What until now was just a concern, which had been expressed by spokespersons for coalitions that defend the rights of elderly residents in New York City, now seems to be confirmed. And with very clear “cards” on the table.
A financial report released by the Council’s Senior Citizens Commission, with “numbers in hand,” makes it clear that in the fiscal year 2025 budget presented by Mayor Eric Adams, there is a difference of $36.7 million for this sector, if compared to what was invested in 2024.
Programs to care for this vulnerable population, which totals 1.8 million New Yorkers, include 300 senior centers and clubs, nutritious meal delivery services, transportation, and efforts to overcome discrimination in the labor market, through alliance of the Department of Aging (NYC Aging), with hundreds of community organizations.
In the preliminary financial plan that must be approved by the municipal chamber, NYC Aging would manage a budget of $485.1 million in fiscal year 2025, which represents just 0.44% of the $109.4 billion in fiscal year 2025, of the proposal for expenses and investments proposed by the City.
For this reason, local legislators began a series of investigative hearings this Friday, to find out exactly what is happening with these programs and what their future is in the next five years, at a time when all projections show an increase in the adult population in NY.
“We will monitor any cuts”
This debate receives more attention when one of the municipality’s challenges is to join efforts to extend the life expectancy of the residents of the Big Apple to 83 years by 2030. Including all racial and ethnic groups.
“Our purpose is to not touch a cent of programs that are vital to our most vulnerable communities. From this chamber we are going to fight rather to increase them, to optimize them,” said the President of the Council, Adrianne Adams, at the opening of this hearing.
At this time, based on data released by the AARP organization, one in ten seniors in the city suffer from food insecurity.
Adams questioned that in 2023, home delivery food delivery programs to older people with mobility problems or other health conditions experienced, based on some records, a 2% decrease.
The municipal leader shared in a statement that with higher-than-expected revenues this fiscal year and a “resilient economy,” she believes the City has the flexibility to reverse many cuts that have been made, strengthen our city’s workforce, and address future tax challenges.
Faced with this question, NYC Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés Vásquez argued that during fiscal year 2024, despite the announcements of 5% reductions in all municipal agencies due to the challenges of the immigration crisis, the truth is that none of the programs, nor the investments destined for this population, suffered cuts.
“On the contrary, we opened five food commissaries to guarantee our services. In this particular program, there are no waiting lists. The decrease is due to a series of factors that have nothing to do with the availability of resources. We are trying to update certain records after the pandemic, especially with the particular diets that we must attend to, for medical and cultural reasons,” the official noted.
Although some records speak of reductions, in the first four months of fiscal year 2024, NYC Aging observed a 25.9% increase in meals served in senior centers, compared to the first four months of fiscal year 2023, which is a indicator that these types of programs are more in demand.
The head of this municipal agency clarified that some benefits, which are financed directly by Medicaid, could seem slow in the effectiveness of approval and response, because there are several bureaucratic layers in this type of applications.
“It doesn’t matter what language you speak.”
For her part, Crystal Hudson, president of the Council’s Senior Citizens committee, asked representatives of the municipal government about the effectiveness of support plans for migrant seniors. Precisely at a time when it is certain that the trend will be for elderly people born in other countries, and who do not have English as their first language, to increase their presence in the coming years.
Cortés Vásquez defended that the programs financed by the City are absolutely inclusive for all those who need them, regardless of their immigration status: “More than 60% of the beneficiaries of our programs were born in another country. We have a network of organizations that are our partners and that have the ability to approach them in their own language and understanding their culture.
In summary:
- $26 million less in funding to fund senior centers, senior clubs and meal plans, Council report shows in analyzing Mayor Adams’ FY 2025 budget proposal. $15.1 million are subtracted from other programs of this municipal agency, if contrasted with 2024.
