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