Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10 a.m. (New York City time), 250 Broadway - 8th Floor - Hearing Room 1
Committee: Committee on Aging
0:01 Thank you. Ow! Ow, ow, ow! Oh!
0:01 Good morning, everyone and
0:09 welcome to today's New York
0:10 City Council hearing for the
0:12 committee on aging if you
0:14 would like to testify. You
0:16 must, but I will slip with one
0:17 of the sergeant at arms in the
0:18 back of the room, even if you
0:20 sign up already online at this
0:23 time police silence all
0:25 electronic devices, please
0:26 silence all of devices and no
0:29 1 approach a day is at any
0:30 time during this hearing chair
0:32 . We are ready to begin. Thank
0:39 you
0:39 , good morning, everyone. I'm
0:40 council members who didn't
0:41 want chair of the comedian
0:43 aging. Thank you all for
0:45 attending this oversight
0:47 hearing on inter agency for
0:51 adults as we always have the
0:53 tradition we show them
0:54 pictures from our older adults
0:56 center and I will next just
0:59 winging our championship hope
1:00 we're going to win the
1:02 championship for our seniors
1:04 today, New York city's oh,
1:06 there does rely on board
1:07 night's work of programs and
1:09 services to remain healthy,
1:11 safe and the connected india,
1:13 their communities, York City
1:15 agent plays a critical role in
1:18 delivery, delivering many of
1:18 those essential services at
1:22 the same time order doubts
1:24 often interact with moti about
1:27 multiple, eh? C the agency is
1:29 responsible for housing,
1:31 health care, transportation
1:32 ,access to food emergency
1:35 response and other services
1:38 .it's important for agencies t
1:43 ocollaborate, efficient,
1:44 effectively, so order thoughts
1:46 can access the service they
1:49 need without.
1:49 Unnecessary barrier or
1:51 confusion.
1:52 Today's hearing is an
1:54 opportunity to examine how sid
1:57 agencies are coordinating to
1:58 meet needs of New York city's
2:01 aging population, we will hear
2:03 testimony from New York City
2:06 . Aging regarding its effort
2:09 to strengths, interagency
2:11 coordination
2:11 . And improve service deliver
2:14 for other New yorkers we are
2:16 interested in learning more
2:17 about cabinet for order adult
2:19 of order, doubts bring agencies
2:27 collaboratively across
2:28 government. We will also be
2:30 hearing two piece of
2:31 legislation. The first intro
2:34 to 30, sponsored by the
2:35 Council Member husband could.
2:37 They require aging in
2:41 cooperating.
2:41 With mayor's office t
2:42 opeople with disability t
2:46 oadminister um, financial
2:47 assistant program for older
2:51 adults
2:51 . And the individual with
2:53 disabilities. This financial
2:54 services and goods used the
2:57 eat, too. Install young home
3:03 preventive adaptations. The
3:04 second is resolution hundred
3:06 73 by a member Won this
3:08 resolution calls on New York
3:10 city's state. Let's let him
3:12 too pass and the governor to
3:16 find it's senate bill 11 79,
3:18 an assembly bill 14 99, whic
3:22 hcould provide the long term
3:24 care for eligible residents.
3:27 It's important that New York
3:29 City provides the support they
3:30 need to survive, so it's
3:33 important that older New
3:35 yorkers are provided the
3:36 support they need to.
3:37 Survive and it's not and
3:41 let's not forget that support
3:43 requires raw blast
3:46 coordination
3:47 . I want to thank both sponsor
3:49 for their hard work on these
3:54 issues
3:54 . Thank you, my colleagues t
3:55 ojoin me today. Thank you t
3:58 ounwind aging for testify and
4:00 thank you, too
4:03 . Comedian staff legislative
4:05 council hana calm and the
4:07 policy analyst joshua human
4:10 for their are working in
4:11 preparing this meeting, I
4:12 would like to thank my staff
4:13 for their work as as we
4:17 continue to serve I community
4:20 ,community, constituents and
4:21 the City as a whole I would
4:23 like to recognize we have
4:24 joined by council husband
4:28 autumn ball. I will now pass
4:31 up. Oh, millie and
4:32 . The Council Member Brewer.
4:38 Okay, now I will pass the
4:39 microphone to Council Member
4:40 husband to give a statement on
4:43 her leg. Thank you so much
4:45 chair and good morning. There
4:49 are currently older adults age
4:53 62 or older living in the five
4:54 boroughs, according to the
4:56 center for research on housing
4:57 opportunity, mobility and
5:00 equity New York city's
5:01 population of older adults,
5:01 which currently represents 20%
5:03 of our city's entire
5:04 population will only grow as
5:05 the baby baby boomer
5:07 generation ages in New York
5:08 City. The number of older
5:09 adults is expected to jump 40%
5:12 by 20 40, especially as New
5:13 yorkers are living longer.
5:16 Older New yorkers are mor
5:17 elikely to age in place, then
5:18 younger New yorkers in 20 23,
5:20 the average older adult lived
5:21 in their home for 22 ars,ye
5:24 compared to five years for the
5:24 average New yorker, but many
5:27 also live on fixed incomes.
5:28 The median household income in
5:30 20 23 was $80000, but only
5:34 22900 for an older adults who
5:35 lived alone and one third o
5:37 folder adults report at least
5:41 one functional disability
5:41 . This bill will provide
5:42 financial assistance for low
5:43 income households to install
5:44 in home preventative
5:46 adaptations that allow older
5:47 adults and people with
5:48 disabilities to remain in
5:49 their current homes with the
5:52 financial assistance provided
5:53 by this bill, households can
5:54 afford to install
5:56 accessibility modifications
5:57 that reduce the risk of falls
5:59 assist with mobility issues
6:00 and enhance independent livin
6:01 g. This bill in that older
6:02 adults and people with
6:04 disabilities are able t
6:05 ocomfortably remain in their
6:06 homes with the necessary
6:07 modifications. Thank you
6:12 .thank you. We are now hearing
6:15 testimony from we need to mis
6:20 syou okay? Thank you. Now, now,
6:24 we will be here in from
6:27 representatives from a
6:29 demonstration. I will now turn
6:30 it over to comedian counsel to
6:34 administer the oath for this
6:36 panel of a demonstration.
6:42 Officials do you affirm to
6:43 tell the truth, the whole
6:43 truth and nothing but the
6:45 truth before this committee
6:46 and to respond honestly t
6:48 ocouncil member questions
6:50 commissioner, assistant
6:50 commissioner. Thank you. Thank
6:53 you. Please speaking.
6:57 Well, good morning. Cheer
6:58 you on huang and
6:58 . Members of the New York City
7:00 council on aging. I am dr lisa
7:03 scott mckenzie, commissioner
7:04 of the New York City
7:05 department for the aging and
7:07 I'm joined by janine ventura,
7:09 assistant commissioner for
7:11 inter agency collaboration. It
7:12 is a great pleasure to joi
7:14 nyou here today to discuss New
7:16 York City aging interagency
7:19 coordination for older adults
7:20 . And how we are utilizing the
7:21 New York City cabinet for
7:22 older New yorkers to ensure
7:25 that New York city's fastest
7:27 growing demographic adults age
7:29 60 and older is served through
7:32 budget neutral initiatives
7:33 across agencies, the cabinet
7:35 is a unique interagency model
7:38 that New York City and this
7:41 administration is using t
7:42 oadvance an age inclusive
7:43 . City by bringing together
7:45 City agencies to cultivate
7:46 lasting sustainable change.
7:49 Through the cabinet for
7:50 older New yorkers
7:51 . Member agencies led by
7:53 agency heads and supported by
7:56 liaisons, collaborate by
7:57 identifying gaps or barriers
7:59 in existing services by
8:00 utilizing a structure of
8:02 working groups.
8:02 Which developed initiatives
8:05 to address the everyday
8:06 challenges experienced by
8:06 older New yorkers as you know
8:09 New York City aging
8:11 administers a wide range of
8:13 programs that enhance the
8:14 independence and quality of
8:16 life of the city's older adult
8:19 population
8:19 . A key component to New York
8:20 City aging beijing's mission
8:22 is to ensure that all older
8:23 New yorkers have access t
8:25 oboth City services and
8:26 programs at our agency.
8:29 And with our partners in
8:32 City government
8:33 . And to work toward reducing
8:34 barriers that hinder and older
8:35 adults ability to age in place
8:39 with dignity while improving
8:40 thr qeiuality of life.
8:42 I am excited to discuss with
8:43 you the origin of the cabinet
8:45 how it functions and the
8:47 recent impacts we have seen
8:49 through cabinet initiatives.
8:50 The cabinet for older New
8:52 yorkers reinforces that City
8:54 agencies invest in the lives
8:55 of older adults combat ageism,
8:58 and break down
9:00 communications silos that
9:01 prevent New York City from
9:03 becoming truly age inclusive
9:06 .we largely do this work
9:07 through budget neutral
9:08 approaches is made possible to
9:11 innovative agency
9:12 collaborations in my
9:13 . Time as commissioner
9:14 . I have been devoted t
9:16 ounderstanding the meat and
9:18 potatoes issues, which all the
9:19 New yorkers experience and how
9:22 concerns the reality is that
9:28 too many older New yorkers
9:30 have a housing concern or
9:33 experiencing food and security
9:35 need help during a weather
9:38 emergency or adjusting to
9:40 returning to the
9:40 . Workforce, the cabinet for
9:41 all the New yorkers raises
9:44 these and other issues as cit
9:46 y. What concerns? Not
9:48 necessarily as older adults on
9:50 New York City aging concerns.
9:53 When the concept of age
9:54 friendly environments was
9:55 first developed nearly 15
9:57 years ago, different levels of
9:59 got different levels of
10:00 government and community
10:02 organizations first explore
10:03 dthe issue that agent should
10:04 not be siloed into disparate
10:06 organizations are structured,
10:09 council and other elected
10:11 partners have always been part
10:12 of the discussion to the age
10:14 friendly coalition, which
10:16 operates alongside the cabinet
10:17 for all the yorkers
10:20 . Because we saw the need for
10:20 a component parts of.
10:22 Government to collaborate
10:24 and innovate to address issues
10:26 affecting older adults we
10:27 tried to address problems in
10:30 between agencies as needs were
10:33 identified.
10:34 While this was a necessary
10:35 first step. The gaps which
10:36 remain in that need to further
10:38 collaborate on issues grew
10:40 organically into the formation
10:41 of the cabinet for old in
10:43 yorkers
10:44 . We are building off the same
10:46 success is collaborative task
10:48 forces have seen on domestic
10:50 violence, or children's
10:52 welfare issues,
10:52 and addressing in addressing
10:53 the needs of older adults.
10:56 This age inclusive approac
10:57 hensures that we are supporting
10:59 two pillows of our community
11:01 that formed the bridge of
11:03 effective social services,
11:04 youth and older adults.
11:07 In previous administrations,
11:08 the City promoted to continued
11:10 commitment to enter agency
11:12 collaborations promoting
11:13 government efficiency and
11:15 ensuring age inclusive
11:16 practices are implemented in
11:18 agencies. The first of its
11:20 kind
11:20 . Multi agency collaborative
11:22 was created to support the
11:25 services
11:25 . Projects and policies that
11:26 benefit older adults across
11:27 New York City, the cabinet for
11:29 all the New York first met on
11:34 September 21 2022 and included
11:35 at that time, 17:00 agencies
11:37 across New York City focused
11:39 on coordinating and leveraging
11:41 shared resources to develop
11:44 long term.
11:45 Solutions based initiatives
11:46 and projects to benefit older
11:49 adults
11:49 . Ultimately the cabinet, but
11:50 told the New yorkers is the
11:52 function of the administration
11:53 and is not a white paper
11:55 endeavor meant.
11:57 To study demographic or
11:58 soal sciocietal impacts on an
11:58 older adults light
12:02 . And then simply released a
12:02 report. We are instead using
12:06 collective knowledge across
12:08 member
12:08 . Agencies as directed by the
12:10 Mayor to address real problems
12:12 that we know about and make a
12:13 tangible impact on an older
12:17 adults life.
12:17 As codified by lower
12:18 introduced by the council and
12:20 local law 64 20 24.
12:23 Member agencies are diverse
12:25 and wide ranging they spend
12:27 the entire administration and
12:28 range of government areas and
12:30 services provided to New York
12:34 City. These agencies have an
12:36 overlapping focus relevant t
12:39 oolder adults
12:39 . At present the cabinet
12:40 comprises.
12:41 30 Member as outlined in the
12:44 local law, including the
12:46 department of transportation.
12:48 Department of health and
12:50 mental hygiene, health plus
12:52 hospitals, the police
12:53 department, department of
12:54 parks and rec and housing and
12:57 preservation and development
12:58 just to name a few
13:01 . There are four cabinet
13:03 subcommittees health housing,
13:06 intergenerational outreach and
13:08 engagement cabinet member
13:09 agency staff serve as liaisons
13:12 as designated by their
13:13 commissioner or agency had t
13:15 omeet independently and
13:18 cultivate collaborations in
13:18 service to older New yorkers
13:20 they meet quarterly as a group
13:22 in person or hybrid.
13:25 In addition, on a.
13:26 Quarterly basis cabinet
13:27 member agencies present
13:29 initiatives and outcomes to a
13:31 larger group, which includes
13:33 agency heads and commissioners
13:34 as well as deputy mayors. The
13:37 sub developed initiatives that
13:38 set the groundwork for
13:41 systemic change and long term.
13:42 Impact while responding t
13:43 ocurrent gaps and needs
13:46 . Since our last hearing o
13:47 ninter agency collaboration and
13:49 the legislation on the cabinet
13:52 for older yorkers
13:52 . Initiatives have yielded
13:54 tangible impact for older
13:55 adults by
13:57 . Making meaningful changes
13:58 through agency collaboration,
14:01 for instance, New York City
14:02 public schools held the secon
14:04 dannual anti ageism education
14:07 iative combination and
14:08 recognition event at the paley
14:09 center for media inmates
14:13 ,participating teachers and
14:14 administrators were recognized
14:16 and schools receive the waters
14:18 anti ageism champions and anti
14:21 ageism innovators in addition,
14:24 the New York City public
14:25 school system service in
14:27 school kids action team held
14:28 this annual celebration of
14:30 service.
14:30 Which highlighted
14:32 incorporating anti ageism
14:34 education with community
14:34 service for kay through three
14:37 students for a third
14:40 consecutive year through
14:40 . The anti ageism education
14:43 initiative implemented by New
14:44 York City public schools under
14:46 the cabinet, which is informed
14:48 by subject matter expertise at
14:49 New York City, aging teachers
14:52 and administrators are
14:53 equipped with the tools t