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

Impacto

LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN EXPLODES - OVER 15,000 LETTERS SENT! SENIORS URGE GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO NOT TO CUT TITLE XX FUNDING THAT WOULD CLOSE 105 SENIOR CENTERS!

Sunday, December 04, 2011

Publication & Publisher: Impacto

Senior center participants from across the city have sent a clear message to Governor Andrew Cuomo - please don't cut Title XX funding and protect our senior centers. For the past two years, first under Governor Paterson and then during Governor Cuomo's first term, a threatened cut of about $25 million would have closed 105 NYC senior centers depriving upwards of 10,000 older New Yorkers of their local senior center. The 15,000 letters - in English, Spanish and Chinese, ask Governor Cuomo not to propose the cut again as he prepares his FY2013 budget. For last year's 105 senior center list, go to www.cscs-ny.org, under "Alerts" on home page.

The City Hall press conference on December 1, 2011, brought together a broad array of elected officials including the Department for the Aging Commissioner, State Assemblymembers and Senators, City Councilmembers, seniors and advocates. There is bi-partisan opposition to Title XX senior center cuts.

"The Department for the Aging funds nearly a third of its senior center budget through the use of Title XX discretionary funds," said Commissioner Lilliam Barrios-Paoli. "Any loss of state funding would impact seniors profoundly - we would potentially have to close upwards of 105 senior centers across the five boroughs. It is critical that this funding remain in the State's FY '13 budget."

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver states, "I am proud that last year the Assembly successfully fought to fully restore state funding for New York City's senior centers and I am committed to continuing that fight. In these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever that we take care of our older residents by maintaining the crucial services these centers provide, including hot nutritious meals and health and wellness programs. Senior centers are a lifeline for tens of thousands of New York City residents, many of whom are living in poverty. Seniors in New York City must have access to the critical resources they have come to rely upon."

Senator Diane Savino, Chair, Committee on Families and Children, stated, "Last year we protected seniors from facing the Title XX cuts and I am proud to stand with these elected officials and seniors to ONCE AGAIN defend what should never be threatened."

Assemblywoman Joan Millman, Chair, Committee on Aging, "For too many years we have been fighting the same battle to save our senior centers by restoring Title XX. With all of your help, we have won that fight. But we must focus our time and energies on addressing a wide-range of pressing senior issues."

Councilwoman Jessica Lappin, Chair, City Council Committee on Aging, "These centers are a lifeline for thousands of seniors. We need to protect Title XX funding so they remain open."

Councilman David Greenfield, Chair, Committee on Senior Centers, "Every day we spend fighting to protect Title XX funding for senior centers is a day that we're not spending fighting for improved healthcare, better employment opportunities, and more affordable housing for our senior citizens. Governor Cuomo needs to take Title XX off the table for budget cuts so we can stop fighting the battles of the past and work towards a better future for the seniors of New York State."

Igal Jellinek, Executive Director, Council of Senior Centers and Services, "Over 15,000 letters sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo from seniors across the city sends a strong message about how important senior centers are in the lives of older New Yorkers. Cutting these funds would devastate the senior center network assisting older New Yorkers for 40 years. There would be 2.5 million less meals provided annually. This would also leave thousands of older New Yorkers socially isolated which could accelerate physical and mental deterioration. We ask Governor Cuomo not to cut Title XX funding again which would close 105 NYC senior centers resulting in about 10,000 seniors losing their local senior center."