Sponsored by AARP
This week, Brooklyn Paper spoke with city council candidates from District 47, George Sarantopoulos and Kayla Santosuosso, to hear their thoughts on community programs.
Q: Nonprofit organizations provide essential services that help older adults age in place, yet many have faced funding cuts and increased demand. What actions would you take to strengthen and stabilize community-based organizations, including those that run older adult centers?
Santosuosso: One of the priorities for the city budget this year needs to be securing funding for these essential nonprofits, because far too many of them are facing serious budget cuts at the federal level. I pledge to use the discretionary funding that I will have available to shore up nonprofits that are facing steep cuts and to reach out to seniors directly to understand what the gaps in the coverage are and how we can work together to fill them.
Sarantopoulos: Our local nonprofits and senior centers are the backbone of care for older adults, yet many are stretched thin and struggling to meet growing demand. As a Council Member, I would focus on making sure these organizations have stable, predictable support and less red tape so they can focus on serving people, not paperwork. That means stronger partnerships between the City and community groups, faster help when funding gaps appear, and a commitment to treating these centers as essential parts of our neighborhood safety net. When we invest in them, we invest in the dignity and well-being of our seniors.
Q: What initiatives or funding strategies are you supporting to expand community-based services that cater to the health, social, and daily needs of older adults in your district?
Santosuosso: I began my career working at a direct service nonprofit, and I know how essential local community services are to the health of a neighborhood and the people who live there. First and foremost we need to reform the system the city uses to pay nonprofits so that services are not delayed because of red tape and bureaucracy. We also need more community outreach to understand where the needs are, and where waste is holding us back. I pledge to treat nonprofits that serve vulnerable members of our community with the highest respect and to hold them to the highest standards.
Sarantopoulos: I want to bring more services directly to where seniors live and expanded home safety upgrades. We should also fund early detection programs for conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and dementia by partnering with hospitals and health providers to offer regular screenings right inside senior centers. These early interventions save lives and reduce long term costs while keeping people healthy and independent. My focus is on making sure every older adult has access to quality care, companionship, and practical support without leaving our neighborhoods.
Q: How can city agencies and community organizations work together to improve access to home care, transportation, and social programs for seniors who prefer to age independently within their communities?
Santosuosso: Our community based organizations are on the front lines of serving our seniors, so they often know best what challenges seniors are facing. Leaders of these CBOs will have a direct line to me so that we can ensure we’re doing everything we can to support our senior population.
With regards to transportation, we need someone in Office, who has strong relationships with our state elected officials so that when funding goes towards improving ADA accessibility on our subways and buses, the neighborhoods of South Brooklyn are not overlooked. We need to listen to seniors about what works and what doesn’t work about programs like Access-A-Ride. Perhaps most importantly we need to make sure that social programs for seniors are protected from federal cuts by shorting up funding in our own cities budget.
Sarantopoulos: Right now, too many seniors are left to navigate a maze of phone numbers and agencies just to get a ride, a meal, or home care. Ideally I would want NYC to build a dedicated 311 type number for seniors, one number that connects them directly to the help they need, whether it’s transportation, meal delivery or social programs. Behind that line would be a coordinated team of city and community partners who can respond quickly and personally, not bounce people around. Aging in place should mean independence with dignity, not isolation or confusion and this system would make sure every senior in our city knows exactly where to turn.
