By Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President
Greetings.
We’re facing an affordability crisis here in New York City. But it’s not just a housing crisis, it’s also a crisis of affordable early childcare.
Many families in our city struggle to afford quality early childcare. In fact, 80% of families with young children find the cost of care – especially for infants and toddlers – to be out of reach. Yet only 25% of children under 5 are in a publicly funded seat.
This crisis forces parents to cobble together solutions for their family, including a difficult choice between staying in the workforce or staying home to care for a child. As a result, in 2022 alone, New York City lost $23 billion in economic output. Businesses lose $1.18 billion, and the city and state lose over $2 billion in tax revenues from the impact of childcare accessibility and affordability.
New York City urgently needs high-quality childcare for all our youngest New Yorkers, from six weeks to five years old.
Yesterday, I announced “Closing the 0-2 Gap: Universal Childcare in New York City”, a comprehensive plan to provide access to free, high-quality early childcare citywide, starting with infants and toddlers.
We’ll build on the success of Pre-K and 3-K for All, ensuring every child has a strong foundation for their future by closing the childcare gap for 0-2-year-olds.
We’ll create a NYC Newborn Support Program to provide direct cash assistance to new families.
And we’ll support our dedicated childcare providers with better pay, less bureaucracy, tuition assistance, timely payments, and more.
We’ll also improve access to early intervention and preschool special education, recruit and retain workers, and increase support for home-based providers and daycare centers located in NYCHA complexes.
I want to recognize the tireless work of advocates, workers, and organizations like New Yorkers United for Childcare, the Campaign for Children, the Empire State Campaign for Children, Advocates for Children of New York, and many others who have been fighting for years to make childcare accessible to all New York City families. Their dedication and expertise have been instrumental in shaping this plan.
This is a bold vision for a more equitable and prosperous New York City, where every child has the opportunity to thrive. I’m committed to working with our city’s leaders to make it a reality.
Have a safe and restful holiday season.
Source: The Office of the Manhattan Borough President