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

NYNP Article

Monday, 14 March 2011

By NYNP

Publication & Publisher: New York Nonprofit Press

Seniors, advocates and elected officials gathered
on the steps of City Hall on Friday.

An estimated 600 seniors from across the City gathered with elected officials on the steps of City Hall on Friday to oppose the Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposals to divert state funding which currently supports senior centers in New York City and elsewhere. In response to the Governor’s proposal, the New York City Department for the Ageing (DFTA) has released a list of 105 senior centers – one-third of the total DFTA senior center network – for closure.

“For 35 years Title XX funds have been a primary resource for senior centers,” said Igal Jellinek, Executive Director of the Council of Senior Centers and Services (CSCS). “Now Governor Cuomo is deciding to remove 25 million dollars from Title XX, which according to the Department for the Aging (DFTA) would force 105 centers to close impacting up to10,000 seniors. This means 2.5 million less nutritional meals will be provided annually to NYC’s senior citizens. These cuts would come at a time when NYC's fastest growing population is the 85+ year old, and when the average age of senior center participant is 77, and sixty to seventy percent of them live below the poverty line on a fixed income. This means that more seniors may utilize costly Medicaid services. The Governor needs to know that closing senior centers today will cost taxpayers tomorrow.”

“These cuts would obliterate senior centers and services in our city,” said NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin, Chair of the City Council Committee on Aging. “Closing the doors to these centers would mean turning our backs on thousands of older New Yorkers. We’re simply not going to let that happen.”