AARP New York Statement on City Council’s FY23 Preliminary Budget Response

Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director, released the following statement on the New York City Council’s FY23 Preliminary Budget Response:

“AARP New York applauds the City Council for demanding more funding for services that help older New Yorkers live in the homes and neighborhoods they love. We’re encouraged by the Council’s support for home-delivered meals for older adults, funding to clear waitlists for home care and increase pay for contracted human services workers, and expansion of geriatric mental health services.

“But more must be done. We urge the Mayor and the Council to further bolster the services older New Yorkers desperately need in the final budget so New Yorkers 50-plus can continue to call our city home.

“AARP urges our City’s leaders to make the following additional commitments in the final budget for fiscal year 2023:

• “Exempt the Department for the Aging from any PEG’s or planned agency cuts to protect the critical services that the agency provides for older New Yorkers;
• “Improve access to affordable housing by increasing the reimbursement rate for Senior Affordable Rental Apartments and allocating funding to develop 1,000 units of affordable senior housing per year; and
• Build upon the Council’s calls for adequate baseline funding for the Right to Counsel program and expand the program’s eligibility to all residents making up to 400% of the federal poverty level.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Jordan McNerney, jmcnerney [at] aarp [dot] org.