MINUTES for 08-28-2018 FINAL - Laserfiche WebLink

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Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 6 Deputy Director Messina said that was before we had a Veteran Probation Officer. Because someone who doesn't understand Veterans didn't understand that Veterans can help Veterans. It doesn't have to be gender specific, it doesn't have to be branch specific. Chair Doolittle asked if anyone else has anything else they want to bring to the table? Emile Wery said the way the Charter reads, it's all other Veterans issues, so any issue that comes up falls under that category. Chair Doolittle stated that he believes that as well but J (Yoshimoto) stated in our first meeting that wasn't really the understanding. Deputy Corporation Counsel Yoshimoto explained basically how the code reads "At the request of the Mayor or the Council, the committee shall discuss and make recommendations on other veteran related issues." So there's two ways we can look at this, you sent the letter to the Mayor so the Mayor will hopefully send a letter back to the committee saying yes, you have the authority to look at any issues that affect veteran related, that would be the best case scenario. The other option would be to ask a Council member to amend the code to basically broaden your scope of authority, so you don't have to go back and forth each time. Either way gets the job done. Chair Doolittle agreed, he spoke to Valerie Poindexter and said she was on board with the change and she would advocate it for us. Rose Bautista told him the letter is not needed. Michael replied to her that maybe we don't but it's better that we do and put it in the code. Michael is recommending that we make the change in the code, for the long run. Let's make the change so it's pointed out that we are really here to advocate for veterans and anything we need to advocate for the betterment of veterans. Deputy Corporation Counsel Yoshimoto asked is Chairwoman Poindexter going to introduce legislation to make that change. Chair Doolittle stated, he thinks she wants the Mayor to give his blessing in a letter and he'll review that with her. She also has a sister who is married to the number three guy at the VA. We had a telephone conference with her as well because we were trying to push on the east side Veterans Clinic that were trying to push. We're trying to make as much push as we can to get a whole umbrella over the top of Veterans in this County at least, more responsive to Veterans. Does anyone have anything else to add? Minoru Hanato asked to clarify how National Guard Veteran can be buried at Veterans Cemetery. Do they have to be a retired, 20 year service member or the National Guard member have to be in a combat area at one time or another? If the National Guard Veteran didn't finish his 20 years and he never went to a combat area, he can't be buried at a Veterans Cemetery. He thinks we should change that ruling.