New York City has announced closing over 100 senior centers, as a result of budget cuts proposed by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo.

As it turns out, the proposed state budget will be short of $25 million, an amount which each year has supported operation of centers and programs for the elderly. There are 105 out of 256 New York senior centers facing shutting down. If the closings are successfully pushed forward they will affect some 8,000 seniors who use their services and programs on the daily basis and eat meals there.

The John Paul II Friendship Center, which has served the Polish community for the past 20 years, at the St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Church in lower Manhattan, has found itself on the list of centers targeted for closing.

Politicians, including state assemblymen and senators, CEOs and members of various senior centers gathered at a meeting organized by Brooklyn President Marty Markowitz at the Brooklyn City Hall to express their opposition to budget cuts and closing the senior centers. The Polish community was represented by Bożena Kamińska, executive director of the Polish&Slavic Center (CPS) in Greenpoint, Wojciech Mleczko, director of the Krakus Senior Center operating at the Polish Slavic Center, and Artur Pastuła director of the John Paul II Senior Center that faces closing.

The meeting participants discussed an action plan aimed at preventing the closures of senior centers. The politicians unanimously supported the initiative pointing out how important centers are for the elderly and the New York community. It was ultimately resolved that the most effective solution in this situation would be organizing protests and exerting pressure on city and state administrations so that they reconsider their decision. The first demonstration was scheduled in front of the City Hall in Manhattan for the following Sunday.

"Unfortunately, we have made it to the list," said saddened Artur Pastula, director of the John Paul II Senior Center. "We are pressed for time. We are currently trying to contact politicians who have real power to do something in this regard. We will write letters and encourage our seniors to reach out to them on their own too. Pressing on the legislators and protesting is the only thing we can do right now."

"We found out that John Paul II Senior Center was shortlisted for closing during a two-day seminar in Albany organized by the Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City, an organization that CPS is part of," said Bożena Kamińska, executive director of the Polish-Slavic Center. "Immediately we started talking to state senators and assemblymen to make them realize what consequences the closing of the centers would have. Many seniors will be home bound and will lose access to assistance and benefits. For many, a meal at the Center is the only meal they have during the day," she added.

John Paul II senior center in lower Manhattan serves on average 75 meals a day. It has close to 400 members.