22Apr
BRONX, NY — Today, on Veterans Day and one week after New York City’s mayoral election, Common Defense thanks Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for standing with New York City’s veterans at Commonwealth Residence, a supportive housing community for veterans.
At Commonwealth Residence, Mamdani spoke to veterans about critical issues including SNAP benefits, housing and mental health resources. He also took the time to hear directly from the veterans about their priorities and how he can support them as mayor.
“I was proud to see Mayor-elect Mamdani join veterans today at Commonwealth Residence in my home borough of the Bronx. From affordability to mental health, veterans are on the frontlines of the crises that working New Yorkers of all stripes face,” said Common Defense Executive Director Jose Vasquez. “We endorsed Mamdani because of his commitment to fighting for our members and look forward to working with his administration to ensure New York City’s veterans are not forgotten or left behind.”
Mamdani recognizes that veterans’ issues are inextricable from the everyday issues that New Yorkers face. He knows that veterans are often the ‘canary in the coal mine’, experiencing the pain of bad policies first and hardest. His plans to invest in housing — including building on programs critical to veterans like SARA and ELLA — mental health care, child care and transit will ensure that New York City is a place that allows veterans to live in dignity and security.
Common Defense was proud to endorse Mamdani for mayor of New York City last month and look forward to this type of servant-leadership at City Hall soon.
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Common Defense Civic Engagement (501c4) (CDCE) is a grassroots, veteran-led organization that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.