Vicari Vows To Continue Senior Nutrition Program Despite Federal Sequestration Cuts
Freeholder wrote letter to President Obama asking that Ocean County senior programs be excluded from possible cuts
Ocean County will continue nutrition programs for the elderly, even if the proposed sequestration cuts go through on Friday, Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari said today.
Without the nutrition program, elderly and disabled people who are unable to cook for themselves will "wind up in the E.R.," Vicari said at a Ocean County Board of Freeholders caucus meeting today.
"We will do something to maintain services," he said. "We will continue the program. You don't cut programs as important as the senior programs."
Vicari wrote to President Obama on Feb. 25, asking his help to prevent "severe cuts" in the nutrition program.
"We would need to cut 26,000 meals in Ocean County, when we already have a wait list of almost 200 people for home-delivered meals," Vicari said in the letter.
Ocean County would see a 10 percent cut in support services for the elderly, including transportation, adult protective services, home care, caregiver services, fix-it programs, benefits assistance and adult protective services, he said.
"Never has a warm, nutritious meal delivered with a friendly smile and a caring heart been more appreciated by so many of our Ocean County elderly than this past season when Hurricane Sandy hit," Vicari said in the letter.
Of the 52,877 FEMA applications filed in Ocean County after Sandy, 15,865 are senior citizens, he said.
"This is the worst time possible time for Older Americans Act programs to be cut, when so many older adults and their families are counting on our support, while county and local governments are reeling from the recovery costs," Vicari wrote.
Annual county nutrition screenings have found that 65 percent of those who receive delivered meals are at "high nutritional risk," Vicari said.
"Since the Nutrition Program for the Elderly helps to sustain so many of our frail and vulnerable residents, I implore you to take the necessary measures to waive this vital program from the effects of sequestration, so this lifeline to the elderly continues," he wrote in the letter.
Ocean County has the largest percentage of people over 65 in the state and in Florida, with the fastest growing segment in the 85+ group, he said.
dniece68
8:16 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Get rid of your side kick in senior services
carolannie10
9:09 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Vicari should've written a letter to the president asking why ANYTHING will be cut. The Federal budget is larger than last year & there are no ACTUAL cuts anywhere. This is how "budgeting" in Washington works & it amazes me how many people still don't know it. If you want a $5,000 raise & ONLY get $3,000, Democrats call that a 40% cut because your evil boss gypped you out of $2,000. Just forget you're getting $3,000 MORE. If the Federal budget grows 4% instead of the usual 8%, that's a 50% cut "politically speaking." Federal agencies, programs & bureaus NEVER have to make do with less than last year...they MIGHT have to make do with less of a raise than expected...but that's never happened yet. If the media were doing their jobs, Obama would never get away with cutting existing programs or jobs that have more money to spend than last year.
TRman
9:45 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
carolannie10... You are absolutely correct and no one is getting this point.
The sky is not falling, just like the "fiscal Cliff" this is just a tool to get us fools to give Washington more money and more power. Pay attention people please.
Donna Griffin
9:45 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Amen, carolannie10! You've explained the process brilliantly. I miss the plain-speaking style of Ronald Reagan, too, who always took his argument to the American people and educated the country everytime he opened his mouth. Where are those politicos today? They keep Americans clouded with doublespeak and an accomplice media is more than happy to carry their water. Our poor children...we should be ashamed of ourselves.
CPOTom
9:09 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Who says the money HAS to come from THAT program? Suspend all double-dipping municipal salaries in favor of the poor until this is resolved, I'll make sure our food pantry hooks you up so you don't starve. Be a Public SERVANT.
tr
9:09 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
First I am so happy that Freeholder Vicari knows how to write! That being said, I am not happy that he wasted his time writing to a politician who is only interested in turning the USA into a socialist/communist failed great experiment. He should have written to the Ocean County Utility Authority's 13 benefit receiving commissioners about helping Sandy victims in his own county. His last news release talked about that and now he is changing the conversation to avoid more criticism. Guess what Mr. Vicari, charity begins at home, and it is at the home you can control, not 1600Pennsylvania Ave. Write the letter where it counts and stop water and sewer charges to people who are not even in their homes. Stop good old boy freebies to local politicians in exchange for re-election support while YOUR constituents are suffering!!!
Natty Bumppo
11:38 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Of course, "Vicari Vows To Continue Senior Nutrition Program", he's got to eat too!
Bob
9:45 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Good job Joe tell Obama.
proud
9:45 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
The article states:
"... Annual county nutrition screenings have found that 65 percent of those who receive delivered meals are at "high nutritional risk," Vicari said. ..."
I'm going to have to think about that one for a bit.
VoiceofReason
9:45 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Trust me - the "senior nutrition program" isn't anything special. It's almost insulting to see the quality of food they think is acceptable to feed to these poor individuals.
They really need to make cuts in their quarter million++ salaries instead. Greedy mother truckers!
BigRed
9:45 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Obama could care less about the seniors of Ocean County, or anywhere else. It is all just a big show that is just causing distress for those that do not do their own research and instead believe the Kool-Aid crowd. If there are any big cuts it is because this administration wants them. They are so hyped over it, they started early releasing illegals imigrants being held in jails. Impeachment should be what is being talked about, not cuts.
Bob Hockenfrocken
9:45 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Sequestration is a manufactured crisis by Obama and Democrats, used as a scare tactic to make all the dummies who voted for them think the sky is falling. When they can successfully scare the masses of sheep, they will be aboe to spend the United States into bankruptcy. Cut 20% of the federal budget!
smknmirr
1:09 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
How about getting nutrition programs for WORKING class married families that cant afford to feed their families the way they reserve to be ... There are programs for those who choose not marry their children's other parent, there are programs for people that DO NOT pay into to help support these programs, There are programs for our seniors but nothing much for the backbone of the people that are paying taxes & struggling to feed their families .... IF Michelle O really cared about Child obesity there could be programs for working families to feed their children right ...
Andy Pat
1:09 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
When he wrote that letter to Obama i hope he cc'd the Republican congressmen that seem more than willing to let the sequestration (a deal made by Ds and Rs together) cuts go into effect. This is the 1st step to the Grover Norquist goal of shrinking the Federal Gov't by any means necessary. Oh yeah, if Vicari supports a program like this do i get to call him a socialist?
peter festa
1:09 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
please mr viscari dont go kissing Obama's ass for money he started this mess let him get himself out of it without the media on his shirttales please dont lower yourself to him be who you are
Sal Sorce
4:41 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Just what so many seniors need while the real needs
are in lower property taxes, lower government costs, salaries,
paid sick days, holidays, benefits.
Christie is the perfect RINO !!! Republican In Name Only ...
Star Ledger article today ... he is a lefty ... believes in big
government ... and or connected cronies ...
not a democrat, just a frustrated Conservative Republican
since 1969 ...
Lincoln Osiris
9:00 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Joe Vicari,
It is rather pathetic that you think anyone will believe that you are looking out for the interests of anyone other than yourself. You are a "politician" in every worst sense of the word. Just go away.
Keeping whats mine
9:00 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
For all the money do nothin joe has gotten from this county and state he should invite all seniors to his house to eat. After all isnt he double or triple dipping?