[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6553384,"mediaKeyId","5070574-c2258ddbe64b200727fe64bd022e7301","parentId",5070574,"title","Disabled veterans urge city to revisit property‑tax abatement income cap","audioSeconds",275,"startMs",4034000,"endMs",4309000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070574-c2258ddbe64b200727fe64bd022e7301&start=4034&end=4309","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070574-c2258ddbe64b200727fe64bd022e7301/thumbnail_4034000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6553384/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Disabled-veterans-urge-city-to-revisit-propertytax-abatement-income-cap","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553384-1a0126d299fb40decc00c4bb9f3ce226/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170672&Signature=EIcocNzo3f5wgeWcqJLnvKsTMprEciBYq2UZe-OKXubp-Y1oP~1P5YlndNb1g4WUwT6XSU265urLYEmZ~C8q6SDcwV97k9CMX2gf5iEa7enRXSRhyQ5h-rpq9C2sHbnNQodua85rQG9Xg5rfmrDVE8u24~MBowjDFpFYMUiBBIOs6U1cAMsPYgJnsfOI-mV0wfHLzr0kOP8XqlGA3cSGCJM0cXM9Qka8kA3EzSJk~uOHsaDOPcvflQ4l7tQG7C5bQVflIoNx8XXrua6F2FcdxAPsMYuFVpU0NLDAvPabadfLFu3GU-Mh8w1ZuaBUB9zrjPHEK9DRJYymkEiwJYfGsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Philadelphia City Council","date","2025-06-24T19:09:20.267Z","article","Omar Muwakil II, a retired master sergeant who said he is rated 100% disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, told the Veterans Advisory Commission that Philadelphia’s property‑tax abatement for disabled veterans is unfairly limited by an income cap and urged officials to base eligibility on service, disability status, residency and ownership rather than income.

“The current criteria, which kept eligibility for property tax abatement at income of less than $114,000 per year, ... undermines the principles and the fairness and respect for service,” Muwakil said during the meeting. He described himself as willing to work with the director and the commission to address veteran homelessness and transition issues but asked the body to reconsider the income threshold used for tax relief.

Muwakil said the income cap is “authorized by the Pennsylvania Constitution” as part of the underlying legal framework governing the benefit but argued the cap “punishes those who have been both successful in a civilian life, and that have been severely impacted by their military service.” He asked the commission to weigh changes that would base abatement eligibility on service and disability status rather than an income cutoff.

Director Gregory Wright thanked Muwakil for his remarks and the speaker offered to work with the commission and director’s office. The commission did not take formal action on the tax‑abatement remarks during the meeting; Muwakil’s comments were presented during the public comment portion and were framed as a request for future advocacy.

The transcript records the concern and the speaker’s offer to collaborate but does not include a city legal analysis, any council motion, or a staff recommendation on changing abatement criteria. Any policy change would require additional legal review and action by the City of Philadelphia and, where applicable, the Pennsylvania Legislature or constitutional process referenced by the speaker.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Veterans Advisory Committee 06-11-25","oneSentenceSummary","A 100% disabled veteran told the commission the City of Philadelphia’s income cap for property‑tax relief for disabled veterans effectively excludes some who qualify on service and disability grounds, and he urged the commission to advocate for change.","taxTitle","Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County , Pennsylvania","taxId",80615,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6553391,"Commission meeting spotlights veteran homelessness, nonprofit coordination and job‑placement gaps in Philadelphia",3123,895000,4018000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070574-c2258ddbe64b200727fe64bd022e7301&start=895&end=4018","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070574-c2258ddbe64b200727fe64bd022e7301/thumbnail_895000.jpg","/articles/6553391/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Commission-meeting-spotlights-veteran-homelessness-nonprofit-coordination-and-jobplacement-gaps-in-Philadelphia","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553391-a941182d1526183ad285d3fe15d037a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170672&Signature=fljXEkDGc5cfVl6ttLgKOWHSdt3zfyaJm~KR08kIQFYHllSAeUqPYBXHy99n2phIKNznbBkwnkuHYzjdLjD6Na7wVd~rqttTvlotQ9cRrPNNNEUwrnQu~S61scjn0BklBTakt3Xs42S8ini2SB0vGgwiWDid-hD-xeQq9crIhMONh2hbwmQqP5lPRWYbfqb6tvCycTOw9nQhYMKcAcNxSovQaF7Cdo15wOAl5GH6xRGkhvlTL4lU4DwN8ts1fkTTfURuyRkYdsaNaa9EfjYb7QNX2gpm17RtsnRTsN5K3VsikxPkSlASM9XSD8H2muYlnVdkDbC7HYn9~9VHEIjiOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple speakers at the City of Philadelphia Veterans Advisory Commission meeting urged the newly formed commission and the Office of Veterans Affairs to prioritize preventing veteran homelessness, improving coordination with nonprofits and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and strengthening job pipelines.

Commissioner Frank McKelvey asked how commissioners “are going to better the homeless veterans throughout the city,” saying homelessness among veterans is rising. Director Gregory Wright responded that the office’s work includes connecting veterans to employment, mental‑health resources and housing providers and that his team and partners vet housing placements to help veterans sustain tenancies.

Wright described staff and partners who “vet the apartment or the place of housing” and said the office’s aim is to identify underlying causes of homelessness rather than just placing people into housing. He urged organizers and commissioners to “show up” at outreach efforts and to steward partnerships that link veterans to jobs and clinical care.

Nonprofit leaders told commissioners that many veteran-serving groups operate with little or no city support. A speaker identified in the transcript as Hari, who runs a veteran services operation, said she has been running large-scale distributions and is paying for storage and supplies out of pocket; she urged the commission to “connect these organizations with the Veterans Advisory Council” and asked that city funding and coordination be more evenly distributed among providers.

Tyrone Rucker, identified as district commander of the First District of Philadelphia, described street-level needs and urged the commission to help younger veterans whom he said often distrust older veteran organizations. Joe Eastman, a longtime veteran services provider, advised the commission that programs must be ready when a person is ready to come off the street and recommended the city collect hiring data to determine whether veterans are applying for and receiving city jobs.

Representatives of community groups described ongoing direct services: the New Beta Military Fraternity said it feeds the homeless every Tuesday and packs 1,500–2,000 meals monthly; other speakers said they run stand‑down events and job-readiness programming. A nonprofit speaker said she is organizing a September stand‑down at the School of the Future and expects to serve more than 500 veterans that day.

Speakers urged better connections with the VA when claims are denied. Wright said his office includes veteran service officers and offered to receive referrals: “If someone says, hey, my claim was denied, let’s find out why,” he said, and urged commissioners and providers to send veterans to his office for assistance.

The discussion repeatedly returned to two themes: operational coordination (making city, nonprofit and federal supports interoperable) and readiness (ensuring services are immediately available when a veteran is ready to accept help). No formal votes or policy changes were recorded at the meeting; participants requested follow-up coordination and partnership with the director’s office.","Commissioners and community speakers urged the City of Philadelphia Office of Veterans Affairs to prioritize homelessness prevention, better coordination with nonprofits and VA, and job pipeline development to help veterans maintain housing and stability.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6553395,"Philadelphia names Gregory Wright director of Veterans Affairs; outlines VetFest, Army 250th events and priorities",395,624000,1019000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070574-c2258ddbe64b200727fe64bd022e7301&start=624&end=1019","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070574-c2258ddbe64b200727fe64bd022e7301/thumbnail_624000.jpg","/articles/6553395/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia-names-Gregory-Wright-director-of-Veterans-Affairs-outlines-VetFest-Army-250th-events-and-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553395-f2ccae07cb4dce9d48b58c8281a6821d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170672&Signature=NtCMh3QCkzbRLpvVbkLg1Gmw1fY7c0bB7YS8nq0Kcq1wSRT8I1TQaVlMaVM8EnVmzvgqBCCN4ov-Fcb7Sy5pEmL4tYELpCa7RewoCJcMMgh4X6Cg6HCZCLvQEBDdScXr9znoU~Mh12us3Pub7rce70lcX~QjzFp8u5GYxITBOTtWSwsOmyCOhfE3Lu3K56h3c1a4n-sP18~IDhZRF3zxBG5iy7t9jj-~nUDYa-3bXPr-wB9FlBr4cw4fMaWiH4j11mliSJFtlm5VEmQVqPviTDW2iQCmYrpwSIOGt57MHhmYfEEAFLYREnGny0HC3pog9MNgk~MkzVEgs-q~XplMyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gregory Wright Jr., the newly appointed director of the City of Philadelphia Office of Veterans Affairs, told the Veterans Advisory Commission that his office will focus on housing access, mental health support, veteran-owned business development and stronger community partnerships.

Wright made the remarks during the commission’s meeting and said the office is working to “remove barriers, build partnerships, and increase visibility for our veteran community.” He previewed two summer events: a citywide Army 250th commemoration June 13–15 at Independence Mall and other sites and a VetFest on June 25 that the office will host in partnership with City Council, American Airlines and Wawa and that will bring employers, housing and wellness resources to veterans and their families.

Wright said his office intends to be proactive rather than reactive. “We are working to build a city where veterans not only survive, but where we thrive,” he said. He described staff efforts to “vet the apartment or the place of housing” and to ensure veterans have the supports needed to maintain housing, including job placement and health connections.

The director credited staffers such as Wanda Pate Dennis for longstanding outreach work and said his office currently includes a small staff that is “growing” and that he is training as a veteran service officer himself. He described partnerships the office is pursuing with universities, hospitals and nonprofit groups to expand mental health counseling and group supports.

Commission co-chair Myra J. Fields Rouse and co-chair Al Newman introduced Wright and underscored the commission’s role in connecting veterans to services. Darby Ford, community engagement liaison for City Council’s Department of Veterans Affairs, also addressed commissioners about outreach and advocacy.

Wright invited commissioners and service providers to participate in the VetFest and in efforts to improve hiring and training for veterans. He said the office will pursue outreach to employers and offer guidance on hiring veterans, including training for recruiters to better interpret military resumes.

The director’s remarks set a forward-looking agenda for the city office, emphasizing coordination among city staff, nonprofit providers and federal partners to reduce veteran homelessness, shorten waits for benefits and expand employment and wellness services.

Looking ahead, Wright said the office will continue to build partnerships and expand its staff, and he encouraged commissioners to “show up” at outreach events to help connect veterans to resources.","Gregory Wright Jr., the newly installed director of the City of Philadelphia Office of Veterans Affairs, outlined plans to expand housing access, mental health services, veteran employment and citywide outreach and previewed VetFest on June 25 and Army 250th events June 13–15.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Disabled veterans urge city to revisit property‑tax abatement income cap

Commission meeting spotlights veteran homelessness, nonprofit coordination and job‑placement gaps in Philadelphia

Philadelphia names Gregory Wright director of Veterans Affairs; outlines VetFest, Army 250th events and priorities