On Tuesday, October 23, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz testified at the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) public hearing at Brooklyn Borough Hall regarding the department’s 2008-2009 annual plan and called for the creation of a seniors ombudsman office to advocate for elderly residents. BP Markowitz also outlined recommendations related to affordable housing, health and nutrition, transportation, volunteerism and new senior centers in Brooklyn.

BP Markowitz called on the agency to create the ombudsman office to act as a liaison between seniors and city agencies, and coordinate those agencies to be more responsive to the specific needs and concerns of seniors, including predatory lending practices.

Among the other key recommendations offered by BP Markowitz:

• Affordable housing: Producing more affordable housing for seniors through real estate tax provisions and other incentives; using public/private partnerships to earmark a certain number of units on lower floors of new developments for seniors, working families and those with low and moderate incomes; providing referral resources and low- or no-interest loans to assist seniors in repairing and maintaining their existing homes

• Health and nutrition: Improving nutrition and exercise programs, including an “adopt-a-senior-center” initiative in which private gyms send instructors to regularly teach classes at senior centers; partnering with major grocery chains to provide bus service so that seniors have a better variety of nutritional food choices at more affordable supermarket prices

• Transportation: Reducing the waiting time on para-transit vehicles to 15 minutes or less and increasing bus service and the number of accessible subway stations in Brooklyn

• Volunteerism: Offering stipends to seniors as a way of attracting them to volunteer opportunities and mentoring programs, especially in Central Brooklyn, where there is a critical need for adult mentors

• New senior centers: Opening a new senior center in Flatbush, as well as Bensonhurst, Sheepshead Bay and other areas serving the borough’s large Caribbean and Asian senior populations

• DFTA caseloads: Evaluating DFTA’s new case management system, especially how it relates to caseloads and transitioning seniors in poverty, members of minority groups and immigrants

• Preventive measures: Reducing the number of New Yorkers who will need services in the future by forging alliances within city government to educate younger residents on preparing for their mature years

• Retirement: Using tax credits and matching funds to make it easier for low-income adults to save for retirement

Brooklyn’s 300,000 seniors are the most of any borough, and New York City has one of the largest aging populations in the nation.

“As our residents grow older, many choose to stay in Brooklyn, because we all know there’s no better place to spend your best years,” said BP Markowitz. “But there are many challenges that we need to address so that our ‘maturer’ residents can stay safe, healthy and active.”