Senior Centers Reorganization Delayed

Ending a standoff over Mayor Bloomberg's plan to reorganize the city's 325 senior centers, the City Council speaker, Christine Quinn, Comptroller William Thompson Jr., and the deputy mayor of Health and Human Services, Linda Gibbs, announced an agreement yesterday on how to proceed with the changes.

In an effort to attract more participants, Mr. Bloomberg announced a proposal in January to modernize senior centers by expanding their focus from serving meals to also include health and wellness programs. Community groups and elected officials, including Ms. Quinn and Mr. Thompson, both likely candidates for mayor in 2009, criticized the plan as too rapid a change for the centers and for senior citizens.

Under the agreement, the plan will be scaled back in scope and delayed until September 2008 in order to solicit more suggestions from stakeholders. The mayor will introduce a technical assistance program to help current senior centers and community groups transition once the plan is implemented.