LYNN — Questions ranged from addiction to transportation accessibility to affordable housing at the mayoral forum hosted by the North Shore chapter of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council (MSAC) held in a common room at St. Stephan’s Apartments on August 25, but there was one question captured the heart of the crowd more than any of the others.
“What are your plans for a senior center?” Kathy Paul, president of the North Shore Chapter of MSAC, said. “Our biological clocks are ticking and we want to enjoy a senior center before it’s happy hunting season.”
All three mayoral candidates, Jared Nicholson, Michael Satterwhite, and Darren Cyr had plans for building and maintaining a senior center and potentially satellites, as well as how to improve infrastructure across the city.
There has been no senior center in Lynn since 2019, when the city took over operations from Greater Lynn Senior Services.
Cyr said his plan would focus on getting a 10-year contract to have a center put in place at least temporarily while a more permanent solution was worked on. Cyr also said he wanted to have satellites of the senior center throughout Lynn.
“We think you’re going to see something in the next week that will make everyone really happy,” Cyr said.
Nicholson said he wants to have a permanent location set up for a senior center, as well as satellites. Nicholson stressed the importance of a senior center not only because it is a place for seniors to gather, but it will help combat the depression brought about by the isolation COVID-19 caused, as well as be a source for seniors to find more accessible healthcare options.
Nicholson said, “Ultimately this is one of the reasons we need a senior center where people can access and be open to thinking about satellites so we can coordinate services.”
Satterwhite said he felt strongly that issues for seniors, including safe transportation, local healthcare options, and mental health and addiction treatment, could all be at least partially solved through having a senior center.
“About 20% of Lynn’s population is over 60-years-old,” Satterwhite said. “We shouldn’t have been in this predicament for this long. It can’t happen any longer.”
While other topics were addressed, like the prospects of building new schools and cleaning Lynn beach, the focus stayed primarily on the topic of seniors having a permanent place to gather and do activities.
“You’re the ones who built the city,” Cyr said, finishing his response to Paul’s question. “You’re owed something and that’s for us to take care of you.”
