Pizza and policy came together on Aug. 14 in Bed-Stuy, where AARP New York marked Social Security’s 90th anniversary with a “Pizza Pop-Up” at A Slice of Love — and urged residents to help “protect the pie.”
U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8), House Minority Leader, joined the event to reaffirm his commitment to protecting the program and to hear directly from older adults about how Social Security has shaped their lives.
“We don’t want to privatize Social Security, we want to protect your Social Security. That’s our goal,” Jeffries told the crowd. “Social Security is not an entitlement program, it’s an earned benefit. You’ve earned that benefit, you pay into that benefit and we’re going to make sure no one ever takes that benefit away from you or anyone in the United States of America.”
The Halsey Street gathering was part of AARP New York’s “Slices of the Story: Served Up NY Style” campaign, which is holding more than 150 Pizza Pop-Ups across the state to mark Social Security’s 90th anniversary and highlight its impact through personal stories.
“Social Security is more than just a number in a budget — it’s a lifeline earned through decades of hard work,” said AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel. “I started paying into Social Security when I was 16 years old and I have been paying in ever since. That is decades of paying into Social Security. I made a covenant with the government, the government made a contract with me and I expect them to hold up their end and AARP expects them to hold up their end.”
Economists warn that Social Security’s trust funds are projected to face shortfalls within the next decade if Congress does not act. Rising life expectancy, the retirement of the baby boomer generation, and fewer workers paying into the system are straining the program’s finances. Without changes, the Social Security Administration estimates that benefits could be reduced by the mid-2030s.
In Brooklyn alone, more than 358,000 people receive Social Security, injecting $6.5 billion into the borough’s economy each year. The program primarily supports retired workers, but also provides critical income for individuals with disabilities, children and surviving family members.
Finkel noted that while Social Security remains one of the most cherished programs in American life, public confidence in its future is slipping. Confidence dropped 7% across all age groups this year, she said, and fell 25% among those ages 18 to 25, according to a recent AARP poll.
“That’s just not acceptable,” Finkel said.
Still, she expressed optimism that policymakers will act to preserve the program. “There’s any number of ways that they can fix it… they just need to come together and have some backbone and get it done,” she said, adding firmly: “So don’t mess with it.”
Jeffries echoed that urgency, stressing the need to safeguard retirement security for millions.
“We’re going to fight to make sure that in this country… older Americans, that you’ve worked hard throughout your life and we want to make sure that you can live these amazing years with the dignity and respect that you deserve.”
Brooklyn resident and AARP volunteer Tashea Younge shared her family’s experience with the program.
“My grandparents came to this country nearly 50 years ago seeking a better life. They worked hard, paid taxes, and raised a family,” she said. “Now in their senior years, they rely on Social Security to cover rent, food, and medications. No one should have to struggle for basic needs after a lifetime of contributions.”
The “Pizza Pop-Up” series will continue across New York through August.
