Dozens gathered outside Gracie Mansion this morning to protest Mayor Bill de Blasio's proposed budget.
The rally was organized by the AARP, which says the mayor's new budget does not dedicate enough money to the city's Department for the Aging.
That department operates programs like home care and case management services, senior centers, and home delivered meals.
The AARP wants a budget baseline of nearly $16 million for aging services, plus an additional $44 million for future investments.
"Seniors are about 20 percent of the population of this city, and the department's budget is a very small percent of the human services budget," said Leo Asen, State President of AARP New York.
"We've worked with the mayor on affordable housing, and now it's time to make sure that the people that are in this housing have the services they need to age there successfully," said Chris Widelo, AARP associate state director for advocacy in New York City.
"We want the mayor not to forget us, do his job, put us in the budget, and make sure everybody has a place to live," said AARP member Jon Reeves.
"We haven't forgotten you"
Mayor de Blasio did come out of Gracie Mansion to briefly greet the demonstrators.
He promised them he was working with City Council members to secure additional funds.
The AARP says services that reach aging New Yorkers at home help to keep them out of nursing homes and other institutions that can cost taxpayers even more money.