‘What New Yorkers 50+ Deserve’ lays out fresh blueprint for NYC lawmakers
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From ways to fight age discrimination
to installing
elevators at more subway
stations, “What New Yorkers
50+ Deserve,” released by
AARP New York, is a groundbreaking
and first-ever policy
guide filled with recommendations
to help city officials address
these and other vital issues
facing older New York City
residents.
“This book is meant as a
North Star—a model to help
the new administration make
sure that the needs of people 50-
plus are met—because they are
often overlooked,” said AARP
New York State Director Beth
Finkel. “They helped build our
city and make it the great place
that it is.”
“With this guide, the Mayor
and everyone in city government
can help New Yorkers 50-
plus live their best lives,” Finkel
added. “We’re talking about
750,000 New York City AARP
members and who have suffered
during the pandemic due to
their vulnerability to the virus,
housing costs and inadequate
coordination of services among
agencies.”
The 60-page policy book—
the first-ever guide from
AARP NY—contains 80 recommendations
to improve life for
the city’s residents, including
empowering a deputy mayor
to lead the charge to safeguard
older residents and ensure
they are aware of all services
available to them. AARP staff
created this blueprint because
a clear and comprehensive
plan for New York’s 50-plus
was long overdue. The policy
book also underscores that the
New York City Department for
the Aging receives less than
one percent of the city budget
when 20% of New York City
residents are age 65 and older.
The book draws on AARP
research and policy work, including
“Disrupting Racial &
Ethnic Disparities,” a series of
policy briefs detailing substantial
challenges faced by older
New Yorkers.
Older adults are the driving
force in New York City’s economy,
cultural life and civic engagement.
They account for the
city’s biggest volunteer base and
represent the largest voter turnout
bloc. Yet they face significant
hardships. For example,
78% of workers aged 40-65 say
they have seen or experienced
age discrimination in the workplace.
More than half of city voters
age 50-plus are concerned
about affordable housing. A lack
of accessible transportation has
disproportionately affected 50-
plus Black, Latino and Asian
New Yorkers. And 42% of New
Yorkers age 65-plus lack internet
access—nearly double the
23% of those age 18 to 24.
Recommendations in the
policy book include:
• Updating the city’s zoning
codes and planning processes to
require more affordable senior
housing;
• Prohibiting online job application
systems that require
age information unless the employer
can demonstrate need for
that information;
• Renaming the Department
for The Aging to reflect the
vibrancy of New York’s older
adults;
• Offering Human Resources
Administration training so
older adults can easily navigate
and apply for the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP);
• Expanding and improving
zoning rules that allow the
Metropolitan Transportation
Authority to leverage private
development to build elevators
at more New York City Transit
stations, and throughout Staten
Island Railway, Long Island
Railroad, and Metro-North stations;
• Devoting more pedestrianfriendly
street space, building
upon the successes of the Open
Streets program;
• Expanding geriatric mental
health services to every NYC
Health + Hospitals facility.
• Establishing a New York
City Caregiver Tax Credit for
unpaid family caregivers, who
often spend thousands of dollars
a year caring for loved ones.
• Fully funding the City’s
five-year Community Care
Plan, which expands access to
senior centers and aging-related
services in underserved communities.
“What New Yorkers 50+
Deserve” is available online at
www.aarp.org/nycpolicybook.
AARP staff and volunteers will
share hard copies of the book
and meet with leaders across
the city to discuss policy solutions
and push for increased
support and attention to the issues
and recommendations outlined
in the policy book.
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Virtual Open House Dates:
Friday, February 4TH ...........................................................6:00 P.M.
Saturday, February 12TH ................................................10:00 A.M.
Friday, March 4TH ..................................................................6:00 P.M.
Friday, March 11TH .................................................................6:00 P.M.
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