The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

BLOOMINGBURG, NY – The Sullivan County Senior Legislative Action Committee (SLAC) celebrated another year of activism during its 6th Annual Luncheon at the Eagle’s Nest in Bloomingburg on Friday, June 18.

Priscilla Bassett, one of the founders of SLAC and the current co-chair introduced the special guests and dignitaries, while the co-chair, Roslyn Sharoff, had the pleasure of saluting Jim Lyttle, former director of the Sullivan County Office for the Aging. “Jim has been such a good friend to SLAC,” said Sharoff, as she presented him with a plaque that read in part “… for many years of dedication and support and commitment … “ Lyttle in turn got a laugh when he quipped, “I miss the people but not the aggravation.”

Bassett said that SLAC was started in the summer of 2004 “when the prescription drug provision within Medicare was first being presented. We were naïve enough to think it was going to be a real boon and, as it turned out, it was the first step in the privatization of Medicare. Some people benefited but it was ill conceived and ended up as tremendous benefits for drug and insurance companies.”

Asked about SLAC’s greatest accomplishments, Bassett immediately mentions the free prescription drug card for Sullivan County residents that saves them an average of 25 percent on drugs.

“We also got our legislature to endorse opposition to the privatization of Social Security,” says Bassett. “And we also convinced the county legislature to endorse the expansion and improvement of Medicare for all. We still do support that.

According to Sharoff, “SLAC really responds to the needs of seniors, we help the disabled and the needy, too. We take up issues that affect most people, we go after the legislators and state senators and we try to make things happen. And we succeed. We’re either talking to people in person or on the phone, or we’re on the computer.

Sharoff has special praise for Congresswoman Aileen Gunther. “I’m always signing petitions and sending letters, and so often, I get a personal response from Aileen Gunther, and I’m so proud of her for that.”

Guest speaker for the luncheon was Barbara Upton of the Hudson Valley Progressive Coalition, who spoke about the January 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC. which essentially gave personhood to corporations regarding the matters of election contributions.

To see more photos or to purchase prints from  the 6th Annual SLAC Luncheon, visit The Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.