One of the great dilemmas that thousands of low-income New York families face when it comes to ensuring that all adult members can contribute financially to their homes has to do with the limitation of who, or where, can take care of their youngest children while they They are away from home.
And to the intense fight that has united low-income New Yorkers, political leaders, community organizers and immigrant advocates so that no family is left without the option of having access to child care services, more than twenty groups, together with the Big Apple municipal workers union DC 37, are launching the Better Child Care NYC campaign, which seeks to put more pressure on the City and State to invest resources and implement more programs that end the so-called “child care deserts”, that leave thousands of children and families without options for places near their places of residence.
Warning that in addition to improving the conditions of caregivers and expanding child care plans, it is urgent to guarantee that there are enough daycare centers and care places in all neighborhoods, as well as available places, the new initiative, which also has the support of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and the five county chambers of commerce, urges increased property tax credits for new child care centers. Likewise, they ask that a law be approved that extends daycare hours and streamlines the processes of obtaining permits for those who wish to join programs to care for children.
“We need child care options that are accessible, affordable and meet the needs of our members who work full-time, often with second shifts and mandatory overtime,” said Henry Garrido, executive director of District Council 37. “We “We are pleased to be able to partner with REBNY and this coalition to advocate for updated legislation that will create more sites available for quality, facility-based care.”
James Whelan, president of REBNY, joined the call, saying that increasing access to high-quality child care is critical to supporting working-class families and strengthening New York City’s economy.
“We look forward to working with this wide range of partners and state and city officials to improve child care for families in all five boroughs,” the leader said.
Lisa Sorin, president of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, said that for too long, lack of access to reliable and affordable child care has been a barrier for families and businesses and urged immediate action.
“The Bronx Chamber is thrilled to support and be a member of the Better Child Care NYC coalition, which seeks to systematically address equity in child care through common sense solutions and modifications to the existing tax credit program. We look forward to this partnership and the provision of child care services. for all New Yorkers,” Sorin said.
According to the 5Boro Institute, which is part of the initiative, licensed child care centers are currently unaffordable for 93% of New York City households, with average child care costs up to $23,000 a year, which can represent between 20% of the median family income in counties like Manhattan and 47% in counties like The Bronx.
“This has important implications for children, families and New York City’s economy. Child care is key to early childhood development and can have significant and lasting cognitive and social impacts,” states 5Boro Institute. “It can impact parents’ ability to take an in-person job or even participate in the workforce, and particularly affects women and low-income families. “The high cost of child care is slowing our city’s economic engine and shrinking our workforce, and has important implications for gender, racial and socioeconomic equity.”
Jenn O’Connor, Director of Early Childhood Partnerships and Policy at The Education Trust–New York, says New York State has made notable progress in increasing family access to child care, but calls for May these efforts translate into benefits for everyone.
“Unfortunately that does not include all families. We must expand coverage to children, regardless of their immigration status, create more places for babies and toddlers and decouple child care from parents’ work hours,” said the activist, while reiterating the importance of not caregivers are neglected.
“New York State’s advancements will not succeed without continued investment in the workforce. We must improve conditions for educators/child care providers, the majority of whom are Black women and women of color, by increasing their current pay while working with the State to move away from the market rate to a system that offsets the true cost of provide care,” he adds.
Angie Garling, senior vice president of education and early care at the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), has also raised her voice for improved access to and supply of child care services, noting that they fully support a permanent state investment in the low-paid workforce of that industry.
“As our organization looks to expand our work in this state, we will work together with our partners to ensure that all New York children and families have access to affordable, high-quality care in the home and in centers,” Garling said. .
Brooklyn Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez, one of the most active voices in the fight for child care for all, highlighted the importance of increasing the call from different sectors to Albany and the Big Apple so that they do not leave aside children and their families, as well as caregivers, and progress can be made in programs that open more places so that all infants have the right to be in daycare while their parents work or fulfill other obligations.
“The fight over child care has become a national headline as parents face systemic obstacles to building healthy families. As I fight for universal child care legislation in New York City, it is clear that we will need help and support from all levels of government,” said the Latinx political leader. “I am grateful to the advocates and caregivers who have been fighting for this cause for decades before me, and I am honored to join them.”
Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, chairwoman of the Higher Education Committee, who claims that more than 28,000 families in New York lack the child care they need due to understaffed providers, urged New York legislators to move forward in granting protections to all children and those who care for them.
“We made significant investments in last year’s budget to address the child care crisis in New York, and now we must continue that progress and raise workers’ wages, address staffing shortages, and ultimately establish a system of universal child care where no family in New York is left behind,” the policy said. “When households and families have access to child care, they thrive, and the FY 2025 budget must include significant investments that make that vision a reality for all New Yorkers.”
Better Child Care NYC Initiative Points
- Fix the New York City Child Care Property Tax Credit: Current credits do not cover the cost of creating a new child care center. The State should allow the City to increase the value of each tax credit, which will help create thousands more child care spaces. This policy change would not require any additional subsidies.
- Expand child care hours: Regulations affecting hours of operation force many families to choose between earning income and using child care services. The City can introduce legislation to remove barriers to expanding child care hours, for example from 7 am to 7 pm, which would give parents more work flexibility to support their households.
- Eliminate outdated restrictions while ensuring safety: City law only allows infant and toddler care on the ground floor of buildings, significantly reducing child care slots. Policymakers can amend this law to allow above- and below-grade centers, while ensuring that such centers continue to operate safely.
- Streamline the permitting process: Even when child care centers are built, it takes too long to bring them online due to an unnecessarily complicated permitting process that requires three different city agencies. Policymakers can solve this problem by consolidating the process within a single agency and creating a fast track for child care permit approval.