Senior Center

A former parks and recreation commissioner of twelve years said she was 'appalled' at the plan and that seniors were being 'treated like trash,' urging council members to go door to door and ask residents what they want.

A 66-year resident reminisced about city softball and the old regulation pool, and urged preserving the Senior Center, where a third of participants have some handicap.

Said the Senior Center provides his one balanced meal a day, worried about falling attendance since closure news, and warned the city seems to have 'nothing to fall back on.'

Pleaded with the Council to keep the Senior Center open, describing the staff like family and warning she'd become a depressed 'couch potato' without it.

Noted parks and rec cuts could affect nearly half of Banning's population — youth and seniors — and pleaded to keep the senior center's nutrition, exercise, and social programs.

A 2021 transplant and senior who described the walking program, dances, and friendships at the community center, saying losing them would be devastating.

Senior center staffer who described 20 years of programs, said staff learned of cuts with little notice, and asked for transparency and fairness toward employees.

A 92-year-old senior center participant who said the center's friendships, meals, and exercise keep her and other seniors alive — 'Don't take it away from us.'

A dialysis patient who visits the senior center three times a week begged the council not to close it, saying it's what the city needs.

Senior center participant of four years pleaded emotionally not to close the center, calling it family and describing the meals and support it provides.

A seven-year senior center volunteer asked the council to believe in the seniors and staff who depend on and serve the center.