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The 4th Annual Grassroots Senior Citizens Day The 4th Annual Grassroots Senior Citizens Day took place in Albany today where busloads of seniors from throughout the state came to discuss their priorities and concerns about the budget in a public forum and demand that the restorations that the legislature passed become law or override any Gubernatorial veto. Spearheaded by the New York StateWide Senior Action Council, over 20 senior organizations participated, including NYSCA to call for senior services and Medicaid restorations be a priority. The day began at the Emmanuel Baptist Church on State Street, just beyond the Capitol where Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno told a cheering crowd that the Senate had restored the steep cuts to aging programs and Medicaid, had restored SSI reductions and restored the fee increases in the EPIC Program. He pledged that the Senate Majority would stand together in this budget battle and that he had planned to ask the Governor later in the day to either sign the bill or veto it today so that the legislature could override the budget and provide schools the time to get their own budgets in order locally. The crowd gave the Majority Leader a standing ovation and thanked him and his Senate colleagues for doing the right thing and standing up for the seniors of New York. >From the Church, over 500 seniors carrying placards, singing and chanting "Override, override" marched down state street, which had to be closed to accompany all the seniors, and entered the Legislative Office Building. A program got under way that included remarks from Mike Burgess of StateWide Senior Action Council, Greg Olsen of NYSCA, Bernice Spreckman of the Westchester County Legislature, Mae Carpenter, Director of the Westchester County Office for the Aging as well as representatives from several unions, JPAC,Citizen Action, the Institute for Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly Council and others. Generally, the message was to keep the restorations passed by the legislature and if necessary, override the veto. The audience was reminded that this is not over and as several legislators spoke, they all urged, as NYSCA has been doing, that we need to continue to call our legislators and urge them to support the legislators budget. The Governor has until May 14th, next Wednesday to sign or veto. The legislature needs all of our support to override. overriding a veto is a big deal and does not happen often. They can only do it with our support. Among the legislators who came to speak and ask for our continued support were Assemblyman Brodsky (who led the crowd in the song "We Shall Overcome), Senator Velella, Senator Spano, Senator Stavinsky, Assemblyman Weprin, Assemblyman Gottfried, Senator Golden, Assemblyman Englebright and Comptroller Hevesi. All the Senators and Assemblyman who came were very excited to share that they thought they were doing the right thing with the budget restorations. There was clearly a buzz in the air and a level of excitement in the legislature that one rarely sees. They all discussed the restorations and the importance of these programs to the health, independence and safety of our seniors. Each vowed to stand strong and each urged the crowds support by continuing to call their own members. It was a very great day and the message was sent loud and clear that we are organized, that seniors are aware of what is happening and that the cuts to these vital programs must be rejected. NYSCA thanks the legislature for their leadership on these restorations and a particular thanks goes to Senator Bruno and Senator Golden, Speaker Silver and Assemblyman Englebright. Special thanks to StateWide and all the other groups that helped organize this great event. |
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