Coalition of Advocates Laud Comptroller Stringer’s Landmark “NYC Under 3” Child Care Proposal
(New York, NY) – Today, a broad coalition of children’s advocates, labor leaders, and educators hailed Comptroller Scott Stringer’s proposal to revolutionize childcare, “NYC Under 3,” and provide the single largest local investment in childcare in U.S. history. As New York City’s affordability crisis grows, leaders called for the implementation of the Comptroller’s plan, which would guarantee relief to New York City working families.
“In the time it will take to read this sentence, more than 3 million new neural connections will be formed in an infant’s brain. A child’s first 1,000 days are a moment to be seized, a moment to level the playing field. If we care about educational equity, we must expand high quality supports for infants, toddlers and their families,” said Shael Polakow-Suransky, president of the Bank Street College of Education and former Senior Deputy Chancellor for New York City’s Department of Education. “This bold proposal by New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer would be transformative for our city’s children and a model for the nation.”
“All children deserve to be nurtured in safe, welcoming environments. All parents should have access to great child care options that don’t break the bank. And all teachers and caregivers deserve to paid for the value of their work, not left to struggle to care for their own families. This proposal recognizes those three key realities. It brings New York City one step closer to greater affordability for parents, better compensation for early educators, and expanded availability of high quality options when and where families need them,” said Julie Kashen, Senior Fellow, The Century Foundation.
“As an organization that has worked extensively to expand and improve child care options in New York, we applaud New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer’s bold proposal to fund quality care for babies and toddlers,” said Betty Holcomb, Policy Director for the Center for Children’s Initiatives. “The need is urgent and acute, and longstanding. Quality care for children under 3 is expensive, beyond the reach of most families. Worse, in many neighborhoods, there are no options at all, at any price. This new proposal offers both a vision for expanding access to quality care and the revenue to pay for that care. Not only that, but the research on such an investment is clear and convincing: investments in the early years more than pay for themselves, producing benefits for children and families, schools, communities and local businesses. In fact, there is simply no better public investment to be made.”
“NYC Under 3 would create multiple avenues to expand quality, affordable, accessible child care as well as recognize the value of child care providers,” said Dina Bakst, Co-Founder and Co-President of A Better Balance. “At A Better Balance, we see firsthand both how low-wage workers, especially new mothers and women of color, are forced out of the workplace because they cannot afford quality child care, and how child care providers struggle to care for themselves and their families while also doing the critical work of caring for others’ families. We look forward to working with the Comptroller and legislators as this critical proposal moves forward.”
“We live in a city where far too many parents and caregivers struggle to live, work and raise their children, as the cost of infant and toddler care outstrips incomes,” said Jennifer March, Executive Director of Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York. “We applaud Comptroller Stringer for highlighting access to child care as the economic justice issue that it is, and we look forward to working with him and fellow advocates to advance NYC Under 3 proposals. These proposals will improve access to affordable, high quality infant & toddler care, promote economic security and mobility of New York’s children and families, and create a stronger City overall.”
“The first few years of children’s lives have a profound impact on their education and future. We appreciate Comptroller Stringer’s efforts to increase access to high-quality early childhood education programs for our City’s youngest learners,” said Kim Sweet, Executive Director, Advocates for Children of New York.
“I’m thrilled that Comptroller Scott Stringer has taken the time to look at a viable approach to help families secure affordable child care services, especially for infants and toddlers. He is to be applauded for his leadership on this issue,” said Andrea Anthony, Executive Director, Day Care Council of New York, Inc.
“High-quality early childhood education is key to children’s success in school and provides critical support for working families,” said Susan Stamler, Executive Director, United Neighborhood Houses. “Settlement houses and other community-based organizations need investment from the City in order to expand infant and toddler programs. We are grateful to Comptroller Stringer for his support of these programs and join him in calling for deeper investment in early childhood education.”
“Child care is a basic need for working families, but the high price of care in New York puts it out of reach for most,” said Alison Hirsh, Vice President of 32BJ SEIU. “It’s time for New York City to take a bite out of our affordability crisis and eradicate that heavy burden by providing quality, affordable care to families across our city. Today, Comptroller Stringer is putting forward a bold new plan to level the playing field for struggling New Yorkers and to give our next generation the early childhood support they need.”
“Comptroller Stringer’s plan would help tens of thousands of New York City families and children. Providing for our children should not be the steep uphill battle that is it today — not for any parent. As a mother, there was no other stress then the ability to get access to child care. For so many mothers and care takers there is no other choice but to work. No family should have to choose between paying rent, putting food on the table, or providing their kids with safe, high quality childcare,” said Camille Rivera, Political Director, RWDSU. “Working parents need a foothold to survive New York City’s affordability crisis and Comptroller Stringer’s NYC Under 3 plan provides that for families and providers alike. It’s something we must do.”
“Comptroller Scott Stringer’s proposed NYC Under 3 program is urgently needed and would help overcome a huge barrier facing working families: finding affordable, quality child care for our youngest children,” said David R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York. “It’s the logical next step that builds on recently enacted progressive policies like New York State’s paid family leave law, New York City’s Universal preK program, and the city’s paid sick leave law that help strengthen the economic security and well-being of working parents.”
“Comptroller Stringer’s NYC Under 3 proposal is exactly the kind of solution we need to address long-standing inequities in access to child care services, especially for communities of color and low-income New Yorkers. Our children are our future and we need to invest in them and help working families make ends meet. Comptroller Stringer’s plan does just that,” said Jonathan Westin, New York Communities for Change.
“Child care services should not be a luxury for a privileged few, it should rather be accessible and affordable for every New Yorker regardless of their income. I commend Comptroller Stringer for leading the way on this important issue by introducing NYC Under 3 — an exciting vision that would empower families with the services they need to take care of their children, while also enabling them to climb up the economic ladder. No parent or guardian should have to worry accessing quality affording childcare services in the richest city in America. Comptroller Stringer gets that,” said Afua Atta-Mensah, Esq. Executive Director, Community Voices Heard.
“We have a childcare crisis in New York that sets an uneven foundation for the future of our city. That’s why we support Comptroller Stringer’s plan to level the playing field on Day One and invest in real, quality, affordable childcare across New York City,” said Rob Solano, Executive Director, CUFFH. “New York City should be where we make the biggest and boldest investments in our children, and NYC Under 3 will make that happen. We stand with Comptroller Stringer to call for this transformative plan for our families, children, providers, and for equity in our city.”
To read Comptroller Stringer’s full report, click here.
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