Local pol urges expansion of veteran access to HOV lanes
On Monday, November 11, just a day before Veteran’s Day, Councilmember Vincent Gentile took to the steps of City Hall to announce that he was sponsoring a resolution to encourage Congress to pass a law allowing states and localities to grant disabled veterans access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes.
“As we pay tribute to our veterans, to the wounded, missing or fallen, and to their families, we must dedicate ourselves to serving them as well as they served us, not just today but every day, for there is no parade, no handshake, no special ceremony or warm embrace that is enough to truly honor that service,” Gentile said. “Instead, we, as a city and as a nation, must commit every day to serving our veterans as well as they have served us, which is why earlier today I called upon the United States Congress to pass, and the President to sign, legislation allowing all states and localities to grant disabled veterans access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes.”
In addition, Gentile also organized a “Disabled Veterans HOV Lane Access Action Plan” to get constituents, veterans and advocacy groups to urge U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer as well as Congressmember Michael Grimm to support for giving disabled veterans HOV lane access even when alone in their vehicles