With the City’s Budget deadline coming on June 30th, there are a number of proposed cuts from the Mayor affecting vulnerable populations. But, the one most relevant to older persons in New York City is proposed cuts to the City’s Department for the Aging (DFTA).
Last year, DFTA suffered $20 million in cuts. Apparently, New York City Mayor Eric Adams thinks that’s not enough, for his administration has proposed an additional $80 million in cuts. This decision is coming at a time when senior centers are seeing more use, and at a time when more meals are being served at said centers—areas where DFTA provides service. This makes the Mayor’s desire to cut from DFTA’s budget utterly bewildering.
If anything, an agency seeing more use should get additional funding, rather than less funding. That is what many senior advocates call for. That would be the logical thing to do. But unfortunately, the Mayor’s treatment of DFTA in recent budgets has defied logic.
Thankfully, so far, the City Council is standing firm against the Mayor’s proposed cuts to DFTA. However, we need to encourage that they continue to stand firm, and encourage the Mayor to stop cutting DFTA. We must do so urgently, given the looming budget deadline!
Look up your council member, so that you can contact them: https://council.nyc.gov/districts/
Contact the Mayor: https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/mayor-contact.page