NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism after details of his proposed city budget revealed plans to reduce funding for veterans services and eliminate support for certain events, including a planned ticker-tape parade honoring former service members.

Under the proposal unveiled Tuesday, the Department of Veterans Services would see its budget decrease from approximately $7.6 million in the fiscal 2026 adopted budget to about $6.6 million for 2027, representing a drop of more than 13%, according to city data.

Osbert Orduna, a service-disabled Marine Corps veteran, strongly condemned the proposed reductions, describing them as dismissive of those who have served.

“It’s a slap in the face to veterans, to New Yorkers and more specifically to service-disabled veterans — people who have sacrificed their minds and their bodies in service to our nation and live in the city,” Orduna said.

City Council Member Frank Morano, who heads the council’s Committee on Veterans, said he intends to press for answers about the specifics of the cuts and how the funds would be reallocated.

The mayor’s proposal also includes reducing funding for veterans-related events by $60,000 annually from fiscal 2026 through 2030. City officials indicated they plan to turn to private donations to cover the cost of such ceremonies going forward.

Orduna emphasized the importance of these gatherings, saying they serve as a critical support system for veterans across generations.

“Veterans from across every generation — from World War II to the present — the one time that we can all come together, build our community and support one another is at these functions,” Orduna said.

“Many lives have been saved by veterans just coming together and finding comfort in one another, and connecting so that we don’t lose another veteran life — so another veteran does not add the word ‘homeless’ to the title of veteran,” he added.

Among the proposed changes is the cancellation of a “Homecoming of Heroes” ticker-tape parade that had been planned around the anniversary of Sept. 11. In its place, the administration is considering a lower-cost “Remembrance Ruck” march developed in coordination with veterans’ organizations, according to a spokesperson.

Ryan Graham, a former U.S. Air Force serviceman who now chairs the New York City Veterans Advisory Board and is aligned with Mamdani, downplayed the importance of such events, calling them unnecessary.

“Events are fluff. That’s it, plain and simple,” Graham said, adding that he would rather see city money be put towards the Department of Veterans Services to help veterans with housing, mental health and food insecurity needs.

“I don’t want to see another Kyle or any other veterans take their lives because those services were not there,” Graham said referring to his high school buddy who served in the military and later committed suicide.

Within the department’s budget itself, the administration is proposing to eliminate a $585,000 line for “Other Expenses – General,” sharply reduce funding for “Temporary Services” from $441,000 to $15,000, and cut roughly $57,000 allocated for supplies and materials.

Former Queens Council Member Bob Holden, who previously chaired the council’s veterans committee, blasted the proposal, accusing the city of shortchanging those who served.

“Replacing a ticker-tape parade with a cheaper event and then planning these so-called ‘savings’ for years ahead is insulting to the men and women who served this country and sacrificed for New York City,” Holden said. “The city has no problem wasting billions of dollars, but suddenly when it comes to honoring our veterans and 9/11 heroes, they want to pinch pennies.”

A spokesperson for the mayor defended the plan, arguing that the proposed changes would not impact core services provided to veterans.

The City Council will ultimately decide whether to approve Mamdani’s budget proposal.

Morano said that even before the proposed reductions, funding for veterans services remained insufficient.

“I’d love to see veterans become a much bigger priority for lawmakers at every level of government, not just during commemorative moments, but year round,” he said.

{Matzav.com}