Opinion: Mike Day Is Not Putting Our Veterans First

A Letter to the Editor from Richard Fortuna:

As a United States veteran of the armed forces I would like to comment on Representative Day’s press release where he Informs us that he is skating to help veterans struggling with mental health suicide.

Mr. Day claims to support veterans. However, his voting record shows the contrary. Massachusetts Veterans experience high levels of homelessness. At a veterans event in Stoneham the professional Veterans Agent identified homelessness as a growing problem among Massachusetts veterans. During the last budget cycle an amendment was offered to require that a Social Security number be provided before someone can apply for State Housing. This would have assisted veterans struggling with homelessness, but Mr. Day voted against that amendment.

There is no requirement for a Social Security number to obtain housing, and as a result those that have served our county and are homeless must get in line with everyone else for housing that includes illegal aliens who can get housing before someone who has served our country.

Mr Day is not putting our veterans first.

In fact, I question his integrity on the fact he says he is concerned about veteran suicides but he doesn't vote this way. I see him trying to show he cares but he is not proving anything.

Mr. Day also supports making Massachusetts a Sanctuary State which directly prohibits law enforcement coordination with ICE officers of whom one-third (1/3)) are United States Military Veterans (source ICE.gov). ICE is an agency that welcomes, values and seeks out American Veterans to build its workforce. ICE provides opportunities for veterans to transition from active duty into law enforcement careers. These men and women face dangerous situations day in and day out. They report to work in many stressful situations and lay their lives on the line every day to try to carry on their service in federal law enforcement. But Mr. Day instead has consistently supported Sanctuary City policies that directly and indirectly hurt many of the 6700 Ice Employees who are US veterans.

Making Massachusetts a sanctuary does not put veterans, in fact it does not help our current homelessness and poor at all.

Mr. Day needs to either stand with veterans or not. He can’t pretend to do so by lacing up and participating in a charity event. Mr. Day has been in office for the last 5 years, and during that time he has advocated for illegal aliens over veterans.

Nevertheless, he attempts to project a positive political personality to deflect from his actual voting record. As a United States veteran, I find his voting record disingenuous.

Richard Fortuna, Longbow Road