"That is such a huge disparity, and honestly, it kind of smacks of ageism and we can't have that in New York and we can't have people struggling. AARP New York State Director Beth R. Finkel emphasized the disproportionate allocation, noting that seniors represent 20% of the city's population yet receive less than 1% of the budget."
"Live On NY, a senior advocacy organization leading the push for the $2.3 billion figure, cited increased needs for initiatives including the city's Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption, Citymeals on Wheels, and infrastructure repairs to older adult centers. Advocates have been sounding the alarm about growing needs as the older adult population continues to grow and struggles to meet basic needs like food and socializing."
A coalition of New York City's older adults and advocates is calling for a substantial increase in senior services funding. They are urging city officials to allocate $2.3 billion for initiatives including nutrition, wellness, housing, and community services. The current preliminary budget proposal allocates only $616 million to the Department for the Aging, representing less than 1% of the city's budget despite seniors comprising 20% of the population. Advocates argue this disparity reflects ageism and fails to address growing needs for services like rent assistance, meal programs, and senior center maintenance. The proposed funding would represent only a minimal $11 million increase while the overall budget grows by $11 billion, maintaining essentially flat spending on seniors compared to the current fiscal year.
Read at Gothamist
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