by the El Reportero’s staff
An senior citizen lady closes her eyes for tireness during a protest at the San Francisco Civic Center. At right, San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi says some breathing words.
Approximately 500 senior citizens and people with disabilities flooded San by the El Reportero’s staff Approximately 500 senior citizens and people with disabilities flooded San on Tuesday, May 12.
Many of those old and fragile men and women brought in by their care-keepers and agencies that care for the elderly, were visible tired for spending most morning and mid afternoon under the sun, but full of hope that their presence would help stop the inevitable hack from city-provided services for them. They were brown-bag lunches provided by community organizations that serve the elderly.
Senior citizen leader called upon the public to rally in protest to the recent budget cuts from senior and disability programs as well as the Department of Public Health,” said a communicate.
The communicate added: “We are living through one of the most challenging economic environments in 70 years.
We cannot afford to dismantle a continuum of care that will be needed to serve the greatest expansion of the senior population in our history. By 2030, one in five of San Francisco residents will be over the age of 65 and the number of residents over the age of 85 will double.”
“This is about sending a strong message” to protect the most vulnerable, said San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who admitted that more taxes are in the horizon in order to replace the revenues lost to the recession.
The rally included music, colorful street theater, and a festive press conference with visual dramatizations of the “silver tsunami” that is about to overwhelm City Hall.
Among the organizations that participating, included, Centro Latino, 30th Street Senior Center, Kimochi Home, St. Anthony Foundation, Jewish Family Children Services, Gray Panthers of San Francisco, Project Open Hand, Family Care Giver Alliance.
