Arcuri still protesting SS office closure

Plans to close the Auburn Social Security office this month again sparked opposition from one federal official Wednesday.

In a letter to the agency's commissioner, U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, argues the Social Security Administration is not using a projected $401 million increase in federal funds as anticipated. Arcuri first spoke out against the office's closure in June. “Through my meetings with SSA staff regarding this matter, it has been made clear that additional administrative funding was a critical step to staving off closure of the Auburn office,” the congressman wrote to SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue. “I find it troubling that SSA would move forward with any district office closures this year before the agency's budget for fiscal year 2008 is finalized.”

The SSA previously indicated the Auburn office at 1110 Corporate Drive off of Grant Avenue would close because of a shrinking caseload and staff. Arcuri argues the caseload will gradually grow with the pending retirement of baby boomers and accused the SSA of allowing the Auburn office to struggle.