Councilmember Eric Gioia, center, is joined by Councilmembers Bill de Blasio, left, and Letitia James, right, on the steps of City Hall on July 26, to call on the City Council to override Mayor Bloomberg’s veto of three bills that would increase access to federal food stamp benefits. That’s what Councilmember Eric Gioia is wondering after Bloomberg recently vetoed three bills that would help an estimated 700,000 eligible New Yorkers put food on their tables.

Gioia said needless bureaucracy prevents them from getting applications for Food Stamps and filing them, but his bills would require the city to allow Food Stamp applications to be submitted online and make them available where they can be accessed easily, such as at a food pantry where hungry New Yorkers are likely to be found.

Gioia said that at this point, the city is failing those eligible for the Stamps who are not receiving the aid. “We need to be focused on fixing this problem and feeding hungry kids, not on petty turf battles or squabbles about jurisdiction,” he said.

Gioia and council leaders say they will override the veto.