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Q&A
Priority of childcare voucher funding in state budget negotiations
4:04:04
ยท
82 sec
Council Member Restler questions Commissioner Dannhauser about the priority given to childcare voucher funding in state budget negotiations. The discussion reveals potential gaps in advocacy efforts.
- Commissioner asserts that childcare voucher funding is a priority for the administration
- Restler challenges this assertion, citing lack of mention in key meetings with state legislators
- Discussion highlights potential disconnect between stated priorities and actual advocacy efforts
- Restler expresses concern about the lack of emphasis on this issue in state budget discussions
Jess Dannhauser
4:04:04
It is absolutely a priority of this
Lincoln Restler
4:04:06
Why then Okay.
4:04:08
So why then when director Jeeha met with the assembly and senate, with the with the state legislature prior to the release of their one houses and made shared priorities for the city, was this issue never mentioned whatsoever?
Jess Dannhauser
4:04:21
I know that OMB has had a lot of conversations
Althea V. Stevens
4:04:23
Okay.
Jess Dannhauser
4:04:23
Then let's vision of
Lincoln Restler
4:04:24
budget I would like for you to walk through with me what conversations they've had.
4:04:27
If they didn't share this as a priority in the one houses, that was the single most important moment that they could have said to the state legislature this mattered.
4:04:34
They didn't.
4:04:34
They didn't advocate for one more penny of funding for these child care vouchers.
4:04:39
They are supporting us falling falling over this fiscal cliff and 60 odd thousand families losing their child care vouchers over the last year.
4:04:47
The amazing work that your team has done over these three years to enroll all these families is going to go up in smoke because they have done nothing to advocate for this.
4:04:54
City Hall is asleep at the wheel.
4:04:56
Nobody is home.
4:04:57
I cannot be more angry about what is about to happen.
4:05:00
The destabilization we are going to see for child care providers across the City Of New York, the low income communities across New York City that are going to suffer unnecessarily because nobody is advocating for this issue.
4:05:12
I am livid.
4:05:13
I don't know if you can hear in my voice just how angry and disappointed I am.
4:05:17
Please cite for me one example of a meeting that OMB has held with state leaders and walk me through exactly what meetings have occurred so we understand.
4:05:25
If any advocacy has happened, tell us.