Good afternoon and thank you to the NYC Department for the Aging for having this valuable public hearing. My name is Hannah May-Powers, and I am the Health and Safety Policy Analyst for the Office of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. I am here today because equity in aging is of note to the Borough President, as it is for the thousands of older adults who call Brooklyn home.
Serving their diverse and nuanced needs is a priority for Borough President Reynoso, and our office has allocated approximately $6.6 million in capital funding in Fiscal Year 24 to related projects. This includes $5 million for upgrades to Older Adult Centers throughout the borough, $1 million to support Catholic Charities’ coming 142-unit affordable senior housing development in Brownsville, and $600,000 toward another 94 apartments for low-income older adults at the Southside United Rheingold Senior Residences in Bushwick.
Additionally, earlier this month, our office released the Comprehensive Plan for Brooklyn, which provides recommendations to address some of the most pressing issues that shape life in the borough, including those facing older adults. Life expectancy, which the NYC Aging 2023 Annual Plan Summary discusses, is highlighted as a central equity issue. Right now, life expectancy for residents of Park Slope and Carroll Gardens (Community District 6) is 82.9 years, while in Brownsville (Community District 16) it is 76 years. These numbers represent stark health disparities and are associated with a lack of access to affordable healthcare and community health services.
Language access, which the Annual Plan Summary notes as a central component to programs such as Aging Connect and case management, is crucial for allowing New Yorkers who primarily speak a language other than English to engage with services. Because about half of older adults speak a language other than English at home, it is critical that our resources are appropriately designed and implemented. The Comprehensive Plan recognizes that meeting language access needs requires additional funding for initiatives such as translation services, resources to address cultural barriers, and increased outreach efforts.
The Annual Plan Summary notes that almost 30% of older New Yorkers report having some level of disability. The Comprehensive Plan highlights the need to ensure that Brooklyn is a welcoming place for people with all abilities. This includes designing our streets and sidewalks to prioritize safety, comfort, and accessibility; increasing access to Access-a-Ride and ensuring that it is functional and affordable; encouraging developers to fund MTA station improvements to comply with ADA regulations; and supporting increased City funding for digital literacy programs for older adults, among many other recommendations.
Thank you again to NYC Aging for supporting Brooklyn’s older adults. We look forward to partnering with you as we work on implementing the Comprehensive Plan and exploring new opportunities to deliver resources to Brooklyn communities.
