Addabbo Supports Proposal to Give New York City Senior Citizens a Ten Percent Discount on Water Bills

Queens, NY (June 9, 2015): NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. recently voted with his Senate colleagues to provide New York City senior citizens 65 years of age and older with a 10 percent break on their water bills – a plan that would offer welcome relief to cash-strapped residents after so many years of significant increases in City water costs. The legislation (S.4506) has now passed the Senate and is under review by the Assembly Committee on Cities. 

“Over the 12 years of the previous New York City administration, water bills rose by a whopping 166 percent and presented a heavy burden for many senior citizens on fixed incomes and other individuals and families struggling to balance their household budgets,” Addabbo said.  “Another water bill increase, albeit less than three percent, is set to go into effect in July, and I am concerned about the cumulative impact of these rate hikes on those senior citizens who can least afford them and who have contributed so much to our City and state throughout the years.”

Back in April, Addabbo submitted written testimony to the New York City Water Board in opposition to the 3.24 percent water bill increase that was then being sought.  “While the final hike, at 2.97 percent, was less than the initial proposal,” said Addabbo, “It still represents a blow to people who are having trouble affording housing, health care, food, utilities and other basic life necessities. While I understand the need to improve the City’s water and sewer infrastructure, I still believe that other sources of revenue, rather than consistent water rate hikes, should be considered for this purpose.” 

In his testimony to the Water Board, Addabbo suggested that – if the rate hike was going through – that the City pay special attention to making repairs and improvements in flood-prone areas of his district like Lindenwood, which was doubly devastated by area flooding after being hard hit by Hurricane Sandy. 

“I am hopeful that the State Assembly will seriously consider this legislation and provide some economic relief to area senior citizens,” said Addabbo.  “Under any circumstances, I will continue to express my concerns about misguided and all too frequent water bill increases to the City administration.”

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