Bill Thompson Will Work For Our Children

[Op-Ed: Children’s Welfare]

Whether you are talking about single mothers or working and middle class families, a critical issue facing our communities today is finding quality childcare. Mothers working hard to support their families have had to agonize over whether they can afford to place their children in safe and supportive learning environments.

In the face of these challenges, Bill Thompson has consistently fought to ensure that the maze of childcare options works for families throughout New York City.

Last year when Mike Bloomberg fought to push through cuts from the Administration for Children’s Services – cuts which would result in the loss of 3,000 vouchers – it was Bill Thompson who backed up child care advocates working to protect NYC’s vulnerable families and ensure that mothers can continue to work.

At the time, the Bloomberg Administration claimed that those cuts could be mitigated by removing children from day care centers and instead placing them in public school programs. This ill-advised move would have put additional pressure on our already overcrowded public schools, once again robbing NYC’s children of a quality education.

Meanwhile, reports surfaced that while New York’s working families were being forced to wait, the NYC Agency for Child Development had routinely allowed for thousands of slots to remain empty in daycare centers throughout the City.

It is deplorable how Bloomberg has neglected to prioritize the needs of New York’s low-and middle-income families. While his focus has remained at the top on Wall Street and special interests, programs and services meant for our families have been cast aside or done away with entirely.

Bill Thompson has always put New York City’s children and families first. As Comptroller, Bill has invested NYC pension money to rehabilitate childcare facilities in low and moderate-income neighborhoods, providing safe and efficient environments for working parents and our children.

As mayor, Bill Thompson will continue this legacy of securing efficient childcare for New York’s families by establishing an automated electronic data base that will reduce the time it takes to place 46,000 children into slots, a plan that will eliminate $17 million in waste.

Bill Thompson is also an outspoken supporter of creating greater access to childcare programs so that teenage parents can stay in school while receiving the education needed to support their children.

Mayor Bloomberg has failed to make good on promises made to New York’s families. We deserve better. That is why we need Bill Thompson for mayor.

Velmanette Montgomery is a New York State Senator