CSCS RALLY AT CITY HALL TO PROTEST CUTS TO SENIOR SERVICES

CORE SERVICES AT THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING CUT BY $18.4 MILLION

COME TO THE CSCS RALLY ON MAY 15TH NEXT TO CITY HALL PARK – 10:00-12:00. Contact Susan Maroney for more information or to let her know how many seniors you are bringing – smaroney@cscs-ny.org or 212-398-6565 x235.

What is happening:
$7.1 million cut to DFTA - The Bloomberg administration’s FY2009 Executive Budget, released on May 1, 2008, proposes a $7.1 million cut to the Department for the Aging:

$5 million, 3%, across-the-board cut – This will impact services funded by DFTA. An agreement was reached between City Council and the Bloomberg administration, that case management and meals-on-wheels will not be cut. While this is welcomed in light of the restructuring of services, there is concern that other DFTA funded programs such as senior centers, NORCs, home care, and other services will have to absorb the 3% cut. DFTA funded services should not be cut at all.

$2.1 million cut to Extended Information and Referral Contracts – This impacts 8 agencies across the city that provide I&R for services and benefits to seniors.

$11.3 million cut to senior meals, vans, and senior center rents – The administration’s budget did not “baseline,”make permanent, the funding allocated by City Council for these services. This is the 35 cents more a meal, $7800 more a van, and rent for senior centers citywide. The meals-on-wheels rfp does not include the meals and transportation funds. Food and fuel costs are skyrocketing.

For further information about the city budget, please contact Bobbie Sackman, (212) 398-6565 x226 or bsackman@cscs-ny.org

CSCS Press Conference at City Hall Attracts 300 Seniors

We could not have asked for a better day to have an outdoor press conference than Thursday, April 10th. The weather was warm and sunny as 300 seniors gathered on the steps of City Hall to tell their elected officials to slow down the “modernization” of senior services. We were joined by Comptroller Bill Thompson, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, Assemblymember Jeff Dinowitz and many other city and state elected officials who were there to drive home the point that it is more important to get it right, not fast. Our pictures will be posted very soon on our website http://www.cscs-ny.org/. Check it out and while you’re there, click on "Assembly Bill for Impact Statement on Aging Services” under CSCS News for information on legislation and April 18th state hearing.

While Speaker Quinn and Deputy Mayor Gibbs have announced a three-month delay in the release of the RFP on senior center modernization, the meals-on-wheels RFP is still due out on May 1st. Here’s why CSCS has serious concerns. As of this writing, the Department for the Aging (DFTA) has lost track of almost 3000 homebound elderly currently receiving case management services. Frail, elderly clients are at serious risk of falling through the cracks for case management services. Agencies that have signed contracts on the basis of the DFTA’s numbers can find themselves with soaring caseloads or waiting lists as the clients are recovered. The meals-on-wheels RFP needs to be delayed until all seniors are accounted for.

Every city council district is impacted. Stay tuned for more information as this situation continues to unfold.

I would love to hear your opinion on how you think the city is doing, ala Mayor Koch’s famous question, “How am I doing?” Post a comment.

NYC Department for the Aging Embarks On “Modernization” of Senior Services

The NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA) is undergoing a restructuring process to “modernize” community-based aging services - http://www.nyc.gov/html/dfta/html/about/modernization.shtml CSCS has concerns with the changes discussed in the meals-on-wheels and senior center concept papers found on DFTA’s website. We believe that the administration is redefining community-based services in local neighborhoods, not addressing the diversity of older New Yorkers and is moving too quickly to implement its plans with no additional funds, and in fact, with budget cuts.

We have worked with DFTA and the administration to have meaningful input based on the expertise of CSCS staff and its members, but have not successfully had the administration change both the timeline of implementing the restructuring and concerns about the restructuring itself. CSCS has asked for a slowing down of the timeline in order to allow for substantive changes to the plans to be made.

Further information on our concerns can be found at www.cscs-ny.org on the home page and under the “advocacy” sidebar. A recent article outlining our concerns can be found on the Gotham Gazette http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/fea/20080317/202/2465

Welcome to the Power of Aging

The Council of Senior Centers and Services (CSCS) http://www.cscs-ny.org/ is proud to announce the launch of its blog "The Power of Aging." As the numbers of older adults grow, so should their voices. In keeping with the mission of CSCS, this blog will discuss issues around assisting older New Yorkers to age in place in their homes and communities with dignity. Aging has changed over recent decades bringing with it opportunities and challenges. It is our intention to use this blog as a platform to share information and viewpoints. We welcome your participation.

Bobbie Sackman, CSCS Director of Public Policy, will be managing the blog.