This past Thursday I attended a conference called by Assembly Member Nicole Malliotakis, and Senator Marty Golden, at the Bay Ridge Community Center, regarding cut backs that could end up going into effect on April 1, 2011. Also in attendence was Bobby Sackman, Director of Public Policy for the Council of Senior Centers and Services. The budget cuts proposed by Govenor Andrew Cuomo would move 25 million dollars in funds, in title 20 of NY State Budget from Senior Centers to Child Welfare. Thus pitting Children against Seniors. The result if these NY State budget cuts go into effect, would mean the closing of 110 Senior Centers State wide and of those 33 % would be in the NYC area. This is an outrage. These monies have been allocated to title 20 for nearly 30 years. These are not a part of the budget listed as an entitlement and therefore they are not guaranteed. According to Senator Golden "if we loose these funds it would be highly unlikely for us to ever gain them back." This is extremely critical to the quality of life our seniors have. The senior population is about to explode over the next couple of decades. We should be adding senior centers and programs, not shutting them down.
Executive Director JoAnn Mason of the Senior Center, said last year they wrote 300 of the 17,000 letters received to stop the senior center cuts. Executive Director Mason now pledges 600 letters from the member of the Center. How many letters will you pledge to make happen?????????
Please take action and send letters immediately to your elected officials, saying no to the title 20 cuts for senior centers. Please post a link to this info and spread the word before it is too late.
Thank you
Annette Fisher
Certified Senior Advisor
Golden Maturity, Inc.
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