News
&
Updates
NYPD List of Precinct Outreach on June 15, 2017 in Recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Come join the office of the chief of department domestic violence unit in the recognition of world elder abuse awareness day at the following locations
NEWS on the City Budget
News coverage on City Budget, Published by Center for an Urban Future, NY Daily News, NY NonProfit Media, Gotham Gazette
LiveOn NY Op-Ed in the Gotham Gazette
The Mayor's Moment to Show His Commitment to Seniors
May 19, 2017 | by Allison Nickerson & Bobbie Sackman
"As we age, we build momentum that is powering the economy, communities, and politics. Older people across the five boroughs are supporting local businesses, caring for their grandchildren, and participating in local politics. And yet we still find that many people aging into their later years cannot access this energy due to poverty, disability, and the lack of access to vital community services..."
Additional Coverage
The Aging Apple: Older Immigrants a Rising Share of New York's Seniors
May 2017 | by Christian González-Rivera
Published by Center for an Urban Future
"The growth in New York’s older immigrant population is far outpacing that of the U.S. born senior population. There are now more people over the age of 65 in the city than there are children ages 10 and younger." Read More
Selling Seniors Short: New York City's Dangerous Underfunding of the Department for the Aging
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 | by Lou-Ellen Barkan
Published by NY Daily News
"An eye-opening new report from New York City Controller Scott Stringer shows that the number of senior citizens who are already "rent-burdened, relying on government services, and living below 150% of the poverty line" is growing exponentially and will likely reach 1.4 million in less than 30 years..." Read More
New York City Council Wants More Money for DFTA
Friday, May 12, 2017 | by Dan Rosenblum
Published by NY NonProfit Media
"It may not be the “Year of the Senior” after all. Although it didn’t include the sharp funding increase that senior advocates had been asking for, the de Blasio administration defended its proposed budget for the city Department for the Aging during a May 8 City Council budget hearing..." Read More
Hearing Showcases Frustrations Over Stagnant Aging Department Budget
April 2017 | by Ben Brachfield
Published by Gotham Gazette
"The City Council Committee on Aging held a hearing on Monday to examine the allotment for the Department of the Aging (DFTA) in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s recently-released executive budget plan. Council members and DFTA representatives for the de Blasio administration discussed the situation that seniors may be facing given reduced funding numbers..." Read More
Action Alert: Join Us in Calling for Increased Senior Services Funding
CITY BUDGET UPDATE
Advocates push back against lack of investment in senior services in Mayor's proposed FY18 Budget
We need YOU to join our calls for increased funding!
Calls and letters need to be made as soon as possible, before the budget is finished. Budget decisions are being made now!
CITY BUDGET UPDATE
Advocates and seniors push back against lack of investment in senior services in Mayor's proposed FY18 Budget
We need YOU to join our campaign for increased funding!
Calls and letters need to be made as soon as possible, before the budget is finished. Budget decisions are being made now!
How to get involved:
Continue sending letters to the Mayor, Speaker, and your City Council member demanding additional funding for senior service in this year's budget.
Click here for instructions and sample letter
Over 3,000 letters have been sent so far! Let's keep it going!
Call Mayor de Blasio at 212-788-6798 to speak to a live operator or leave a message
Sample script
English: “I am a senior from [borough and senior center]. 2017 is the Year of the Senior. Seniors deserve a fair share. Please fund senior services with $60 million in the aging budget. No Seniors, No Budget. Thank you.”
Chinese: 我本身是來自曼哈頓______老人中心的耆老，2017年是老人年，所有老人都該得到公平的對待。請支持資助給提供老人服務的6千萬美元預算。沒有耆老們的支持，就沒有提供服務的預算。多謝大家支持
Spanish: Soy un adulto mayor de [borough y centro de personas mayores]. 2017 es el año del adulto mayor. Nosotros los adultos mayores merecemos un mejor trato. Por favor financien los servicios para adultos mayores con un presupuesto de $60 millones. Si no hay adultos mayores, no hay presupuesto. Gracias
Call your Council Member Click here to determine your Council Member and receive their phone number, use the script above to make your voice heard.
Why it's important to participate:
The proposed Executive budget included no additional funding for aging services through the Department for the Aging (DFTA).
Federal funding uncertainties make this year's city budget all the more important!
Recent News on the City Budget
Daily News Op-Ed: Selling Seniors Short: New York City's Dangerous Underfunding of the Department for the Aging
NewYork NonProfit Media Article: New York City Council Wants More Money for DFTA
CityLimits Article: NYC's Human-Service Providers Press for Changes in City Funding
Gotham Gazette Article: Hearing Showcases Frustrations Over Stagnant Aging Department Budget
Have questions about the letter writing campaign?
Contact Katelyn Hosey at 212-398-6565 x244 or khosey@liveon-ny.org
Have questions about the budget?
Contact Bobbie Sackman at 212-398-6565 x226 or bsackman@liveon-ny.org or
Andrea Cianfrani at 212-398-6565 x233 or acianfrani@liveon-ny.org
Want to know more?
Check out LiveOn NY's webpage which contains information on our full budget ask, as well as other advocacy information: http://www.liveon-ny.org/budget-advocacy
Want to stay connected?
LiveOn NY is active on both Twitter and Facebook, where we will post updates on the letter writing campaign, as well as other aging issues. Be sure to follow and like @LiveOnNY
In the Year of the Senior make your voice heard!
No Seniors, No Budget!
LiveOn NY Releases Statement on Mayor de Blasio's FY2018 Executive 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
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.
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.
Building a Safety Net for Older New Yorkers - FY18 Year of the Senior City Budget Priorities
Click here to read and download LiveOn NY and the Aging Advocates Coalition's City Budget Priorities for the FY18 City Budget.