Roberto Alves Releases Plan To Support Danbury Seniors

Press release from Alves For Danbury:

Sept. 27, 2021

City Councilman and Democratic candidate for Mayor Roberto Alves today released his plan to support Danbury seniors by increasing affordable transportation options citywide and making downtown more accessible, expanding the income-based tax brackets, and improving the city’s SAVE (senior added value experience) program.

“In Danbury, growing old can be an expensive privilege that typically requires support, service, and housing that can overburden all but the wealthiest seniors,” said Councilman Roberto Alves. “Our city can do more for those who paved the way for it. My plan for Danbury seniors is designed to positively impact people’s daily lives. We’re talking about fixing the sidewalks downtown so they’re safe and accessible to those who have difficulty walking or are in a wheelchair. We’re talking about increasing shuttle service to 7-days a week so people can grocery shop, get prescriptions, or come downtown independently. We’re talking about expanding local tax credits to ease the serious financial burden placed on our seniors. As Mayor, I won’t let our seniors down.” concluded Alves.

The Alves plan, which can be seen below, places an emphasis on easing local financial burdens by expanding senior income tax brackets to include a larger portion of Danbury’s senior population, creating efficient and more accessible transportation options such as a 7-day shuttle service, and improving Danbury’s Senior Added Value Experience program.

Alves for Danbury, Supporting our Seniors
In Danbury, growing old can be an expensive privilege. Aging typically requires support, services, and housing that can overburden all but the wealthiest seniors. More than 12,000 Danbury residents are over 65, making up 14% of the city’s population, and many of them struggle to meet their needs. If we expand local benefits, it will make a real difference in people’s everyday lives.

• Expand the income-based senior tax credit by expanding existing brackets and adding a second tier of benefits for married and single households:
  • Existing brackets:
    • Single income up to $44,100
    • Married income up to $51,600
  • Alves bracket expansion, with two tiers:
    • Tier 1: Single income up to $49,000, married income up to $55,000
    • Tier 2: Single income $49,001 - $57,500, married income $62,500
• Expand and improve Danbury’s SAVE (senior added value experience) program to give seniors who volunteer with a city department or non-profit agency up to 50 hours a year a $400 tax credit, while granting those who volunteer 100 or more house an $800 credit
• Create more reliable, affordable transportation options in coordination with HART by dedicating a 7-day local shuttle service which will create efficiencies and increase service

• Enrich our future by reinvigorating an oral history program so we can build upon the cultural and social legacy our seniors worked their lives to build, so we can honor and learn from Danbury’s past

• Support our seniors citywide by making downtown more accessible and addressing the quality of our sidewalks, properly funding the senior center, and making sure that we fully deliver on Age Well CT promises

Roberto Alves has been endorsed by the Connecticut Working Families Party, Western Connecticut AFL-CIO, AFT Connecticut, SEIU 1199 New England, CSEA SEIU Local 2001, CEUI, Carpenters Local 210 and has earned the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction. A product of Danbury’s public schools, Roberto Alves is a City Councilman At-Large and brings nearly a decade of private sector and community-driven experience to the position. He lives on West Redding Road in Danbury with his spouse Robyn, and their two children, Julius and Catalina.

This press release was produced by Alves For Danbury. The views expressed here are the author's own.