NEW YORK -- Today, parents, elected officials, and advocates rallied and testified in support of Public Advocate James’ bill to address the costs and demands for childcare for employees of the City. The bill, introduced by Public Advocate James in April, establishes a pilot program that provides on-site, subsidized childcare for municipal employees as a critical first step in making this service citywide.
The lack of access to affordable and dependable child care widens the gender pay gap and disproportionately affects women of color. Child care conflicts result in unplanned absences from work, which cost employees and employers alike billions of dollars.The legislation is co-sponsored by Council Members Ben Kallos, Stephen Levin, and I. Daneek Miller.
“Far too many working families are struggling to find child care that is safe, reliable, convenient and doesn’t empty their wallets,” said Public Advocate Letitia James. “New York City must go one step further in positioning child care as a basic right for New Yorkers. In securing this care for municipal workers, we can help close the gender pay gap and ensure financial and career stability for these families.”
The average cost for child care for an infant in New York City is over $16,000 a year, an amount that is unaffordable for the vast majority of New Yorkers, especially municipal workers. Mothers are more likely to leave employment and less likely to start new jobs when the costs of child care are high. According to a study from Child Care Aware of America, nearly half of working parents miss an average of four days of work at least once every six months because of child care breakdowns, costing U.S. businesses about $4.4 billion a year in lost productivity and working families $8.3 billion in lost wages. These lost wages unduly impact women, who are often penalized for taking time off to have or raise children and are often underpaid when returning to the workforce.
“Our city workers deserve affordable and quality child care. In today’s society, generating enough income to fully support yourself and your family, even with a salary from a city agency, is difficult,” said Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel. “As a city employee with a toddler, I remember the struggles I faced finding child care for my son. It never happened. I admire Public Advocate Letitia James for pushing for our city workers to be able to have access to on-site child care.”
“Mothers across New York City have had to halt their careers to care for their children because of the lack of affordable, quality childcare,” said Council Member Diana Ayala, Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus. “Undoubtedly, childcare should be accessible to all families – not just those of higher socioeconomic status. I am proud join my colleagues in sponsoring this legislation and I thank Public Advocate James for highlighting this issue, which impacts so many of the hardworking parents employed by our City.”
“Every New Yorker should have access to quality and affordable child care,” saidCouncil Member Margaret Chin. “But too many hardworking families cannot afford the ever-growing costs of care and end up sacrificing their careers as a result. I want to thank Public Advocate Letitia James for her work on this bill to ensure that no one has to choose between family and work.”
“Childcare is one of the greatest expenses for working families in New York City, and for many women it leads to them having to choose between their family and career. For municipal workers in particular, childcare is prohibitively expensive, but we have the opportunity to relieve that burden,” says City Council Majority Leader Laurie A. Cumbo “I understand firsthand the challenges of balancing being a mom while also pursuing my career. I applaud Public Advocate James for her leadership in promoting policies that provide critical support for working women and their families.”
"Child care should not be a luxury just for the rich," said Council Member Ben Kallos. "Parents shouldn't have to choose between going to work or staying home to care for a child. Employer-sponsored child care guarantees working parents a safe place for their child, and I'm proud to stand with Public Advocate James in asking the City to lead by example and provide child care options for its workers."
“Child care is vital to empowering parents to provide the best for their children,” saidCouncil Member Stephen Levin. “Working class public servants struggle to find affordable child care options, having to choose between forgoing careers or providing the nurturing experience their children deserve. We can do better. I’m proud to join Public Advocate Letitia James and my Council colleagues in support of New York families.”
“The child care needs of our City's workforce simply are not being met," saidCouncil Member I. Daneek Miller. "The demand for child care services far exceeds the existing supply, and it is not right that parents whose earnings fall outside the boundaries of extreme poverty and comfortable living must improvise to ensure their children receive proper care. I'm proud to join Public Advocate James as a co-sponsor of this bill. We will strive to summon the will that has always been lacking in past efforts to carry the endeavor of municipal child care forward."
“Child care is one of the greatest financial challenges a family can face. No New Yorker should have to choose between a quality program for their child or paying the bills. On-site, low-cost child care will help families spend more time together, allow parents to pursue careers, and improve outcomes for children in all Five Boroughs,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera. “I am proud to support the Public Advocate’s legislation and look forward to working on more solutions to our city’s toughest challenges.”
"As the largest employer in New York City, municipal government should lead the way and enable every working parent to continue to serve our city, and not have to leave their job. Providing affordable, on-site child care to City workers would be a victory for all parents, but especially for women, who often have to choose between caring for their children and building their careers,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal.
“For working parents across this city, finding reliable, affordable child care of quality plays an essential role in their ability to maintain stable employment and be upwardly mobile,” said Stephanie Gendel, Associate Executive Director, Citizens' Committee for Children. “For children, participation in quality child care programs encourages social emotional growth and academic preparedness needed to achieve school readiness. We know as well that New York City government employs more people than any other city in the country and the stability and mobility of the municipal workforce has an influence on the city’s overall economy. With all of these factors in mind, CCC strongly supports the Public Advocate’s legislation to undertake a feasibility study and pilot the provision of on-site subsidized child care for municipal workers.”
“Public Advocate James has always been in the forefront of helping the general public understand the importance of accessible and affordable child care for families,” said Lisa Caswell, Senior Policy Analyst for Day Care Council of New York. “I appreciate her earnest approach to fully examine the issue of on-site child care for city employees. The Day Care Council of New York supports Public Advocate James in her efforts. We are prepared to assist her in this project.”
"Working parents shouldn’t have to choose between their economic security and securing quality child care for their children. Yet millions of New York City families struggle to afford this basic need. Without access to quality, affordable child care, many parents—particularly working mothers—are forced to leave the workforce altogether," said Dina Bakst, Co-Founder and Co-President of A Better Balance."The Public Advocate's legislation would pave the way for New York City to lead on childcare, and ensure that the City serves as a model employer."
“Too many members of the city’s municipal workforce, who spend their days delivering services we all depend on, are themselves struggling to find affordable, quality care for their own young children. We wholeheartedly support the legislation put forward by Public Advocate Letitia James that would study the feasibility of providing on-site, subsidized child care for city employees, culminating in a pilot program,” said David R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society. “Affordable child care options, along with policies we have fought for, like paid family leave, are essential for upward mobility, especially for women in the labor force.”
“Does the lack of subsidized day care contribute to domestic violence? Womankind believes it is one of many stressors,” said Larry Lee, Executive Director of Womankind. “So we applaud Public Advocate James’s bill to explore providing on-site, subsidized child care for New York City's municipal workers. A little prevention goes a long way.”