Suffolk Lawmakers Palumbo, Mattera, Giglio and Flood Call for Immediate Distribution of Tax Donations to Support Long Island State Veterans Home

                State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R,C-New Suffolk), Senator Mario R. Mattera (R,C,I-Smith Town), Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (AD-2) and Assemblyman Ed Flood (R,C-Part Jefferson) today joined with local veterans’ groups to demand the immediate distribution of over $1 million in taxpayer donations for veteran organizations. These funds, including approximately $410,000 for State Veterans Homes, are crucial for supporting veterans who require around-the-clock care.

                “Thousands of New Yorkers made generous donations in support of our veterans. The fact that these funds have not reached their intended beneficiaries is greatly alarming,” said Senator Anthony Palumbo. “I commend Comptroller DiNapoli for bringing this issue to the forefront and urge the state to disburse these critical funds for our veterans immediately.”  

            “The Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook and veterans organizations are always there for our brave veterans and New York State must release the funding they are owed.  The generosity of New York State residents supplied this funding in appreciation of these brave men and women.  That outpouring was meant to benefit them so it should be delivered immediately on behalf of the residents who made the choice to donate.  Our veterans are the very reason we have the freedoms we enjoy and I thank Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli for shining a light on this important issue,” stated Senator Mario R. Mattera (R,C, I – Smithtown). 

            “Our veterans who risked their lives and fought for our freedom deserve the funding that is allocated to state Veterans Homes and other necessary resources. The funds were very generously donated by many New Yorkers, and Gov. Hochul must direct the money to local veteran organizations across the state immediately. I want to thank my colleagues, Sen. Anthony Palumbo and Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio, for advocating for our veterans. I will continue to urge New York to distribute the funds quickly so our veterans can receive the treatment they rightfully deserve,” said Assemblyman Ed Flood (R,C-Port Jefferson).

            “Our veterans fought for our country, and it is only right that we fight for them.  We will not relent until the over $1 million donated to help our veterans actually reaches New York’s Veterans’ homes, and helps our veterans live better, more secure lives,” said Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio.

“New Yorkers are amazing. Through their generosity over $1million was donated to help New York’s veterans and to support the state’s Veterans Homes. This funding is critical for Suffolk County, which is home to one of the largest populations of veterans in the nation. Now, we need the state to step up and do what is right and disburse these funds,” said Bob Smith, Chairman of the Long Island State Veterans Home Advisory Board.

“I want to thank our state representatives, Senator Anthony Palumbo and Assembly Members Flood and Giglio for advocating for the immediate release of this funding.  These donations are critical to supporting veterans and providing them care. I urge the state to release these funds immediately to help our veterans across the state and on Long Island,” said Joe Cognitore, Commander of the VFW Post 6249 and member of the Long Island State Veterans Home Advisory Board.

            Senator Palumbo recently issued a letter to Amanda Hiller, Acting Commissioner and General Counsel of NY State Taxation and Finance, advocating for the swift allocation of these donations. In a response, Tax and Finance stated that they released these funds to the Department of Health and SUNY. Senator Palumbo has been in contact with both these departments to secure the immediate disbursement of this funding.

            “In Albany, they like to play a shell game, where dedicated funds are swept to fund other projects. I just never thought they would play their game with funding dedicated for our veterans, cancer organizations and volunteer firefighters,” said Senator Palumbo. “Now, that the game has been exposed, the state needs to address this issue, and make certain that the tax donations generously gifted by New Yorkers go to the amazing causes that they intended.”