At Tuesday's Amarillo City Council meeting, Councilman Tom Scherlen issued a heartfelt call to action, urging the City to prioritize its senior citizens by making a substantial investment in their well-being. Citing both moral obligation and long-term community benefit, Scherlen emphasized the urgent need for support systems for Amarillo’s aging population.
“Who’s the one that paid taxes for the last 50, 60, 70 years and are still paying taxes, but at the end of the day, barely making it by?” Scherlen asked during the discussion. “I know seniors in this city that eat one meal a day at home by themselves: we should be ashamed of ourselves. These are people who are paying taxes. These are the people that paved my streets 50 years ago. It’s time for us to step up now.”
Scherlen’s remarks struck a chord, especially in light of recent studies showing increased rates of depression, loneliness, and deteriorating health outcomes among senior citizens. His comments come at a time when Amarillo’s senior community is still feeling the effects of the 2022 closure of the Amarillo Senior Citizens Association facility, which had long served as a hub for activities, meals, and social interaction. While a new facility is reportedly under renovation, the lack of current infrastructure has left many older adults without vital community resources.
Several public commenters joined Scherlen in advocating for action, voicing support for increased city involvement in senior programming and infrastructure. Community members cited a need for spaces where seniors can engage with others, access nutritious meals, and find meaningful activities.
Scherlen proposed that the City explore a public-private partnership model, similar to the approach used for Transformation Park, a collaborative project that recently broke ground. He suggested an initial city investment of $500,000, potentially in collaboration with a senior-focused nonprofit organization. The goal would be to co-develop solutions tailored to the unique needs of Amarillo’s elderly residents.
“I’m not saying any particular project – council could make those decisions,” Scherlen clarified. “But I honestly believe we’ve got to start tackling this problem as we tackled Transformation Park today. I’m wanting to tackle the future of our seniors who are still supporting the City.”
The proposal gained preliminary traction with other councilmembers, who expressed general support and sought clarification on the scope and nature of the investment. Scherlen indicated that his main objective was to get the conversation started, with hopes of a formal vote on the matter in the near future.
Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Laura Storrs noted that the council has approximately $3 million remaining in its annualized working budget—funds that are typically reserved for longer-term projects. City Manager Grayson Path confirmed that he has a meeting scheduled with Scherlen on Wednesday to explore possible next steps.
With growing public awareness and support, the initiative could signal a renewed focus on Amarillo’s senior citizens—many of whom have given decades of service and contributions to the city and now find themselves in need of support. Councilman Scherlen’s proposal may be just the first step toward a broader movement to ensure no senior in Amarillo is left behind.
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