Letter to Governor Newsom on the Master Plan for Aging

AARP California has served as a member of the state's Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee. Below is a letter to Governor Newsom from the Committee.

May 21, 2021

Dear Governor Newsom:

We, the undersigned individuals who served on the Master Plan for Aging’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee, as well as supporting philanthropic partners, would like to express our gratitude for your leadership in launching a comprehensive Master Plan for Aging and the associated investments reflected in the May Revision to the proposed 2021-22 budget. In total, one-time proposals equaling $2.1 billion and ongoing commitments of $1.7 billion (total funds) were outlined as part of California’s comeback plan, a plan that reimagines the Golden State as an age-and disability-friendly state. We believe these investments reflect your deep commitment to California’s growing and diverse population of older adults and people with disabilities.

As leaders in the aging and disability space, we know that the depth and breadth of this investment is unprecedented. For far too long, the needs of this population have been largely ignored. But with this budget, you chart a new course guided by the Master Plan for Aging. In short, we have much to be proud of, but we know we still have much work to do. The May Revision of the 2021-22 budget and its significant investments serve as a down payment toward a future where aging in California is supported and valued--where people of all races and economic means know they can age in dignity in the Golden State.

Our efforts will only be successful with strong leadership and a long-term commitment to the Master Plan for Aging, continued engagement from the Legislature, Administration, and the public, as well as meaningful investment in the programs and services on which older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers rely.

We stand ready to partner with you, your administration, the Legislature and stakeholders, bringing knowledge, networks, and philanthropic resources to help realize our shared vision for California outlined in the Master Plan for Aging.

Sincerely,

Members of the California Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee and Philanthropic Partners

Maya Altman
Health Plan of San Mateo

Jan Arbuckle
Vice Mayor City of Grass Valley

Donna Benton, PhD
Association of CA Caregiver Resource Centers

Cheryl Brown
Assemblymember (RET)

California Commission on Aging
Bruce Chernof, MD, FACP

Berenice Nuñez Constant, MPH
AltaMed

Craig Cornett
California Association of Health Facilities

Susan DeMarois
Alzheimer's Association

Peter Hansel
CalPACE

Jennie Chin Hansen
SCAN Foundation

Andy Imparato
Disability Rights California

Edward B. Kacic
Irvine Health Foundation

Clay Kempf
California Association of Area Agencies on Aging

Darrick Lam
ACC Senior Services

Christopher A. Langston
Archstone Foundation

David Lindeman
Shelley Lyford
West Health & Gary and Mary West Foundation

Marty Lynch, PhD, MPA
LifeLong Medical Care

Jeannee Parker Martin
LeadingAge California

Shireen McSpadden
San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing

Christina Mills
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers

Sarita A. Mohanty, MD, MPH, MBA
The SCAN Foundation

Kevin Prindiville
Justice in Aging

Jodi Reid
California Alliance for Retired Americans

Rigo J. Saborio
St. Barnabas Senior Services

Judy Thomas, JD
Coalition for Compassionate Care of California

William Smith
May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust

Janet Y. Spears
Metta Fund

Fernando Torres-Gil, M.S.W., Ph.D.
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

Debbie Toth
Choice in Aging

Nina Weiler-Harwell, PhD
AARP California

Brandi Wolf
SEIU Local 2015

Heather M. Young
Beverly Yu

United Domestic Workers
Richard S. Ziman

The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation

cc: Ana Matosantos, Cabinet Secretary, Office of the Governor

Richard Figueroa, Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Office of the Governor

Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary, California Health and Human Services Agency

Marko Mijic, Deputy Secretary, California Health and Human Services Agency

Kim McCoy Wade, Director, California Department of Aging

Honorable Toni Atkins, President Pro Tempore, California State Senate

Honorable Anthony Rendon, Speaker, California State Assembly

Honorable Nancy Skinner, Chair, Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review

Honorable Phil Ting, Chair, Assembly Budget Committee

Honorable Adrin Nazarian, Chair, Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care