The Assembly undertook many important bills throughout the 2011 Legislative Session. However, few issues were of a higher priority to me than ensuring that senior citizens have access to the programs that make their lives easier. The Assembly remains dedicated to providing meaningful aid to seniors in New York City and I fought hard to restore crucial funding in the final budget.

The full reinstatement of over $20 million in Title XX Senior Center funding, saving hundreds of senior centers, two of which are right here in our neighborhood: The Order of the Moose Senior Center at 18th Avenue and 77th Street and the Boro Park Senior Center at 56th Street and 11th Avenue.

The budget reverses damaging cuts to crucial senior funding by reinstating 11 previously eliminated aging programs, including Long Term Care Senior Respite and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. The budget restores $22.3 million to the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program (EPIC) – which is designed to lower prescription drug costs for seniors with fixed incomes.

Dedication Through Legislation

In addition to fighting off budget cuts, I also made sure to support vital legislation aimed at improving the lives of senior citizens.

• I enthusiastically supported a bill establishing the Prescription Drug Assistance Program, a program that would provide lower drug prices for participants, allowing the program to remain open to individuals without prescription coverage or those facing coverage gaps.

• The Assembly approved a legislative package to protect individuals with disabilities. These bills aim to improve the care provided to individuals with developmental disabilities.

• As residents of New York City, it is important that mass transportation, like subway and buses, is accommodating all individuals, which is why I helped pass “Complete Streets” legislation, to address the mobility needs of all MTA users.

• Finally, I helped pass a bill that establishes a support system formissing vulnerable adults, like those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. This bill created a statewide alert system for missing vulnerable adults to help authorities locate missing cognitively-impaired persons. We must ensure the safety of these impaired individuals and provide peace of mind to their families.

After the success of the MetroCard Bus Program earlier this year, the MetroCardBus will return to our neighborhood attwo locations.

In order to be eligible for a reduced fare MetroCard, you must be either 65+ or have a qualifying disability, and you must complete a proper application. Those who qualify can fill out all the necessary paperwork on the day of and will be granted a temporary MetroCard on the spot.

Please contact either of my offices for more information on this fall’s MetroCard Bus Program.

I am pleased to announce my office’s participation in the New York RX Prescription Drug Card Program. New York RX allows you and your family, as New York residents, to have access to the Prescription Assistance Program (PAP).

In order to enroll, come to either of my offices to create and print your FREE discount prescription drug card. This card will provide you with RX medication savings of up to 75% at more than 56,000 pharmacies across the country.

• Free For Everyone: All residents are eligible to get pharmacy discounts through this program. This program can be used to supplement most health insurance plans and can also be used as a Medicare Part D supplement.

• Lowest Price: This program has Lowest Price Logic to guarantee that you get the best pricing on prescriptions. You can save up to 75% on your medications (average savings are roughly 30%!).

• No Restrictions: There are no enrollment forms, no age or income requirements, no waiting periods, no eligibility required, no exclusions, covers pre-existing conditions, no claim forms to file, no annual or lifetime limits.

• All Medications: This program includes discounts on brand and generic medications, and an open formulary so that all medications are eligible for discounts.

• Accepted Everywhere: The Discount Prescription Card is pre-activated and accepted at over 56,000 pharmacies including CVS, Kmart, Pathmark, Stop and Shop, Target, Waldbaums, Walgreens, Walmart and many more.

If you lived in New York City for all or part of 2010 and are not claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return and have low income; you may qualify for the NYC School Tax Credit refund.

My office can assist you in completing the special NYC-210 form. If you qualified to file the NYC-210 for past years, but failed to do so, you may still be able to receive the credit for those years too.

Depending on the number of months you lived in New York City, the refund can be as much as $125 for a married couple or surviving spouse and $63 for a single person. You can also file for past years for the NYC School Tax Credit refund for 2008, 2009, and 2010 at any time.