Thompson visits Flushing seniors

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. visited three senior centers in Flushing recently, where he promised to advocate for meaningful community input where the centers are concerned.
During the discussion tour, on Monday, April 21, Thompson visited a spectrum of local Asian groups, with members of his staff in tow.
First, he discussed issues of importance to seniors at the Chinese Planning Council Nan Shan Senior Center at 133-14 41st Avenue. From there he continued to engage participants at the Taiwan Center at 137-44 Northern Boulevard and the Korean American Community Service at Flushing Senior Center at 42-15 166th Street.
“This is a great opportunity to visit with our seniors and learn about specific issues that affect them and the city’s senior centers and services,” Thompson said, adding, “Today we witnessed the range of activities and services provided each day to countless seniors across this city, and watched both recreational programs and food service delivery.”
At each center, the Comptroller presented “Senior Service Awards” to individuals recommended by the centers’ staff who have displayed traits and characteristics that work to help their fellow senior citizens and members of the community.
Although his job as Comptroller leaves him with the image of being the official penny-pincher for the city, “it gives me great pleasure to recognize those who have excelled in enhancing the lives of others,” Thompson said.
“The senior population is expected to increase 44% by the year 2030, so we need to act now to provide better services and additional programs,” Thompson pointed out.
Recently, he stood with hundreds of seniors to rally against the proposed restructuring of senior centers and services by the City Department for the Aging.
Thompson has been adding his voice to a growing chorus of people who are calling for more meaningful public participation in policy making decisions by the city and growing disenchantment with Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “top-down” management style, where the public is shown virtually completed plans, and then asked to “comment.”