundreds of thousands​.

Key Findings

Total Allocation Disparity:  The budget for immigrant services exceeds $25 million, while veterans' services receive a combined $5.87 million.

Focus Areas: Immigrant services funding supports legal aid, social services, and municipal identification programs, whereas veterans’ funding primarily supports administrative costs, outreach, and a peer support initiative, for which funding comes from New York State to New York City.

Budget Reductions for Veterans: The OTPS budget for veterans' services was cut by $1.2 million, indicating a reduction in available non-salary support​.
Conclusion

NYC's fiscal planning for FY26 places a significantly larger emphasis on funding services for immigrants compared to veterans. While both groups face unique challenges, the investment imbalance raises questions about prioritization within the city's budgetary process.