After months of controversy, the Bloomberg administration has announced that it will "reevaluate the Department for the Aging's modernization of senior center programs."

Advocates had long been calling for a delay or cancellation of DFTA's recently-issued Request for Proposals for redesigned Senior Center contracts in light the City's uncertain budget situation and stresses in the system from other recent senior service redesigns. The RFP was the third stage of DFTA's plan to "modernize" the City's senior services system and followed earlier procurements for redesigned case management and home delivered meals programs.

New York City's Department for the Aging (DFTA) today released its long anticipated senior center request for proposals (RFP) - i.e. "Congregate Programs for Older Adults". The senior center RFP is the third step in DFTA's "Modernization" effort which has already seen procurements for the restructuring of other key components of the senior services system - Case Management and Home Delivered Meals.

Senior services providers and advocates who have long been pressing for an indefinite postponement of New York City's new Senior Centers RFP apparently have an ally in City Hall. An article in today’s New York Times reports that Council Speaker Christine Qinn has called on Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs - in closed door and "heated" discussions -- to "back off a plan that would change how hundreds of programs for the elderly are financed."