
Passing the torch Sitting down with
Meet AARP NY’s new president, James O’Neal Mayor-elect Adams
COURIER LIFE, D 20 ECEMBER 17-23, 2021
BY SKYE OSTREICHER
New Yorkers 50-plus
helped build our city and
make it the great place that
it is: and city leaders must be
dedicated to addressing the
challenges this population
experiences.
Tune in to PoliticsNY.
com to learn how Mayorelect
Adams will raise the
issue of ageism and make
sure his administration confronts
it head on. As a leader
in Age Friendly policies,
how will Mayor-elect Adams
broaden this work throughout
NYC?
Beth Finkel, State Director
of AARP New York,
shared with Mayor-elect Adams,
“one of our thoughts
is actually renaming NYC’s
Dept of the Aging – not a very
forward-thinking name – and
I’m thinking it’d be right up
your alley to come up with a
stronger, better name.”
To which Adams replied,
“we’re looking for Seniors to
come up with the best name
for it… We are open. The
name should be more active
than the Department of
Aging. I say it’s the Department
of Living. Whatever
name our seniors come up
with, we’re gonna put it out
to you.”
Adams is known for making
Brooklyn the fi rst agefriendly
borough, and now
will be able to orchestrate
an age-friendly NYC. Part
of this plan will offer restaurant,
theater and transportation
discounts for seniors, he
shared.
Adams will be rolling out
his 100-day plan and at the
heart of it is how NYC becomes
more inclusive, especially
of its seniors. AARP
New York will also be delivering
a plan to the new
administration with some
ideas from its membership.
This interview is sponsored
by AARP New York,
which represents 750,000
members in New York City.
Watch the full video at PoliticsNY.
com.
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
AARP New York has appointed
aging expert and dedicated
community health care
advocate James C. O’Neal as
its next State President. In
this position, O’Neal will chair
the AARP New York Executive
Council, a select leadership
group of AARP New York
members with an outstanding
record of service and a commitment
to the goals of the Association.
As State President,
O’Neal will help shape AARP
New York’s strategic priorities,
build community partnerships
with key decision makers and
serve as volunteer spokesperson
for the organization.
“We’re excited to welcome
James and his wealth of expertise
to AARP’s fi ght for New
Yorkers 50-plus,” said AARP
New York State Director Beth
Finkel. “James brings a comprehensive
knowledge of aging
and health care that will make
AARP New York even stronger
as we navigate the ongoing
pandemic and into the future.”
O’Neal, an independent consultant
on older adult issues,
has spent over a decade in the
community health care industry,
fi rst with Oxford Health
Plans, followed by the Visiting
Nurse Service of New York and
Beth Abraham’s CenterLight
Health Care, where he held the
position of Director of Community
Outreach until his retirement
in January 2015.
“AARP’s incredible
strength comes from its members
and volunteers, and I’m
so proud to help lead this dedicated
group,” O’Neal said. “I
look forward to continuing
the important work of making
New York State a healthier,
more livable and more affordable
place to live and age.”
O’Neal currently serves as
a Board Member of the State
Society on Aging of New York,
Neighborhood SHOPP and the
Washington Heights/Inwood
Interagency Council on Aging,
and is President of the Bronx
Interagency Council on Aging.
His past appointments include
advisory and leadership
roles with the Adult Immunization
Coalition of the Department
of Health & Mental Hygiene
of New York City and the
U.S. Department of Housing
and Development-sponsored
“Healthy Homes, Healthy Seniors”
Community Study. In
2016, O’Neal was appointed a
Member of the governor’s Advisory
Committee for the Aging,
and since 2018, he has
served the UN’s International
Federation on Ageing.
O’Neal holds a Bachelor of
Arts degree from Franklin &
Marshall College and a Master
of Arts from New York University.
He resides in Harlem.
O’Neal succeeds Leo Asen,
who will complete his maximum
term of six years as
AARP State President at the
conclusion of 2021.
James O’Neal. AARP