News
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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
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 Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - June 15, 2017
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect
Join LiveOn NY as we recognize:
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Thursday June 15, 2017
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.
LiveOn NY joins efforts in New York and nationwide on Thursday June 15, 2017 to recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. See below for information, resources and ideas on how you can be part of the efforts to support victims and service providers, as well as be part of the solution to address this problem.
- World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Website: run through the USC Center on Elder Mistreatment, this informative site includes toolkits, banners, signs, events in your community and more.
- Connect with the NYPD in your community on June 15: Click here to see where the NYPD Domestic Violence Unit Chief and Officers will be citywide on June 15 as part of their community outreach efforts on elder abuse. Staff and volunteers from LiveOn NY's Senior Medicare Patrol program will also join the NYPD at many of these precinct outreach events on June 15 - we hope to see you there citywide!
- Connect with the DFTA Elder Abuse services provider in your borough to learn about services and training. Borough-based elder abuse services providers can be found on DFTA’s website by clicking here or dialing 311 and asking for help with elder abuse in your borough.
- Click here to print out the poster form the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) and display and distribute it so others can learn about how to report elder abuse and connect to resources through 311.
- Learn about the Senior Medicare Patrol: The New York Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is part of a nationwide education and assistance program working to empower seniors and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud and waste. You can report suspected problems to SMP hotline at 1-877-678-4697. LiveOn NY’s staff and trained volunteers work to correct errors and report abuse of the Medicare system to government authorities. Click here to learn more.
- Attend the JASA 12th Annual NYC Elder Abuse Conference, which takes place onWednesday June 14, 2017 and feature keynote speaker Liz Loewy, General Counsel at EverSafe; Pioneering Legal Expert, Author and Lecturer in the field of Elder Justice. Click here for the full agenda and to register today.
- Visit LiveOn NY's Elder Abuse Resources page for links to research and advocacy news year round.
Have an event or resource you'd like to add? Let Andrea know at acianfrani@liveon-ny.org.
Thank you for helping us make New York a better place to age.
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