New York City Council voted on Wednesday, Oct. 12, on new legislation which addresses systemic issues with child care, establishing a provider directory, a pilot grant program, and planning processes to advance access to child care across the City.

 

The council said child care is essential for families to ensure their children receive quality care and so that working parents can succeed in the workforce. “Child care is one of the biggest challenges for working women, who experienced some of the greatest job losses from COVID,” the council members wrote in a press statement. “Nationally, there are approximately 225,000 more men in the labor force than before the pandemic, but 427,000 fewer women. The child care crisis has been exacerbated by the pandemic with the cost of care only increasing. According to a report by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, by late January 2021, an estimated 519,000 New Yorkers were not working due to taking care of a child at home.”

 

They said the new legislative package is the latest set of bills passed by the City’s first women-majority council, led by the first Black speaker and first mother and grandmother in the position.

 

“Child care remains one of the biggest challenges for working women and families across New York City,” said speaker Adrienne Adams. “Expanding affordable, accessible, and high-quality child care on a universal basis has always been a top priority for this council. With the passage of this unprecedented legislative package, our city will help families get the care they need for their children while boosting our economy and recovery. Our historic women-majority council is demonstrating yet again that when women lead and prioritize solutions, our families and communities benefit.”

 

The child care legislative package is as follows:

 

Introduction 242-A, sponsored by Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, who represents parts of Brooklyn and Queens, would require the creation of a Marshall Plan for Moms task force to study and develop recommendations on how to support working mothers and caregivers. The task force would be required to submit a report with recommendations within one year of the task force’s convening.

 

“Women who leave the workforce to care for their children will lose more than $480k in their lifetime, money families desperately need. New York City is in the midst of a childcare crisis, which means that women and caregivers are experiencing an economic crisis,” said Gutiérrez.  “While this package of bills does not solve all of the problems parents and providers face today, they are a signal to the City and the administration that this council is serious about addressing the economy of care and is taking the first steps towards a true vision of universal childcare.”

 

Introduction 477-A, sponsored by Council Member Crystal Hudson, who represents parts of Brooklyn, would establish a child care task force to examine how to make child care more affordable and accessible for families in the city, and how to provide additional support and funding to child care providers and workers. The task force would be required to submit a report that includes recommendations for making child care in the city more affordable and accessible.

 

“The prohibitive costs of child care hurt our communities, stifling the growth of local economies, hindering our efforts to close the gender wage gap, and preventing our youngest students from receiving vital early childhood education,” said Hudson. “With the passage of Int. 477, we’re taking a historic step toward guaranteeing child care for all and meaningfully and tangibly addressing the lingering effects of the pandemic felt disproportionately by women –– and women of color, in particular –– across the five boroughs.”

 

She added, “Universal child care will help narrow this persistent gap, ushering more women back into the workforce and ensuring parents do not have to choose between their families and their careers. As part of my Black Agenda for New York City, I called for a universal childcare system in New York City. And I’m proud to have delivered on that promise and worked to ensure the council follows through as well.”

 

Introduction 485-A,sponsored by Council Member Julie Menin, who represents parts of Manhattan, would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to coordinate with the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DOITT) to create a directory of child care programs in the city, including a link to information about child day cares run by the State that are located in the City. The directory would be available in the designated citywide languages.

 

Introduction 486-A, sponsored Menin, would establish a Child Care Advisory Board, which would be responsible for conducting studies on and issuing reports related to child care in the city, including providing an annual assessment of the needs of child care programs in the city, and the City’s progress towards providing universal child care.

 

Introduction 487-A, sponsored by Menin, would require the administration to create an online portal that provides information on child care subsidies. The portal would allow a user to access information about subsidies including eligibility requirements, and instructions on how to apply, based on information provided by the user. The portal would also include the forms needed to apply for each subsidy, including any electronic forms available that may be submitted online through the portal. The portal would be available in the designated citywide languages.

 

Introduction 488-A, sponsored by Menin, would require the administration to create a child care grant pilot program for child care programs in the city in need of assistance. To be eligible, a child care program would need to be at significant risk of closure or displacement, and meet application and other requirements established by the administering agency. The Administration would be required to submit an annual report to the mayor and the speaker of the council on grants awarded pursuant to the program, and recommendations for expansion.

 

Introduction 489-A, sponsored by Menin, would require DOHMH to develop guidance for owners of real property regarding the facility requirements for a child care program and make such guidance available on its website. The guidance would also be required to indicate that property owners may be eligible for a tax abatement if they meet certain requirements pursuant to state law.

 

Resolution 69, sponsored by Menin, would call upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation supporting the provision of financial assistance to families and child care providers to make child care more accessible and affordable.

 

“Today is a historic moment where we are passing the Universal Childcare Act which will make New York City the first city in the country to implement universal child care. Over 375,000 workers have been pushed out of the workforce in recent years because they can’t afford childcare and this is completely unacceptable,” said Menin. “As a mother of four, I am thrilled that Speaker Adams has advanced my package of childcare bills for today’s vote. New York City is setting a precedent across the nation that Universal Childcare will be realized and that parents will no longer have to choose between their job and child care.”

 

In other council news, as reported,  NYC Districting Commission voted to approve the latest redrawn city council maps on Oct. 6, following the 2020 Census redistricting process, and to submit them to the City Council for a vote.