Congressmembers Gillen and Suozzi Join AARP New York to Celebrate Social Security’s 90th Anniversary Over Pizza

“Slices of the Story”: Pizza Pop-Up Events in East Meadow and Glen Cove Put a Local Face on the Fight to Protect Social Security

(Long Island, NY) — At lunchtime Pizza Pop-Up events this week, AARP New York brought local residents and their Members of Congress together to celebrate Social Security’s 90th anniversary and talk about its future. On Tuesday, July 29, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-4) joined the crowd at Borrelli’s in East Meadow and on Thursday, July 31, Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-3) met with constituents at Forest Avenue Pizza in Glen Cove—each taking time to hear directly from residents about how Social Security has shaped their lives.

The events are part of AARP New York’s “Social Security: Served Up NY Style” campaign—one of more than 150 community gatherings across the state in the lead-up to Social Security’s 90th anniversary on August 14. Through these pop-ups, AARP is creating spaces where older adults and elected leaders can share their “slice of the story” and underscore the program’s impact in everyday terms.

“On Long Island and across the country, Social Security is more than just a check—it’s a lifeline people have earned through a lifetime of hard work,” said Beth Finkel, State Director of AARP New York. “We’re gathering around a New York staple—pizza—to humanize what’s often talked about in abstract numbers. Real people are sharing their stories, and those stories are what drive our fight to make sure Social Security is there for the next 90 years.”

In Nassau County, over 270,000 residents receive Social Security, injecting nearly $6.9 billion into the local economy annually. These figures represent not just retired workers, but also people with disabilities, children, and surviving family members.

Social Security is one of the most successful and popular initiatives in American history, helping generations of Americans avoid poverty and live with dignity in retirement. In its 90 years, Social Security has never missed a payment. Today, 14 percent of Americans 65 and older rely on the program for most of their income, while 40 percent depend on it for more than half. It helps families keep a roof over their heads, put food on the table, and provides peace of mind that their loved ones are protected in the event of disability or death.

“Most of us collecting Social Security today started working as teenagers—I got my first job at 16 at a local amusement park and restaurant, and I’ve been paying into the system ever since. I built my entire financial plan for retirement around the promise of Social Security. If those benefits were reduced, it would completely upend how I live and what I need to do to stay afloat. All we’re asking is that the people in charge of Social Security be as fiscally responsible with it as we’ve been with our lives and our work,” said Meryl Manthey, an AARP volunteer from Levittown, who attended the East Meadow event.

Both Congressmembers reaffirmed their support for protecting and strengthening Social Security and praised AARP New York’s efforts to bring real community voices to the conversation.

“Social Security is a sacred promise that has allowed generations of Americans to retire with dignity,” said Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04). “I will always fight to protect Social Security and push back on efforts to slash benefits, privatize the program or strip away the services Americans rely on to access what they’ve rightfully earned.”

“For 90 years, Social Security has been a cornerstone of the American promise, that after a lifetime of hard work, people can retire with dignity and security,” said Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03). “I will always fight to strengthen and protect Social Security, not just for today’s seniors, but for future generations. We must honor and uphold that promise.”

The Pizza Pop-Up series continues across the state as part of AARP New York’s 90-day campaign to mark the 90th anniversary of Social Security—celebrating its legacy, highlighting its local impact, and calling on leaders to ensure it remains strong for generations to come.

AARP is proud to celebrate Social Security’s legacy while calling on leaders to protect and strengthen it—for today’s retirees, and for generations to come. With every paycheck, younger Americans are paying into a system that will help them build a more secure future. AARP’s campaign ensures that their voices—and the voices of older adults—are heard loud and clear.

The Pizza Pop-Up series continues across the state throughout the summer, spotlighting what’s at stake and mobilizing New Yorkers to join the fight to protect what they’ve earned.


Connect with AARP New York on X: @AARPNY, Facebook: AARP New York and LinkedIn: AARP New York

 
About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

 

 

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