Rep. Ryan, Newburgh residents call for reopening of Social Security office

Rep. Ryan, Newburgh residents call for reopening of Social Security office

Deborah Danzy, vice chair of the Newburgh Democratic Party and an organizer with Community Voices Heard, says she recently spent $40 to take a Shortline bus round-trip from Newburgh to Middletown, just so she could pick up an award letter for her benefits. She says the bus only runs every few hours, and it didn’t actually take her to the SSA office — she still needed to get a cab.

“The cabs were like vultures sitting out there when I got off the bus. [The drivers were saying], ’Social Security? Social Security?’" she explains. "I’ve never really been frightened, it takes a lot to frighten me. But he’s driving this way and that way to increase the fare, when you could have went right up through Crystal Run Road. The buildings is all up, and it’s hard for people to see where you’re going.”

Danzy says what used to be a quick trip to her local SSA office turned into an all-morning excursion for a piece of paper.

Read more at WAMC