Oops! Bloobmberg Budget Does Include Child Care Cuts

Oops! I fell for Bloomberg's budgetary gimmick when I reported on Thursday that the new city budget doesn't include what became annual child care vouchers cuts. The Citizens’' Committee for Children in NYC is reporting that the budget proposal doesn’t include 42.04 million dollars from the ACS child care programs restored by the City Council last year. This will amount to the elimination of 125 child care class rooms, several day care centers and 4,942 child care vouchers.

Last year's funds were restored by the city council, and weren't recorded as part of the ACS regular budget. This is why it is not recorded as a budget cut, it seems.

Last year's rally for Child Care Voucher restoration.
Will probably need it again

According to the committee, the budget proposal also spells the loss of 25,000 after school (OST) slots, amounting to a reduction of nearly half the RFP slots. RFP slots are the ones used in a number of Yeshivas. 

Bottom Line: the budget will end child care vouchers for 4,942 kids and will close day care class rooms and centers, leaving thousands without day care. The celebration was way premature. We are still on the cutting board. If this doesn't change in the final budget, numerous families and children in our community will hurt badly and disproportionally.

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