The seniors booed when Squadron told them of the proposed $17 million cut, which could lead to the closure of as many as 65 senior centers throughout the city, or cuts in hundreds more.

Cuts like this have been proposed before, Squadron said, “but the good news is, working together, in the past, we have beaten it back and prevented it from happening. In fact, I was here on a similar campaign five or six years ago.”

Seniors signed petitions that Squadron passed around, which he intends to send to the state Senate leadership and across Albany. (The petition may be signed online here.)

Senior centers: Not just lunch

“Some people think this is just a lunch program,” Squadron said. “The lunch is great, but this is a lot more than just lunch. It’s a community, and relationships, and activities, and support, and a lot of smiles and a lot of things that help organize people’s days here.”

Sheila Garson, program manager at St. Charles Jubilee for the last ten years, said the most important service the center provides is to be a “home away from home.”

“The level of socialization and support emotionally, as well as physically, as well as nutritionally, is literally keeping the lives of these older adults happy and healthy and giving them a level of longevity. It also reduces the cost to the general population in terms of their needs,” Garson said.

Senior center patron Lois Hedlund agreed.

“The lunch is good, but I think we come more for the fellowship and getting to know other people,” she told the Eagle. Going to the center “gets me out every day, it gets me walking in the fresh air and seeing people. And in addition to lunch, we have so many exercise programs and other programs that keep us healthy. And in fact, tomorrow’s our general meeting and party, with a sing-along group.”

As far as the cuts go, “Every few years they’re talking about this,” Hedlund said. “I remember a few years ago there was a rally over by City Hall and we signed petitions, and we were very happy we were extended.”

Center patron Henrietta Zacharoff told the Eagle that the center brings her good health.

“The food could be better but it’s okay,” she added.

William Scasolon, who said he has been in Brooklyn Heights 50 years, said the best thing about the senior center is “what you see now,” he said. “We got a place to come, a place to sing, a place to eat. Need I say more?”

“Folks have to come together, community by community, and make sure that their voices are heard,” Squadron told the Brooklyn Eagle. “Too often in Albany it’s just a few high-powered lobbyists whose voices are heard, but this is an opportunity for regular folks affected every day to make sure they can have an impact — and I believe they can.”

Squadron said that the next step would be the budget process.

“The budget dance continues,” he said. “It’s critical that the state legislature stands up for these services on a district by district basis. If they do, I know they will get the restorations made.”

The final budget is due on April 1.

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