Child Care Workers and CCAP Can’t Be Left Out of the Final Budget | We're in the final stretch of New York's state budget negotiations, and decisions are being made right now about what will be included in the enacted budget. Nearly 20,000 children are on the child care waitlist statewide, including 17,000 in New York City, while child care programs struggle to stay open and families are left without options. Our leaders must raise revenue by taxing the ultra-wealthy so that meaningful investments in the Child Care Assistance Program and the child care workforce can be included in this year's budget.
You've seen what's on the table. The Senate stepped forward with $500 million for the child care workforce — the Assembly and the Governor did not. The Assembly took a step to expand access to CCAP by eliminating its minimum earnings requirement — the Senate and the Governor did not. Now that all of their priorities have become plain for us to see, New Yorkers have been showing up to make it clear that these are priorities that cannot be left out of this year's budget. Last week, we rallied outside Governor Hochul's New York City office. This Friday, we're bringing that same energy to the Bronx outside Speaker Heastie's office to make it clear that these investments must be included in the enacted budget. | The decisions that come out of this budget matter for every family in New York, including those without children of their own. When CCAP is underfunded and the workforce is underpaid, child care systems become unstable, parents can't work, children have a harder time entering school ready to learn, and workplaces and communities across the state feel the impact. This is why we treat education and child care as public goods, because when they are strong and well supported, everyone benefits. Watch our explainer video to learn more. | Use this phone script to contact your elected representatives. Urge them to invest in the child care workforce and CCAP so programs can stay open and families can access reliable care. | Send a message in just three clicks to your local state representatives and legislative leaders calling for action to strengthen child care across New York.
| There is still time to shape what comes next. Whether or not you've taken action before today, now is the moment to do so. Send a message to your state leaders and use this call script to contact their offices to make it clear that the final budget must include no less than the Senate's proposed investment in the workforce and no less than the Assembly's proposed strengthening of CCAP so that families can actually access care.
Please share this with your community to help keep the pressure up. What comes next depends on whether our leaders choose to invest in us. Join us outside the Speaker's office in the Bronx this Friday to help make sure they do. | - Tuesday, March 25: Power Hour
A one-hour virtual Power Hour on March 25 at 1 PM to call legislative leaders and push for universal child care. No registration required. - Friday, March 27: Rally Outside Speaker Heastie's
Join us in the Bronx this Friday as we rally outside Speaker Heastie's office to demand investment in child care as leaders negotiate the final budget. Bring your voice, bring your signs! - Saturday, March 28: No Kings March
Call on Governor Hochul to tax the rich and invest in child care and the many other programs that really support our communities. but only if we push for it.
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