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Action Alert: Two Quick Ways to Take Action to Support Senior Centers and Programs
ACTION ALERT - March 6, 2017
What is Happening
The city and state budgets are moving forward. As LiveOn NY reported, there are serious threats to Title XX funds in the state budget which would result in the closure of at least 65 senior centers, as well as $13 million in cuts and cost shifts to aging services. In the city budget, there is no new money for home care, despite citywide waitlists of 560 seniors, which grows monthly, and no new money for Case Management Services despite over 1,800 seniors on waitlists - a 30% increase from last year.
What You Can Do
Here are two easy ways to get involved.
CITY
- Attend the Rally and City Council Committee on Aging Budget Hearing on Monday, March 13, 2017 at City Hall. We need hundreds of seniors to fill up the Chambers for the hearing – you can register to testify at the hearing if you want. You can also attend the rally before the hearing. Here’s a quick look at the schedule for March 13:
- Arrive by 9:00am if you want to attend the rally on the steps of City Hall, so you can get through security and get to the steps of City Hall.
- Arrive by 9:30/9:45 to attend the hearing to allow time to get through security and get seated inside City Hall.
- Wear shirts and hats with the name of your senior center.
- Email Andrea at acianfrani@liveon-ny.org if you plan to attend.
STATE
- Ask seniors/staff to call their Assembly Member and Senator this week ask for support in the budget for senior centers and programs. Call Albany or local office. The message is:
- Don't let my senior center close. Restore Title XX Funds. Thank you for your support of seniors.
- No dejes que mi centro de ancianos cierre. Reponga los fondos del título XX. Gracias por su apoyo a ancianos.
- 告訴他們 : 不要關閉我們的老人中心. 重新恢復 XX預算. 感謝您對耆老們的支持!
How to Find your Legislators
STATE
- Click here to find your New York State Assemblymember
- Click here to find your New York State Senator
CITY
- Click here to find your City Council Member.
Media Update:
Click here to read LiveOn NY Associate Executive Director of Public Policy Bobbie Sackman’s Op-Ed titled "Age-Friendly New York? Not With Cuomo's Budget Cuts" that appeared this morning in City & State New York Slant.
Contact Bobbie Sackman, Associate Executive Director of Public Policy at 212-398-6565x226 or bsackman@liveon-ny.org or Andrea Cianfrani, Dep. Director of Public Policy at 212-398-6565x233 or acianfrani@liveon-ny.org
Click here for a printable version of this Alert.
Keep fighting to stop closing of Senior Centers!
16,000 Letters from 120 Senior Centers and Programs Sent to Governor Cuomo Opposing Cut Closing 65 NYC Senior Centers
We Need Your Help to Keep Fighting!
ACTION ALERT
Over 16,000 Letters from 124 Senior Centers and Programs Sent to Governor Cuomo Opposing Cut Closing 65 NYC Senior Centers
We Need Your Help to Keep Fighting!
NEED THOUSANDS OF CALLS, CALLS, CALLS TO YOUR STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS AND SENATORS!
KEEP SENDING LETTERS TO GOVERNOR CUOMO FROM SENIORS WHO HAVEN’T SENT THEM YET!
JOIN THE MOVEMENT - GO, GO, GO!
What is Happening:
The Governor had until February 16 to remove the troubling Title XX language that would affect NYC senior centers in the state budget – but he did not remove it, leaving at least 65 centers at risk.
NYC will lose $17 million in Title XX funds, forcing 65 senior centers to close in virtually every Assembly and Senate district. 6,000 seniors per day would lose their local senior center, 1.5 million meals per year will be lost. There will be 24,000 of lost hours of case work assistance for benefits, housing and other needs. In addition, the 2017-18 State Executive Budget contained $13 million to the State Office for the Aging.
The budget now moves to the Assembly and Senate to work out the final details. The final budget is typically passed in mid/late March.
What You Can Do:
HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH YOUR STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS AND SENATORS. Many press conferences have already happened around the city. Legislators are in their city office on Thursdays and Fridays. Call them at the district office to invite them. Elected official and senior center can invite media. Talk about the Title XX issue and the need for aging services in the final budget. Send photos and links to media coverage to acianfrani@liveon-ny.org and we will put them on our website.
Click here for LiveOn NY’s Budget Response. Click here for the full state budget priorities agenda. Print out and give them a copy of the documents. Ask them for their help on these issues and thank them for their support.
Ask seniors/staff to call their Assembly Member and Senator to ask for support in the budget for senior centers and programs. Call Albany or local office. The message is:
Don't let my senior center close. Restore Title XX Funds. Thank you for your support of seniors.
No dejes que mi centro de ancianos cierre. Reponga los fondos del título XX. Gracias por su apoyo a ancianos.
告訴他們 : 不要關閉我們的老人中心. 重新恢復 XX預算. 感謝您對耆老們的支持!
Arrange a meeting with your State Assembly Member and Senator to talk about your program and the need for funding in more detail.
Keep Sending Letters to the Governor: If seniors at your program haven’t already sent letters – please do so now. We need thousands more to tell him to allow Title XX funds to be used for senior centers so they don't close. Click here for instructions and the model letter which is in English, Chinese and Spanish. Mail the letters directly to the Governor and let us know how many you sent (see instructions)
Email Andrea at acianfrani@liveon-ny.org to let us know of the events you are holding, meetings you have and key relationships you have developed with legislators so we can continue to build a supportive network
How to Find your State Legislators
Click here to find your New York State Assembly Member
Click here to find your New York State Senator
Thank you for your support!
| PLAN TO ATTEND City Council Committee on Aging Budget Hearing Monday, March 13, 2017 10:00am at City Hall We need hundreds of Seniors to fill up the Chambers. You can register to testify at the hearing if you want. Please arrive around 9:15am to get through security and find seats. Wear shirts and hats with the name of your senior center! More information to follow! See ya there! |
Action Alert: Reach out to State Legislators to Ask them to Help Prevent Cuts to Senior Centers
14,000 Letters from 104 Senior Centers and Programs Sent to Governor Cuomo Opposing Cut that would Close Down 65 NYC Senior Centers
We Need Your Help to Keep Fighting!
Action Alert
CONGRATULATIONS - You are all AWESOME!
14,000 Letters from 104 Senior Centers and Programs Sent to Governor Cuomo Opposing Cut that would Close Down 65 NYC Senior Centers
We Need Your Help to Keep Fighting!
What is Happening:
- The Governor had until yesterday to remove the troubling Title XX language that would affect NYC senior centers in the state budget – but he did not remove it, leaving at least 65 centers at risk.
- The provision requires a set amount of federal Title XX funds to be used to support child care subsidy costs, instead of leaving the discretion to the counties on how to use the funding. Federal Title XX funds have been used to support senior centers in NYC for decades. NYC will lose $17 million in Title XX funds, forcing 65 senior centers to close in virtually every Assembly and Senate district. This represents almost 30% of our Neighborhood Senior Centers. 6,000 seniors per day would lose their local senior center and lose access to vital nutrition, socialization and health promotion activities. 1.5 million meals per year will be lost. There will be 24,000 of lost hours of case work assistance for benefits, housing and other needs.
- Seniors responded loudly. 14,000 letters from 104 centers and programs were sent to the Governor about this issue in just two weeks – an amazing job by all!
- In addition, the 2017-18 State Executive Budget contained $13 million in cuts and cost shifts to the State Department for the Aging.
- The budget now moves to the Assembly and Senate to work out the final details. The final budget is typically passed in mid/late March.
- State Assembly Members and Senators are home in their district offices the week of February 20. We need to ask them for their help.
What You Can Do: Week of February 20, 2017
- Invite your State Assembly Member and Senator to come to your program/center the week of February 20. Call them at the district office to invite them. When they come, talk about your program, the Title XX issue and the need for aging services in the final budget. Click here for LiveOn NY’s Budget Response. Click here for the full state budget priorities agenda. Print out and give them a copy of the documents. Ask them for their help on these issues and thank them for their support.
- Ask seniors/staff to call their Assembly Member and Senator in the district office to ask for support in the budget for senior centers and programs. The message is simple but important. Tell Them:
- Don't let my senior center close. Restore Title XX Funds. Thank you for your support of seniors.
- Arrange a meeting with your State Assembly Member and Senator to talk about your program and the need for funding.
- Keep Sending Letters to the Governor: If seniors at your program haven’t already sent letters – please do so now. We need thousands more to tell him to allow Title XX funds to be used for senior centers so they don't close. Click here for instructions and the model letter which is in English, Chinese and Spanish. Mail the letters directly to the Governor and let us know how many you sent (see instructions)
- Email Andrea at acianfrani@liveon-ny.org to let us know of the events you are holding, meetings you have and key relationships you have developed with legislators so we can continue to build a supportive network.
How to Find your State Legislators
- Click here to find your New York State Assembly Member
- Click here to find your New York State Senator
Thank you for your support!
Contact Bobbie Sackman Contact Bobbie Sackman, Assoc. Executive Director of Public Policy at 212-398-6565x226 orbsackman@liveon-ny.org or Andrea Cianfrani, Dep. Director of Pub. Policy at 212-398-6565x233 or acianfrani@liveon-ny.org
Press Release: Title XX Funds to Support Senior Centers at Risk
IN STATE OF STATE, GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES MAKING NY THE FIRST AGE FRIENDLY STATE AND THEN PROPOSES CLOSING OF 65 NYC SENIOR CENTERS
GOVERNOR IGNORES PLEAS OF 13,800 SENIORS TO REVERSE THE CUT OF $17 MILLION OF TITLE XX FUNDS FOR SENIOR CENTERS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 17, 2017
Contact: Bobbie Sackman
Associate Executive Director of Public Policy
917-690-2805 or bsackman@liveon-ny.org
IN STATE OF STATE, GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES MAKING NY THE FIRST AGE FRIENDLY STATE AND THEN PROPOSES CLOSING OF 65 NYC SENIOR CENTERS
GOVERNOR IGNORES PLEAS OF 13,800 SENIORS TO REVERSE THE CUT OF $17 MILLION OF TITLE XX FUNDS FOR SENIOR CENTERS
13,800 LETTERS FROM 104 SENIOR CENTERS SENT TO GOVERNOR CUOMOOPPOSING CUT THAT WOULD CLOSE DOWN 65 NYC SENIOR CENTERS
In his State of the State address in January, Governor Andrew Cuomo proudly announced that he would make New York the first age-friendly state in the nation. Then his budget sent a shock wave through senior centers in New York City as its proposal to cut $17 million of Title XX funds would result in the closing of 65 senior centers citywide. Not the right direction for an age-friendly state which requires community based services. According to the city’s Department for the Aging, there will be about one senior center closed per Assembly district. The last time the Governor attempted this was in 2011, but the cut was avoided by strong opposition from seniors.
In an astounding outpour of opposition, in only two weeks, 13,800 letters in English, Spanish and Chinese were sent to the Governor urging him to change the language within the 30-day amendment period. The Governor’s budget shifted Title XX federal funds from senior centers to child care. A letter was sent to the Governor from aging and child care advocates stating opposition to pitting generations and services against each other.
According to Bobbie Sackman, Associate Executive Director of Public Policy, LiveOn NY, “While Governor Cuomo’s announcement to make New York the first age friendly state in the nation is laudable, it is disturbing that his budget would then close 65 NYC senior centers. Governor Cuomo failed to respond to the 13,800 seniors from 104 NYC senior centers who sent him letters urging him to change his budget language to prevent the $17 million cut to Title XX funding. This unnecessarily leaves thousands of seniors in high anxiety that their beloved local senior center will close. The closing of 65 senior centers would deprive 6,000 seniors a day of a local senior center, 1.5 million meals annually would be lost, and 24,000 hours of case assistance to help seniors access public benefits, housing concerns, and other necessary aid in their own language would disappear. Seniors are understandably fired up and left asking why the Governor would do this. We are concerned that senior centers will become a political football when they should be treated as the life sustaining programs they are. LiveOn NY and our partners will continue to work to return the Title XX funds to senior centers which they have funded for four decades.”
CONTACT BOBBIE SACKMAN TO GO TO A SENIOR CENTER AND TALK TO SENIORS.
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LiveOn NY is dedicated to making New York a better place to age with confidence, grace and vitality. LiveOn NY’s 100 member organizations range from individual community‐based centers to large multi‐service organizations. LiveOn NY’s membership serves over 300,000 older New Yorkers annually and is comprised of organizations providing an array of community based services including elder abuse prevention and victims’ services, case management for homebound seniors, multi‐service senior centers, congregate and home‐delivered meals, affordable senior housing with services, transportation, NORCs, family caregiver supports and other services intended to support older New Yorkers and their family caregivers.
Printable Verison for this Press Release
LiveOn NY Responds to 2017-18 State Executive Budget Proposal
Association on Aging in New York, Lifespan and LifeOn NY issue joint response to the 2017-18 State Executive Budget Proposal and the impact on Older New Yorkers.
Association on Aging in New York, Lifespan and LifeOn NY issue joint response to the 2017-18 State Executive Budget Proposal and the impact on Older New Yorkers. Click here to see State Budget Response.