07 Attachment 3ATTACHMENT 3
3/2/21 Statement to Los Gatos Town Council Senior Services I thank the Council for adding senior issues to the priorities for this year. It is my opinion that a long view study of how the Town can improve the environment for seniors in Los Gatos is needed. You may think of the long-term effort in developing the library as an example of what I think will be required. I believe that such a study will find structural changes are required for progress. For example, while the contract with Saratoga/Los Gatos Recreation for senior services was likely a good option at the time more than a dozen years ago, it does not serve seniors well now. Having no Town administrative engagement in senior affairs, other than a Community Health and Senior Services Commission that covers a broad area, is not adequate. The Commission has recently begun a benchmarking activity; more investigation in this direction will raise stark differences, differences I think we all sense are there. The Los Gatos “non-approach” contrasts to neighboring cities, which have focused administrative responsibility for senior services, either under parks and recreation or other departments. More collaboration with neighboring cities should also be considered. Serious improvements in our Town’s support of older adults will not come at a zero price tag nor with casual effort, but real progress seldom does. Thank you for your work for our community. Sincerely, Tom Tom Picraux Former chair of Community and Senior Services Commission (previous name) Coordinator of Los Gatos/ Saratoga Service Providers Member of SCC Area Agency on Aging (Sourcewise) Advisory Council