The New York State Senate has passed legislation, sponsored by Senator Serphin R. Maltese (Queens) (S.8457) that would protect service programs that help senior citizens in New York City and throughout the State and ensure proper community input on any planned changes to the services, such as meals-on-wheels, that millions of seniors depend on.

The bill comes in response to proposed changes to senior citizens service programs in New York City that have raised concerns about the possibility that seniors who depend on the meals-on-wheels program would receive frozen, rather than hot meals.

"The City Council failed because they have turned a deaf ear to the concerns of seniors who are worried about how the changes in city services will impact their quality of life," Senator Maltese said. "My legislation will ensure that seniors and their families will have a say on any proposed service changes before they can go forward."

The bill would require that any changes in senior assistance and service programs include community input; impact studies to determine the number of seniors affected; the long term projections for the number of seniors to be served by these programs; and whether there would be any reduction in services as a result of the proposed changes.

Senator Maltese had also met with Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs and Commissioner Edwin Mendez-Santiago of the NYC Department of Aging to express his concerns about the modernization proposal. Senator Maltese’s bill works to protect the best interests of seniors by calling for a proper review by the State Office of the Aging and input from seniors.

"No senior who wants a hot meal should get a cold, frozen meal. This bill would protect some of our most vulnerable citizens who are dependent on these City services every day and could be seriously negatively affected by changes to these services," said Senator Maltese. "We simply cannot allow that to happen."

"The New York City Council, particularly Queens Democrats, washed their hands of this issue and sent it to the State Legislature," Senator Bruno said. "The Democrats in the Senate tried to play politics and block this bill with procedural motions, but, ultimately, Senator Maltese and Senator Padavan got this done on behalf of senior citizens in New York City."

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