Gray Panthers This page intentionally left blank Gray Panthers Roger Sanjek University of Pennsylvania Press Philadelphia Copyright © 2009 University of Pennsylvania Press All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations used for purposes of review or scholarly citation, none of this book may be reproduced in any form by any means without written permission from the publisher. Published by University of Pennsylvania Press Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4112 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sanjek, Roger, 1944– Gray Panthers / Roger Sanjek. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8122-4137-2 (alk. paper) 1. Gray Panthers—History. 2. Older people—United States. 3. Ageism—United States. 4. Kuhn, Maggie. I. Title. HQ1064.U5S265 2009 305.26097—dc22 2008032914 For Lillian Rabinowitz and Frances Klafter, and Maggie of course This page intentionally left blank Contents List of Abbreviations ix Preface xiii 1. The Political Is Personal 1 2. The Road to Denver (1970–72) 11 3. The Road to Chicago (1972–75) 30 4. The Gray Panthers in Berkeley, California (1973–85) 58 5. The Gray Panthers in New York City (1972–85) 94 6. The Road to Washington (1976–85) 139 7. Loss and Continuity (1986–95) 179 8. Reorganizing for a New Century (1996–2007) 202 9. The Gray Panther Legacy 227 Notes 253 Bibliography 283 Index 291 Gallery following page 126 This page intentionally left blank Abbreviations AAA Area Agency on Aging AARP American Association of Retired Persons ACTS Aging Continuing the Struggle ADA Americans with Disabilities Act AFL American Federation of Labor AGE Action Group for the Elderly AMA American Medical Association AOA Administration on Aging BANHR Bay Area Advocates for Nursing Home Reform BARF Berkeley Anti-Reagan Festival BORP Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program CARD Coalition against Registration and the Draft CARIP Coalition against Rent-Increase Pass-alongs CETA Comprehensive Employment and Training Act CIL Center for Independent Living CIO Congress of Industrial Organizations COLA cost of living adjustment CNN Cable News Network C-SPAN Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network CUNY City University of New York DFTA Department for the Aging DHEW Department of Health, Education, and Welfare DIA Disabled in Action DRG Diagnostic Related Group FEMA Federal Emergency Management Administration HMOs health maintenance organizations IDI Issue Dynamics Inc. IMF International Monetary Fund IRA individual retirement account JPAC Joint Public Affairs Committee for Older Adults MAD Mobilization against Displacement MAD Mobilization against the Draft x Abbreviations MCHR Medical Committee on Human Rights NAACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NARFE National Association of Retired Federal Employees NCCNHR National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform NCOA National Council on Aging NCSC National Council of Senior Citizens NGO non-governmental organization NOW National Organization for Women NPR National Public Radio NSC National Steering Committee NSCLC National Senior Citizens Law Center NWRO National Welfare Rights Organization NYNAM New York Network for Action on Medicare NYNAMSS New York Network for Action on Medicare and Social Security NYPIRG New York Public Interest Research Group NYSARA New York State Alliance for Retired Americans OWL Older Women’s League PBS Public Broadcasting System PhRMA Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America PIRG Public Interest Research Group PSC Public Service Commission PSS Presbyterian Senior Services RAM Retirees Associated in Ministry RCFE Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly RIMM Retirees in Mission and Ministry RPU Retired Presbyterians United SAFE Seniors against a Fearful Environment SASS Seniors for Adequate Social Security SDS Students for a Democratic Society SEIU Service Employees International Union SOCC Save Our City Campaign SOS Save Our Security SPAN Stop Patient Abuse Now SRO single room occupancy SSI Supplemental Security Income RPAG Retired Professionals Action Group UHCAN Universal Health Care Action Network UN United Nations UNA United Neighbors in Action U2K Universal Health Care 2000 TA Transit Authority