Murray Holds Second in a Series of Senior Town Hall Meetings

Blue Point meeting is aimed at keeping retired adults in their communities



Freshman Assemblyman Dean Murray (R,C-East Patchogue) today hosted the second of four senior town hall meetings that he is holding throughout his assembly district. The assemblyman met with seniors at the Henrietta Acampora Recreation Center in Blue Point to discuss issues such as cost of living, taxes, housing, health care, quality of life and senior targeted crimes.
“Retired adults are especially vulnerable in these tough economic times,” said Murray. “Seniors on fixed incomes face continually rising costs, such as property taxes. Suffolk County’s sizable aging adult population needs help in the form of tax relief and assistance to help offset out-of-pocket medical expenses. I know that discussing the matter openly will help create real solutions to keep seniors in the homes and communities they have helped to build.”
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Suffolk County has the second largest senior population, roughly 224,000 residents over the age of 60, second only to Nassau County if you exclude New York City. According to 2009 figures, the New York Statewide Senior Action Council, Inc. estimates that a senior living alone in Suffolk County would need at least $25,260 to $37,452 to cover basic annual living costs. These costs include housing, health care, food, and transportation among others. This number rises dramatically for those in need of long-term care and could lead to annual expenses around $70,000 for those with the highest need for care.
Murray has deep concerns over these figures noting that the national average annual income for seniors is $29,248 and the national median income is $18,208. He fears that many Suffolk County retired adults may be struggling financially. To make matters worse, the New York State Office for the Aging’s budget was cut by nearly $6 million this year.
“I don’t want any senior to be in a situation where they are forced out of their homes due to expenses,” Murray added. “One way the Legislature can help is by enacting real tax relief, whether it’s by expanding STAR rebates, or considering other options like a property tax cap.”
Murray currently sponsors legislation that is targeted at reducing the property tax burden on seniors. The assemblyman hopes that through these conversations, he’ll be able to not only tackle the pressing matter of cost-of-living struggles but also health care, medication costs, and safety and crime prevention for seniors.


The final two meetings will be held in Middle Island on August 24 and Bellport on August 31. For further information, the public may call Murray’s office at (631) 207-0073.