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

New York Nonprofit Press

Seniors Turn Out to Protest DFTA Cuts

Thursday, May 12, 2011

By: NYNP

Publication & Publisher: NYNP

The Council of Senior Centers and Services (CSCS) held its 16th Annual Advocacy Day yesterday. Three hundred senior citizens from across the five boroughs, representing tens of thousands in their communities, met with over 40 Council Members to oppose the tenth round of what they see as draconian cuts to services for the elderly funded through the Department for the Aging. Seniors are asking who will stand up for them and be their champions to prevent further cuts with all the competing budget pressures faced by City Council, who has historically restored some of the proposed cuts.

CSCS says that after imposing $50 million in cuts since being in office, Mayor Bloomberg is proposing almost $40 million more to services for the elderly. And, the group adds, this new battle comes on the heels of an effort to save 105 senior centers from closure due to proposed cuts in the State budget. Now, they claim that seniors are faced with almost $20 million in proposed city cuts to senior center budgets. Particularly damaging to frail, homebound elders, average age 85, is a 30% cut, $6.6 million, to case management which provides social workers who go into their homes to ensure they are safe and have enough food, transportation to the doctor, detect elder abuse, and other important concerns. For the fourth time, the mayor's budget includes the total elimination of $800,000 in funds funds to support elder abuse victims.

"Seniors have fought hard to save the damaging cut to case management for homebound elders, the terrifying possibility of the state closing 105 senior centers, the unfathomable elimination of all elder abuse funds and other cuts," said Bobbie Sackman, Director of Public Policy at CSCS. "Each year, they must take part in the budget dance. While we all appreciate that some funding is restored, seniors find themselves dancing in quicksand as millions of dollars are lost and services disappear just as the age revolution is upon us. We urge New Yorkers to call Mayor Bloomberg at 311 and their City Councilmember and urge them to not cut the elderly. Services funded through the Department for the Aging have taken enough cuts."