New York – ‘We Care About Day Care’

New York City

Testifying – Queens day care workers, members of Local 205 (DC 1707), seek full funding of their facilities.

Photo Credit: Neal Tepel

Members of Local 205 (DC 1707) are fighting Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to close more of their city-operated centers. Since 2004, when Bloomberg took office, 17 of the city’s roughly 350 child care centers have been closed and many others downsized. Testifying in April before the city’s General Welfare Committee are (left to right): Doreen Dickens, shop steward at Andrew Landi Day Care Center; Joan Morgan, shop steward at Blanche Community Progress Day Care Center #2; and Kimberly Comes, shop steward at The Originals of Jamaica Day Care Center. Morgan told the officials: “We provide three meals a day and offer an excellent education, and a place where children can develop physically and mentally. If parents lose these services, it will be a tremendous loss. They will have to stop working to take care of their kids, who depend on us.” Local 205 represents more than 6,500 day care providers employed by the Administration for Children’s Services.