Statement by State Senator Jose Peralta Regarding Mayor Bloomberg’s Threat to Close Senior Centers

“While we are facing tough budgetary decisions, Mayor Bloomberg’s threat to close up to 50 senior Centers that are life lines for our senior citizens is unconscionable and short sighted. Senior citizens depend on these centers for daily meals, community engagement and social services. We cannot stand by and allow Mike Bloomberg to ignore the most vulnerable and beloved members of our community. I call on the Mayor to first address the bloated budgets and redundancies in city agencies before he threatens to throw our seniors out in the streets. I will not allow the Jackson Heights Senior Center to be treated like a line item in the Mayor’s budget. I will fight to keep all senior centers open.”