Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin Now Chairs Council's Aging Committee

Image From Jessica Lappin

Received this message from Council Member Jessica Lappin who represents Roosevelt Island as well as portions of Manhattan's East Side in the New York City Council:

Today, I was elected by my colleagues to chair the City Council’s Aging Committee. I am honored and excited to have this opportunity to work directly with the fastest-growing population in New York City.

Over the next 25 years, the number of New Yorkers over the age of 65 is expected to increase by nearly 50%. Planning for that change is an exciting challenge and it presents us with great opportunities to redefine how we serve our seniors.

Today’s older New Yorkers are a dynamic and vibrant group. We want them to stay that way and to remain healthy and here in the five boroughs. That means finding ways to connect them to their communities and making our communities more accessible and livable.

As Chair of the Aging Committee, I will work to make this a more age-friendly city by promoting innovations in health care, housing, and transportation. I will focus on keeping people healthy, in their homes, and moving around the city with ease. We must also find ways to engage older New Yorkers who want to offer their expertise as volunteers, work part-time, or start second careers.

In the short term, we are facing some very troubling challenges. Nearly 20% of New York's elderly live in poverty – double the national average. Even in tough times, we have to protect vital senior services and provide for those who are most vulnerable. We have an obligation to care for those most at risk.

Our city’s seniors built the city up in the postwar boom and stuck with it during its darkest periods. They have given so much to sustain New York and I’m eager to find ways that the city can give back to them and help sustain them now and in the future. I look forward to working with advocates, the Administration, and all New Yorkers to that end.

UPDATE - 3:55 PM - Regarding Roosevelt Island Seniors, Ms. Lappin says:

Roosevelt Island’s seniors should know that I’ll be fighting for them and the services they depend on. I’ve been doing that since I was first elected and now I have a better platform to keep on fighting. I’ll be working for better, easier-to-use transportation and making sure our housing stays affordable so seniors can stay in our city. These are needs throughout the city, but nowhere more so than on Roosevelt Island.

As to other NYC Council assignments, John Moore of Ms. Lappin's office reports:

She won’t be chairing the landmarks subcommittee anymore – that duty has been passed on to Council Member Lander. However, in addition to chairing the Aging Committee, Jessica will also serve on the Education; Transportation; Land Use; and Cultural Affairs, Libraries & International Intergroup relations Committees as well as the subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises.

UPDATE - 11:15 PM - Blogger Queens Crapper lists 2010 NYC Council Committee assignments for entire Council.