Beloved senior and day care centers saved by Council action

Thanks to a total $1.8 million allocation from the City Council, Williamsburg’s Swinging 60’s Senior Center and Small World Daycare will remain open.

“Swinging 60’s and Small World were established by community members who saw a void in locally based senior and child services,” said Councilmember Diana Reyna. “It is my duty as the local elected official to uphold this legacy and to ensure that our senior centers and daycares are based in the community, serving the community, and supported by the community.”

The two programs, housed at 211 Ainslie Street, were in danger of being shut down after Small World Daycare was not granted Early Learn, a new childcare program implemented by the city’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) in 2012. The lack of funding that grew out of that decision resulted in the Department of Aging terminating its contract with Swinging 60’s, which shares a building with Small World.

“The potential closure of these centers would have been devastating,” stated Councilmember Stephen Levin.

Assemblymember Joseph Lentol agreed, “The work they do at this center is so critical to the lives of so many people in my district and preserving it is essential to this neighborhood,” he stressed. “They have been doing great work for over 40 years and I am happy to say, their work will continue.”