MASS SENIOR ACTION MALDEN CHAPTER

The John   and Christina Markey Malden Senior Community Center, which
opened in 2009   in a former church on Washington Street, has won a top
honor from the   National Community Development Association.
The center received the   association's 2012 Audrey Nelson Community
Development Achievement Award,   recognizing the best use of federal
Community Development Block Grant money   to improve low-income
neighborhoods. Nominations for the award are accepted   from communities
across the country.
The Malden Redevelopment   Authority nominated the senior center, which
is named for the parents of   Congressman Edward J. Markey, a Democrat
from Malden.
"The [MRA]   staff deserves a lot of credit," said Stephen M. Wishoski,
executive   director of the MRA.
MASS SENIOR ACTION MALDEN CHAPTER SHOULD BE   RECOGNIZED They were the
driving force and influence with the mayors office   and overcoming
Resistance to moving the Center from the basement Thanks to   our City
Council for listening and joining in presenting Issues need   and
support.
--
Howard McGowan
MaldenSenior

stronger-than-anticipated revenue from capital gains taxes to build a surplus

Massachusetts has benefited from stronger-than-anticipated revenue from capital gains taxes to build a surplus of just more than 1 percent of its general fund budget. It used nearly three-quarters of the $460 million surplus to replenish the state's reserve fund, while directing other surplus money to cities and towns recovering from deadly tornadoes in June, state courts and to provide modest raises to social service workers.

Cuts to Budget

here's one thing we can be pretty sure of: the pain will fall mainly on poor and middle-class Americans, whilebillions in tax breaks, loopholes, and handouts for corporations will remain untouched.

Those same billions could keep food in the mouths of hungry women and children, fund critical medical research, and do theactual work of reducing our deficit.

But nothing will change until we tell that story. Congressional Republicans won't listen to the man and woman in thestreet until we take to the streets—thousands of taxpayers and voters in their states and home districts calling outthe billion-dollar corporations that pay little or nothing in taxes.

The GOP blueprint shift to medicaire

The GOP blueprint, unveiled last week by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., would slash federal spending by $5 trillion or more over the coming decade and repeal Obama's signature health care law. It would leave Social Security untouched but shift more of the risk from rising medical costs from the government to Medicare beneficiaries. It also calls for sharp cuts to Medicaid health care for the poor and disabled and to food aid for the poor.

The 2010 US Census counted 40 million seniors in the US,

comprising 13% of the total population. Traditional media continues to dominate seniors’ media habits, but the internet is quickly increasing reach, expected to hit 56.0% penetration by 2015.

The 2010 US Census counted 40 million seniors in the US, comprising 13% of the total population. According to the data, baby boomers—the largest single generation in the US—will enter the senior set at a rate of one every 8 seconds for the next 18 years.

SENIORS OPINION HEALTH CARE LAW

Organizing Seniors: Moving the Dial


Reaching seniors with the truth about the health care law can be a challenge, but recent polls are showing a shift in opinion. Go to them and be prepared to answer specific questions.

Seeing benefits in the Affordable Care Act has been a challenge for seniors across the country. During the debate to pass the health care law, seniors heard a lot of misinformation from opponents of the law. Although combating these messages is challenging, public opinion among seniors is beginning to change. Last week, Kaiser Family Foundation released their latest tracking poll, which revealed increased support among seniors for the health law. This past month, unfavorable views of the law decreased by 7 percentage points and favorable views increased 8 percentage points. See the full report here: http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/8166.cfm.

This change is only the beginning. With an array of different policies in the law, it can become difficult to generalize about Medicare as a whole when speaking the people over 65. However, there have been real tangible benefits already in effect for seniors, such as Medicare doughnut hole rebate checks and free preventive services in Medicare. Advocates have found that stopping by local senior centers, senior living communities, and social clubs is the best way to reach seniors and spread the message about the benefits of the Affordable Care Act.