Senior citizens have been actively working with council members across the city to oppose Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed cuts to the Department for the Aging (DFTA).
PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 09, 2011 – The FY 2012 budget negotiation dance is heating up, and seniors are doing more than a two step. At Riverstone Senior Life Services Center, Manhattan based senior service agencies, and senior citizens were joined by City Council Member Robert Jackson to oppose the almost $40 million dollar in cuts to senior services.
Senior citizens have been actively working with council members across the city to oppose Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed cuts to the Department for the Aging (DFTA).
Bobbie Sackman, director of public policy, CSCS, states; “seniors are fighting hard to prevent the damaging cuts to senior services. Each year, they must take part in the budget dance. While we all appreciate that some funding may be 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 every New Yorker to call Mayor Bloomberg at 311 and ask him to not take away services from the elderly. The Department for the Aging has taken enough cuts.”
In recent years Mayor Bloomberg has cut more than $50 million to seniors services across the city. The FY 12 DFTA funding reductions include $6.6 million (a 30% cut) to case management which is social workers going into the homes of frail, homebound elders, $20 million in cuts to senior centers including the closing of 17 senior centers, the elimination of elder abuse funds, $800,000, plus other critical services. About one out of three city dollars at DFTA has been lost.
Council Member Jackson is an influential member on the Budget Negotiating Team, and seniors are hopeful that he will be their dance partner.
The Council of Senior Centers and Services (CSCS) promote the quality of life, independent living, productivity, and dignity of mature older adults principally in New York City. CSCS champions elder rights. For a full list of the $39 million in cuts go to cscs-ny.org.
