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District 35

Crystal Hudson

Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights

New York City’s population of older adults, which currently represents 20% of our city’s entire population, will only grow as the Baby Boomer generation ages (older adults are our future!). A 2021 CUNY Graduate Center study reports that the population of adults ages 65 and older in New York State will soar 25% between 2021 and 2040, compared to just three percent growth in the general population. In New York City alone, the number of older adults is expected to jump 40% by 2040, especially as New Yorkers are living longer. Simply put, we should have prepared for an aging New York decades ago.

We’ve failed time and again, but it’s not too late to turn the tide and make New York City a place where every older adult can age in place with dignity.

After working with groups like AARP, LiveOn NY, the Asian American Federation, other members of the New York City Council and more to identify key issues facing older adults and brainstorm solutions, Crystal crafted the #AgeInPlaceNYC legislative package.

Seven of ten bills passed during the Council’s 2022-2023 Session.

The package includes:

Int. 673 (Hudson): Entitle any New Yorker age 60+ facing eviction or termination of tenancy in housing court to full legal representation at no cost, require the Department for the Aging (DFTA) to provide financial assistance to persons 60+ to pay for rental arrears if they are ineligible for other programs, and require DFTA to create a housing support program for older adults

(Passed the Council on 1/19/23, 50-0-0)


Int. 674 (Hudson): Require DFTA to create a know your rights pamphlet for older adults

(Passed the Council on 1/19/23, 50-0-0)


Int. 672 (Hudson): Make DFTA work with older adult centers to expand programming to include linguistic and cultural programs relevant to the communities they serve

(Passed the Council on 1/19/23, 50-0-0)


Int. 676 (Hudson): Require the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to develop a list of universal design features and require that a developer who receives City financial assistance incorporate universal design in all dwelling units in a new housing development project. It would also require HPD to produce a report on the universal design list, which HPD would post on its website.

(Passed the Council on 2/2/23, 49-0-0)


Int. 675 (Hudson): Mandate that the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) create a telemedicine accessibility plan to improve the availability and accessibility of portable monitoring devices and telehealth devices for populations that could be better served by telemedicine services

(Passed the Council on 4/11/23, 48-0-0)


Int. 665 (Gutiérrez): Require DFTA, in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT), to create a digital literacy training program for older adults

(Passed the Council on 5/25/23, 48-0-0)


Int. 255 (Hudson): Create a citywide online system for tenants to apply and renew Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) Program and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) Program benefits


Int. 564 (Cabán): Establish a commission for LGBTQIA+ older adults within DFTA to identify challenges, share best practices, and develop expert recommendations on ways to improve the quality of life of LGBTQIA+ older adults

(Passed the Council on 11/15/23, 45-0-0)


Int. 945 (Hudson): Require Department for the Aging and the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications to develop a technical support program to serve older adults.


Res 236 (Cabán): Support the state in passing legislation to allow New York City to establish an automatic enrollment program for eligible older adults to be automatically enrolled or automatically re-enrolled in the SCRIE program