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

IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING HUNDREDS OF SENIORS TO CITY HALL AS THE CUTS ARE DEVASTATING TO SENIOR SERVICES

Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Time: 10:00 am (usually goes for about two hours). The public can testify – register at the hearing that day (go up front on right side of the room to security guard at the desk)
Location: City Hall Chambers – 2nd floor (there is an elevator)

What is happening:
$43 million in proposed cuts to DFTA  - go to www.cscs-ny.org to see Action Alert
There are 13 new Councilmembers so it is very important for a strong showing of seniors as this is the first budget hearing from these Councilmembers. We also need to retain the historic support of City Council for aging services.
Please arrive at 9:45 to get into the Chambers on time.

CSCS and its members need to send a strong message that the cumulative effect of cuts results in less services to older New Yorkers and threatens the infrastructure of community-based agencies.

Please let us know if you are bringing seniors or for further information – Bobbie Sackman, (212) 398-6565 x226 or bsackman@cscs-ny.org (prefer emails).

THE AGING SERVICES NETWORK IS THE BEST – YOU’VE ALWAYS BROUGHT HUNDREDS OF SENIORS TO CITY HALL WHEN WE NEEDED IT – THANK YOU!

CSCS organized a March 30th City Hall press conference with 80 senior citizens from senior centers in all five boroughs. Over 300 seniors attended the City Council Aging Committee budget hearing. This was the new DFTA Commissioner Liliam Barrios Paoli’s first hearing. You can see a summary of her remarks on the CSCS website. CSCS’ joint testimony for the hearing is also on the website with a chart of all the cuts being proposed.

Senior services continue to take hit after hit. Mayor Michael Bloomberg released his FY10 preliminary budget on January 29th. The proposed plan includes $22 million in cuts to the Department for the Aging - cuts to senior centers, case management, elder abuse, and a pulling back on a planned expansion of meals-on-wheels. It also did not include City Council funds for rent, meals, and vans. DFTA already got cut by $13 million last year and is sustaining state cuts. DFTA eliminated funding for adult day services, intergenerational programs, a gamut of other services plus a 30% cut to caregiver funds. Only elder abuse funds were restored, but for 6 months only.

There continues to be waves of cuts on aging services. With the aging population growing in number and growing poorer in these bad economic times, the city should not be fraying the safety net for seniors even further. Please go to www.cscs-ny.org for our action alert.