The Everett City Council has voted to close the Carl Gipson Senior Center for the rest of this year and possibly for all of next year. There was no period for public comment about the ramifications of such a move despite a request for same from two council members. It went to a vote and passed with only the two voting against it.
With such a vote Everett faces forfeiture of federal money coming to senior centers under the Older Americans Act. In addition, we will revert to the status of the 1960s when seniors suffered from social isolation.
I have been an active member of this senior center since 2002. I have seen a couple of generations pass. I can tell you from observation and my own participation that senior centers keep older persons active physically and mentally.
We have access to a social worker, health insurance advisers, a nurse and more on a daily basis. We have a congregate meal program where people eat with friends. We have groups of every kind that provide support and avenues to learn new things (knitting, carving, painting) and we meet with others for coffee and conversation and no one tells us that we have to leave the table because other customers are waiting. The center provided a way for people to stay active in the community as long as possible.
Where are the Gray Panthers when you need them? Is this thinly veiled age discrimination? Are the mayor and others taking a share of the cut in their salary.
Nancy Fischer
Everett
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