FY18 City Budget Update: $22.8 Million in Baselined Funding for Senior Services in the Year of the Senior!!!

After spending the entire day at City Hall Friday to continue to advocate for senior services funding, LiveOn NY was on hand into the night to witness the “budget handshake” between Mayor de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, signaling an agreement on the FY18 City budget.

While details are still being discussed, and a final vote on the entire budget is expected this week, LiveOn NY was pleased that Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Mark-Viverito announced an influx of $22.8 million baselined dollars for senior services funding in the FY18 budget.  A City Council announcement Friday night highlighted this funding with the following graphic:      

In addition, the city announced an additional allocation of $30 million in FY18 growing to $104 million in FY22 to provide enhanced resources and support to nonprofit service providers. Again, more details will be coming soon on this allocation as well as all the funding announced at the press conference.

LiveOn NY members were a vital part of the team that advocated for this funding, having sent an amazing 21,000 letters to Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Mark-Viverito and their Council Members over the last 2 months, in addition to over 300 seniors attending Advocacy Day at City Hall in May.  This is an incredible show of strength of the aging network and older New Yorkers, and our members played an active and successful role in winning this funding.

LiveOn NY especially acknowledges the leadership of City Council Aging Committee Chair and champion Margaret Chin for her persistence and fierce advocacy, and who one year ago delcared that this would be the Year of the Senior.  LiveOn NY also thanks Mayor de Blasio, Department for the Aging (DFTA) Commissioner Donna Corrado and the City Council under the leadership of Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Finance Chair Julissa Ferreras-Copeland and Subcommittee on Senior Centers Chair Paul Vallone. Led by Council Members Chin and Vallone, the entire City Council was instrumental in making this the Year of the Senior.

As always, we will need to gather more specifics on this funding to understand how it will be implemented, but LiveOn NY views this announcement as an important recognition of both the need for funding to allow seniors to thrive in their communities, as well as an understanding of the work senior service agencies do to make New York a better place to age.  LiveOn NY will be gathering further details and will keep you apprised of specifics in the upcoming months.

Thank you for your partnership in advocacy and being part of this important work.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and City Council Members at budget handshake Press Conference on June 2, 2017.

For more information, contact Bobbie Sackman, Associate Executive Director of Public Policy at  bsackman@liveon-ny.org or 212-398-6565 X226 or Andrea Cianfrani, Deputy Director of Public Policy at acianfrani@liveon-ny.org or 212-398-6565 X233.

LiveOn NY Releases Statement on Mayor de Blasio's FY2018 Executive Budget

Click here for a printable version of this statement.

Click here to download this statement translated into Spanish.

Click here to download this statement translated into Chinese.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 27, 2017                

CONTACT: Bobbie Sackman, Associate Executive Director of Public Policy

bsackman@liveon-ny.org or 917-690-2805

 

MAYOR REFUSES TO ADD ANY NEW MONEY TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING!

NO SENIORS, NO BUDGET!

A wave of concern and confusion was sent through the community-based aging services and older New Yorker community across the city as Mayor Bill de Blasio’s executive budget adds no new money to the Department for the Aging. This is on top of no new money in the preliminary budget. The network of senior centers, services for homebound elderly and other programs has continued to be left out of the Mayor’s budgets.

Bobbie Sackman, Associate Executive Director of Public Policy, LiveOn NY, “On behalf of the 300,000 older New Yorkers served by LiveOn NY’s members, we find it deeply disturbing that Mayor Bill de Blasio, once again, has refused to add any new money to fund vital services through the Department for the Aging (DFTA). 

In both his preliminary and executive budgets, the Mayor has rejected adding any new funding to DFTA. With almost 18% of the city’s population reaching age 60+, it is irresponsible that DFTA receives less than ½ of 1% of the city budget – and less than 2% of all human services funding. As we head into the headwaters of a Trump budget, the safety net for older adults and their family caregivers, currently very thin, must be strengthened. The 2000 homebound seniors waiting for a case manager to visit them, the 780 seniors waiting for home care, the senior centers needing funds for meals, health and wellness programs and renovations – the list goes on and on. Given the anxieties about federal level funding cuts, ignoring the needs of older New Yorkers is inexcusable. If seniors cannot depend upon their Mayor to support the services they need, then where can they turn.

City Council has declared 2017 the Year of the Senior. LiveOn NY calls on City Council and the Mayor to fund the $60.6 million budget priorities included in City Council's response to the preliminary budget. As a supporter of women’s rights and immigrants, the Mayor must support New Yorkers across the lifespan. DFTA’s programs serve thousands of low income women and immigrants. LiveOn NY calls on both the Mayor and City Council to not adopt the FY18 budget without full funding of DFTA services.

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LiveOn NY’s membership is comprised of 100 nonprofits providing an array of community-based services to 300,000 older New Yorkers. Our mission is to make New York a better place to age, allowing older adults to age with independence, grace and vitality.

Click here for a printable version of this statement.

Click here to download this statement translated into Spanish.

Click here to download this statement translated into Chinese.

LiveOn NY Applauds Legislature's Commitment to Increased Funding for Aging Services

Click here for a printable version of this Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

March 17, 2017                                                                       

Contact: Bobbie Sackman, Associate Executive Director of Public Policy

917-690-2805 or bsackman@liveon-ny.org

LiveOn NY Applauds Legislature’s Commitment to Increased Funding

for Aging Services in Budget Proposals

LiveOn NY thanks Senator Sue Serino (R, C, I—Hyde Park), Chair of the Senate Committee on Aging and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Binghamton), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging, for their leadership during the 2017-18 state budget process to prioritize vital resources to support older New Yorkers.

Older New Yorkers fuel the economy, create jobs, provide vital unpaid caregiving services and volunteer in their communities.  Currently, 20 percent (3.7 million) of NYS residents are 60 years of age or older for the first time in history, and due to longer life and the aging of the baby boom generation. With more people living longer than ever before, the State faces both a challenge and an opportunity. By 2025, 51 counties will have 25% or more of their population over the age of 60. New York State must have a comprehensive plan to address the millions of older New Yorkers now and the thousands that will turn age 60 over the next few years.  17,000 seniors statewide are already on waiting lists for community based services and this number will only continue to grow without adequate funding and a strong infrastructure.

The aging network is the safety net for New York’s Seniors.  By investing in aging services, New York can say Yes to older New Yorkers.

LiveOn NY looks forward to working with Senator Serino, Assemblywoman Lupardo, their Senate and Assembly colleagues along with Governor Cuomo on important issues affecting the aging network.

News Coverage On Title XX Cuts to Senior Centers

Politico, Feb. 6 – Cuomo plan for federal funds could blow a hole in city’s budget for seniors

Governor Cuomo’s transfer of funds for federal Title XX funds eliminates language that allows $17 million to be used for senior centers. 65 senior centers would close leaving 6000 older New Yorkers a day without their local senior center.

By: Gloria Pazmino and Josefa Velasquez
Monday, 6 February 2017
Publication & Publisher: Politico New York

Politico, Feb. 7 – Chairs of Legislature’s Aging Committees push for senior services budget funds

Senate and Assembly aging chairs held the first ever joint press conference of the two chairs moving forward a bi-partisan effort to address waiting lists for senior services statewide and prevent cuts to NYC senior centers.

By: Nick Niedzwiadek
Tuesday, 7 February 2017
Publication & Publisher: Politico New York

WBNG, Feb. 7 - Legislature urged to address needs of NY's growing senior population

Hundreds of aging advocates from across New York were in Albany Tuesday to ask state leaders to "Step up for Seniors" by making the state's aging population a priority in this year's budget.

By: Nicky Hickling
Tuesday, 7 February 2017
Publication & Publisher: WBNG.COM

Politico, Feb. 8 – Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle showed concerned over Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to redirect funds from adult care to child care services

At a joint legislative budget hearing on human services, Sen. Cathy Young, the head of the finance committee in the Republican-led Senate, and Democratic Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, told the acting commissioner of the Office of Children and Family Services that the cost shifting proposal could leave counties on the hook for funding adult care services if the governor’s proposal were enacted.

By: Josefa Velasquez
Wednesday, 8 February 2017
Publication & Publisher: Politico New York

HVNN, Feb. 8 -Senator Serino and Assemblywoman Lupardo Stand Up for Seniors

Senator Sue Serino of Hyde Park and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo of Binghamton led a large group of senior citizen advocates and bi-partisan lawmakers on Wednesday in a call to legislative leaders to make New York’s senior a priority in the state budget.

By: Intern
Wednesday, 8 February 2017
Publication & Publisher: HVNN.com

Politico, Feb. 17 – Seniors brace for cuts after Cuomo declines to amend budget language

Thousands of senior citizens are facing the prospect of losing their senior centers after Gov. Andrew Cuomo failed to amend language in his $152.3 billion executive budget proposal, leaving in place a shift of funds that could result in the closing of facilities and a $17 million hole in the city’s budget.

By: Gloria Pazmino
Friday, 17 February 2017
Publication & Publisher: Politico New York

Kings County Politics, Feb. 17 – Brooklyn Lawmakers On The Move

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer yesterday urged Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to reverse the more than $17 million in cuts and cost shifts outlined in his Fiscal Year 2017-2018 (FY17-18) Executive Budget proposal that would result in a loss of funding that supports more than one million seniors in the City.

By: Kings County Politics
Friday, 17 February 2017
Publication & Publisher: Kings County Politics

Public News Service, Feb. 20 - Cuomo Budget Cuts Senior Centers

Advocates for older New Yorkers are calling on state legislators to restore funds for New York City senior centers cut from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed budget.  In his State of the State address, the governor announced he would make New York the first age-friendly state in the nation.  But his budget calls for cutting $17 million of federal funds for senior centers in the city, shifting the money to child care instead. 

By: Andrea Sears
Monday, 20 February 2017
Publication & Publisher: Public News Service

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Feb. 22 – Squadron enlists seniors to fight Cuomo’s $17 million senior center budget cut

State Sen. Daniel Squadron kicked off a tour of Brooklyn senior centers on Tuesday to organize older adults to fight Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget cuts to the centers.

By: Mary Frost
Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Publication & Publisher: Brooklyn Daily Eagle

NY 1, Feb. 23 - Elected Officials, senior citizens in Bayside protest Governor Cuomo's budget

Bibi Vitberg said when she lost her job a few years ago, she felt empty.  But that all changed when she joined the Self Help Clearview Senior Center.  "I found a new home, I'm here almost every day, and I enjoy everything they do," said Vitberg. 

By: Shannan Ferry
Thursday, February 23 2017
Publication & Publisher: TWC News NY 1

Fox 5, Feb. 27 – Some NYC senior centers could close under budget plan

Many senior citizens in New York City have serious reason to be concerned. If there are no changes made to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's budget proposal, 65 senior centers in the city could be forced to close.

By: Melissa Etezadi
Monday, February 27 2017
Publication & Publisher: Fox 5

Queens Chronicle, Mar. 2 - Senior centers endangered by guv's proposal

Many are warning that senior centers will be devastated if Gov. Cuomo’s proposal to repurpose federal block grant monies used to fund them goes unchallenged. Sixty-five facilities are expected to close in New York City if the $17 million is redirected to child care programs, as the state’s top executive plans.

By: Ryan Brady
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Publication & Publisher: Queens Chronicle

City & State NY Slant, Mar. 6 -  Age-Friendly New York? Not with Cuomo's budget cuts

Just days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the declaration in his State of the State tour that New York would become the first age-friendly state in the nation, he presented a budget that blatantly ignores the needs of older New Yorkers.

By: Bobbie Sackman
Monday, March 6 2017
Publication & Publisher: City & State New York Slant

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Mar. 7 - Bay Ridge polls urge Cuomo to restore funding for seniors

State Sen. Marty Golden says he will not vote for the state budget if it cuts funding to senior citizen programs. Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis is also fighting to save the funding. Eagle file photo by Paula Katinas

By: Paula Katinas
Tuesday, March 7 2017
Publication & Publisher: Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Assemblyman Braunstein, Senator Stavisky, & Assemblywoman Rozic Join Seniors at SelfHelp to Protest Governor's Proposed Cuts to Senior Centers

ALERT: Off the Fiscal Cliff Campaign

LiveOn NY is starting a new Campaign - OFF THE FISCAL CLIFF - and we need your help today. Here are the details:

• What we are advocating for: 1) Continued outreach efforts to spread awareness about the NY Rent Freeze Program AND 2) A policy change within the NY Rent Freeze Program so that rental costs are capped at 1/3 of a senior's income and for those already enrolled - a rollback to the 1/3 level.

• Purpose: LiveOn NY works closely with key partners including the NYC Department of Finance, Department for the Aging & Human Resource Administration to make sure each eligible older person is aware of the NY Rent Freeze Program. The public-private partnerships that are addressing under-enrollment in the program are a critical way to spread the awareness. We want to ensure these efforts continue and expand outreach, as we know that seniors are overburdened in housing costs. Often paying more than 50% of their income on rent, whether they are enrolled in NY Rent Freeze (SCRIE/DRIE) or not. Because the Rent Freeze Program is one of the key tools to preserve affordable seniors housing AND allows older adults' to remain at home as they age - we must ensure that NYC improve its policies to help seniors off the fiscal cliff.

• Who we are targeting: New York City and State Elected Officials, Policymakers and other key stakeholders

What you can do!

SIGN ON TO THE CAMPAIGN TODAY (Click here)

FORWARD THE SIGN-ON LINK TO YOUR CONTACTS

SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA (info below)

More Facts about the issue:

• 200,000 older New Yorkers are on waiting lists for affordable senior housing, for an average of 7 years
• 4 out of 10 seniors report not knowing about NY Rent Freeze
• Too many seniors find out about their eligibility during an affordability crisis
• Almost 60% of seniors who are enrolled in SCRIE continue to experience heavy rent burden, with average annual incomes between $11,000 and $12,000. They find out about the benefit too late and cannot have the benefit “rolled-back” to an affordable level.
• NYC must rollback and cap rents at 1/3 of household income to help seniors off the fiscal cliff.
• Click here to check out our infographics highlighting the alarming SCRIE statistics.

Sign our Campaign. Share on Social Media. Be an Advocate