Cuomo, Astorino in Their Own Words on Key Issues for NY's Top Voting Demographic

AARP Voter Guide Provides Gubernatorial Candidates' Positions on Financial Security, Caregiving, Utility Affordability and Livability

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AARP New York

Oct 02, 2014, 11:22 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Voters 50 and older cast nearly six of every 10 votes in the last gubernatorial election and are poised to dominate this year's contest. What that in mind, AARP is presenting a Voters' Guide featuring the major party contenders, in their own words, addressing four issues important to the state's most powerful voting demographic.

The 50+ voted at nearly twice the rate of younger voters in 2010, with 52% of registered voters 50 and older hitting the polls compared with just 28% of voters 18 through 49. That meant the 50+ accounted for 58% of all votes cast in the last election for governor, though they make up less than 44% of New York state's voting-age population.

As the largest membership organization for New Yorkers 50 and older, AARP posed four key questions to which Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his challenger, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, stated their positions in this year's Voters' Guide alongside AARP's position:

Financial Security
With fewer jobs offering pensions, and more than half (51.6%) of private wage and salary workers in New York State without access to a retirement account at work, what will you do to help New Yorkers save so they can have a secure financial future?

Family Caregiving
In New York, unpaid family caregivers help seniors live independently at home – as opposed to costly nursing homes, often paid for by the state through Medicaid. Considering family caregivers are often on call 24/7 while holding down full time jobs, what would you do to help them continue to safely care for their loved ones, at home? Would you support laws that call for hospitals to recognize and train family caregivers when their loved ones are hospitalized?

Utility Consumers
New Yorkers pay among the highest electric rates nationally. What measures will you support to make sure utility customers have a voice in cases about their utility rates and other proceedings related to their utility service? Will you support legislation giving consumers a strong independent advocate to represent them in such cases?

Age Friendly
To keep New Yorkers and their economic power in New York State when they retire, what policies would you support to make New York State a livable and age-friendly place in which to live and retire?

A 2014 AARP statewide survey found major concerns among 50+ voters in all four areas:

26% of those still in the workforce said their employer offers no retirement savings plan, while 77% support establishing a state retirement plan for New Yorkers who lack access to such an option at work.
Half said they are or have been family caregivers in the past five years, while 67% said they're at least "somewhat likely" to provide unpaid care to an adult, friend or relative in the next five. 85% of caregivers reported strain on their quality of life and 74% of those in the workforce said they've had to go in late, leave early or take off time during the day.
49% said they're "extremely" or "very" concerned about being able to pay their utility bills in the coming years, with big majorities saying their interests aren't represented in rate cases (72%), elected officials aren't doing enough to help (70%) and the state should create an independent utility consumer advocate (79%).
Majorities identified as problems in their community streets that need repair (80%), lack of affordable housing (68%), cars not yielding to pedestrians (67%), crime or personal safety (65%), sidewalks too narrow, poorly lit, in need of repair or non-existent (62%) and public transportation too far away, too limited or too hard to navigate (52%).

"We want to help the voters cut through the noise and clutter on the campaign trail and get the information they care most about," said Beth Finkel, State Director for AARP in New York State. "Voters are looking for nonpartisan, straightforward information, and AARP is helping to make sure they have it.

"AARP has been working to highlight the needs of family caregivers and utility consumers and the importance of providing Financial Security and making communities age friendly - to make sure candidates are addressing these issues and voters have the information they need to make the choice that's right for them."

Voters can contact the campaigns with comments or questions, find out where they can vote, and find the Voters' Guide for the governor's race and each U.S. House district race by going to www.aarp.org/yourvote.

AARP is nonpartisan and does not support or oppose any political candidates.

AARP has launched voter engagement efforts across the state, from providing the Voters' Guides to conducting on the ground efforts such as candidate forums, teletown halls and informational booths at local events to ensure all voters know where the candidates stand on key issues.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Espanol, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity of AARP that is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

SOURCE AARP New York