New Yorkers are not only living longer but also making their voices heard.
An $800,000 advertising initiative targeting age discrimination was unveiled on Thursday, with officials proudly announcing that the average life expectancy in New York City is expected to reach a record 83.2 years by 2024.
The Adams administration attributed this improvement to the Healthy New York plan, which focuses on promoting healthy lifestyles. They pointed out that these goals for extending life expectancy were achieved six years ahead of schedule.
“When we first took office, the COVID-19 pandemic was still heavily impacting our city’s health,” Mayor Eric Adams noted in a statement.
“Yet we directed our efforts towards public health, and now, four years later, we can see the benefits of our initiatives.”
The anticipated average life expectancy of 83.2 years surpasses the previous record of 82.6 years set in 2019 and is a significant increase from the 78 years recorded in 2020, which was heavily influenced by pandemic-related deaths.
This announcement coincided with New York City’s campaign against age discrimination.
During this period, Adams, currently on a taxpayer-funded trip to Uzbekistan, missed an anti-ageism event in Lower Manhattan organized by the city’s Department on Aging.
The event marked the beginning of a new ad campaign encouraging New Yorkers to confront ageism actively.
New York City Commissioner on Aging, Lorraine Cortez Vazquez, rallied over 100 seniors to pledge to challenge ageist comments, such as “you look too good for your age” or “I can’t believe you’re still able to do that.”
“Whenever I encounter ageism, I will address it,” Cortez Vazquez stated at the event held at the City Store. “Every time we speak out, we raise awareness.”
The $800,000 campaign is widely launched across television, subways, buses, and social media, urging New Yorkers, regardless of age, to “see, name and stop” age-based insults.
One ad featured a poster of an elderly man boxing, stating, “It’s ageism to deem me too old without recognizing my potential.”
A video for the campaign showcased active seniors interacting joyfully with younger individuals.
“It won’t just resolve itself; we need to address it. Stop the labeling,” said the voice-over in the public service announcement.
Cortez Vazquez mentioned that the department is collaborating with the Department of Youth and Community Development to ensure the campaign connects with younger audiences.
She acknowledged how hurtful phrases like “you lack experience” can be for young people.
“Ageism affects everyone, regardless of age. It impacts us, our cities, and society at large,” she remarked.
With the elderly population in the city surpassing that of school-age children since 2010, and anticipated to make up about 20% of the population by 2040, the presence—and influence—of older New Yorkers is likely to grow even stronger.
