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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kai Fai Lo, Representative from Homecrest Community Services
3:13:02
ยท
125 sec
Kai Fai Lo, a retired USPS worker and member of Homecrest Community Services, testifies about the importance of the senior center in his life and urges the city council to prevent budget cuts that could lead to its closure. He emphasizes how the center provides a safe space, social connections, and purposeful activities for older adults like himself.
- Lo participates in various activities at the center, including volunteering, tai chi, singing, and daily lunches.
- He stresses that the center is more than just entertainment; it keeps him active and engaged after retirement.
- Lo expresses concern that if the center were to close due to budget cuts, he would have nowhere else to go for support and community.
Kai Fai Lo
3:13:02
You're welcome.
3:13:03
Good afternoon, chair Hudson and member of the committee on aging.
3:13:08
My name is Kai Fai Lowe, and I am a Northern New Yorker living in Brooklyn.
3:13:14
I worked for the USPS for fifteen years before retiring and joining the Homecrest community services.
3:13:23
For me, Homecrest has become a place where I feel comfortable, safe, and welcome, especially after the pandemic.
3:13:33
At the center, I volunteer my time to support the center.
3:13:37
I also participate in activities like tai chi and singing context.
3:13:44
And I eat lunch here every day.
3:13:47
Home Grace is not just a place where I volunteer.
3:13:50
It is my safe space during the day, come a community where I feel valued and connected.
3:13:59
I enjoy having set up for special events, such as birthday parties for fellow members.
3:14:07
And these moments allow me to bond with others.
3:14:10
At the center, I like talking with friends, playing board games, and singing karaoke.
3:14:17
These activities are more than just entertainment.
3:14:20
They are keep me active and engaged after retiring.
3:14:27
If the budget can no longer support Homecrest and center were to be closed, I would have no other place to go.
3:14:37
The Pension Health Center is a place where I feel like I belong, and losing it will leave me without the support and community I need.
3:14:49
I urge the city council to stop these harmful cuts and instead invest in services that allow older adults like me to live with purpose and connection.
3:15:02
Thank you for listening to my story and considering my testimony.
3:15:07
Thank you.
Crystal Hudson
3:15:07
Thank you so much.