Hi John,

High quality early childhood care and education is one of the best investments we can make in our economic future. We’re hearing that support for universal child care is growing in Albany… but there’s a long way to go to get it across the finish line before the budget is due on April 1. Send an email now to Senate Finance Committee Chair Liz Krueger and Assembly Ways and Means Committee Chair Helene Weinstein now urging them to include a $5 billion investment in building a universal child care system for New Yorkers in their budget proposals.

Every dollar we spend on child care generates as much as $16 in benefit each year. In practical terms, a $5 billion investment this year would translate into parents who are able to go back to work in employment outside the home; fair compensation for child care educators, many of them women of color; and more quality care programs to put our children on the path to educational success.

The Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee — chaired by Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, respectively — will influence what each house in the Legislature proposes, and ultimately what will be included in final negotiations and what will be left on the cutting room floor. Send them an email now telling them New York’s families and children need $5 billion for universal child care!

New York’s leaders need to drop the pretense of “economic development” in the form of wasteful and unnecessary tax breaks to corporations, and recognize that the money would be far better invested, dollar for dollar, in programs that support our people and communities — programs like universal child care.

Our state leaders must take bold action now to make universal child care a reality. Email Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein now urging them to include a $5 billion investment in building a universal child care system for New Yorkers.

In solidarity,

Jasmine Gripper