CSCS: Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC, Inc.

The Riverdale Press Article

Thursday, April 08, 2010

By Maria Clark

Publication & Publisher: The Riverdale Press

Bridge is a favorite pastime at Riverdale Senior Services,
which could find itself in serious trouble
if proposed budget cuts go through.

Photo by Karsten Moran

There are at least four bridge games going on at the same time in the community room at the Riverdale Senior Services on Netherland Avenue.

In the computer lab next door, an elderly gentleman is being instructed on how to set up an e-mail account. Further down the hall, more card games and lively conversation, as two friends chat on a sofa, ignoring the soap opera on the television set.

Pending the outcome of a proposed $85.4 million budget cut to the Department for the Aging, dozens of centers like the one at Riverdale Senior Services could suffer serious cuts to programming or close entirely. Advocates predict that this 25-percent cut to the DFTA’s $290 million budget will also mean a reduction of meals-on-wheels services and home care for hundreds of seniors in New York City.

“It is not going to take long for it to fall like a house of cards. The dollars have been stretched, and at the end of the day this is a small agency. This cut is not going to repair the city budget,” said Bobbie Sackman, the director of public policy at the Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC.

Gov. David Paterson has also proposed eliminating $25 million originally allocated to counties to fund programs at their discretion.

The governor’s budget proposes to divert the money to adult protective/domestic violence programs.

“Every year we have to fight to get the money we need from the city budget,” said Julia Schwartz-Leeper, the executive director of Riverdale Senior Services. “This year we simply weren’t anticipating the loss of the Title XX funds.”

“The name of the game is, who is going to get what,” said Mike Callahan, a member of the Riverdale Senior Services Senior Action Committee.

The committee has been involved in petitioning the governor, state senators and their local assemblymen against the drastic cuts both to DFTA and the planned MTA cuts that would affect Access-A-Ride services.

There are currently two versions of the State budget pending. On March 29 the state Senate proposed reinstating Title XX funding, but the Assembly wants to put back only $13.5 million.

If the Assembly’s version is approved, between 40 to 80 senior centers may close throughout the city, according to Ms. Sackman.

Senior centers are funded depending on how many lunches they serve. Riverdale Senior Services provides between 75 and 100 lunches to local seniors a day.

In addition, the center, which is located on the ground floor of the Century building on Netherland Avenue, also provides a diverse array of programming that includes yoga, Tai Chi, and computer classes.

Seniors can also consult with a full-time social worker and a registered nurse, and sign up for a bi-monthly free blood pressure check-up.

Though it is not yet clear how this particular center would be affected if the cuts go through, many seniors who attend classes or simply drop by for some conversation are worried about the proposed change.

“I always thought we should call this a club, as opposed to a senior center,” said Maxine Kaplowitz. She began attending yoga classes at the center to help her with her heart condition.

It also keeps people from being homebound and having to apply for home services, said Pat O’Malley, the director of social services at RSS.

“All senior centers are essential,” said Sarah Goldberg, a member of the center’s Senior Action Committee. “This is our home away from home.”