“I am honored that the AARP and the World Health Organization recognizes the City of New York’s work through Age Friendly NYC with this award. The work of the Council and the Administration will help make sure every neighborhood in every borough is accommodating for our seniors,” said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “New York City is expected to add a million new residents by 2030, and we’re already preparing for that impact on areas like our environment, energy use and housing stock. I’m pleased to know that the people who are working to make our City great have a New York that they can retire in safely and comfortably.”

“As the Baby Boom generation ages and becomes the Senior Boom, New York is going to be ready because of the planning and work that we’ve already begun. Our work is far from over, but with partners like AARP we know that we can succeed as a model for the world,” said Council Member Jessica Lappin, chair of the City Council Committee on Aging.

“The work that AARP and the World Health Organization has truly changed lives for millions across the world. I am truly grateful to WHO for recognizing the work the City has done through Age Friendly NYC for our senior citizen community in NYC. Many have participated and much work has gone into bringing us to this point. I look forward to the work ahead, which will bring us closer to our goal of an age friendly New York,” said Council Member Maria del Carmen Arroyo, chair of the City Council Committee on Health.

“As the aging population in our City grows, it is essential that we implement policies and programs that help make New York City’s neighborhoods more livable for our seniors,” said Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. “I am proud to host an Age-Friendly District in the neighborhood I represent. This initiative serves as an important model for engaging seniors at a local level to identify ways in which each neighborhood can make itself more age-friendly – whether it’s ensuring equal access to local resources, improving security in the neighborhood or repairing our streets and sidewalks. I look forward to seeing how we can transform our community to provide a better quality of life for our seniors, and I hope other cities around the country will consider adopting similar models.”