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Veterans and local leaders calling on Albany to reverse cuts they say would hurt veterans

Nicholas Stefanovic, Director of the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency
Caitlin Whyte
/
WXXI News
Nicholas Stefanovic, Director of the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency

With just 10 days left in this year’s budget services, organizations are making their last efforts to get funding for the year. Thursday, local veterans and leaders pushed Albany to reverse cuts to veteran programs.

Veterans and other local leaders stood with Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo urging Albany to reverse cuts to veteran services in the 2019 state budget.

"These are the men and women; they raised their right hand they said yes," Dinolfo said. "They stood up for this country. They put it all on the line. They left their homes. They went out and defended their country. They love freedom, they’re patriots, they’re true heroes."

They say over $2 million could be cut from veteran’s programs around the state.

Nicholas Stefanovic is the Director of the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency and says this is vital funding that not only helps current veterans, but would also show children how the state treats those who have served.

"Our military is an all-volunteer military today,” Stefanovic said. We need our youth to volunteer for the military. If they see us not take care of our veterans when they come home. If they see us do things like this, and cut services that we need, that sustain the lives of veterans in our community, why would they join the military, why would parents want to send them into the military if they see how we treat them."

Many who spoke touched on the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program, a peer-to-peer support program that supports veterans with PTSD of depression. It keeps people out of isolation by setting up group events with other vets.

RJ Siriani is a veteran who spoke about his history of PTSD, alcohol abuse, and what this specific program did for him. 

Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo
Credit Caitlin Whyte / WXXI News
/
WXXI News
Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo

"The Dwyer Program's taught me so much about reengagement that I’ve gone off and started my own nonprofit for veterans here too,” Siriani said. “And that’s what the Dwyer Program has offered to me, the chance to become a person that I knew I was but I just never could be when I got out of service."

The state budget deadline is April 1.