Long Island families<\/a> and employers,\u201d Jennifer Rojas, executive director of the Child Care Council of Suffolk, told LIBN.\n<\/p>\n\u201cWhen parents have access to affordable childcare, they are able to fully participate in the workforce,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cIn addition, as small businesses themselves, childcare programs are an important part of our local economy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
In response to the federal freeze on childcare funds, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Thursday called on the Trump administration to resume the grants, which provide childcare assistance to thousands of families in the state \u2013 underscoring the stakes not only for working parents but also employers navigating staffing challenges.\n<\/p>\n
Freezing funding \u201cwill hurt families, children and childcare providers who are already struggling to get by,\u201d Gillibrand told reporters.\n<\/p>\n
According to Gillibrand, evidence of fraud in New York has not been provided by the Trump administration.\n<\/p>\n
Rojas shared that sentiment.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cNew York State has a very strong Child Care Assistance Program that is highly regulated and monitored,\u201d Rojas said. \u201cThere has not been any evidence of widespread fraud.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cA freeze of this funding could lead to thousands of Long Island families losing access to childcare making it hard for parents to work,\u201d she added.\u00a0 \u201cIt could also lead to the closure of childcare programs, the loss of small business [childcare programs] and childcare workers losing their jobs.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
It would \u201chave a ripple effect throughout the economy,\u201d Gillibrand said. \u201cParents will have to quite their jobs to stay at home with their children.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Hochul, a Democrat who is running for reelection this year, said the state would also partner with New York City to provide free childcare for two-year-olds and strengthen the 3K program to serve all families in the five boroughs. The plan includes supporting other counties in building new childcare pilots that offer high-quality affordable care to families regardless of income, and expand childcare subsidies to tens of thousands of additional families.\n<\/p>\n
Bruce Blakeman, the Republican Nassau County executive who is running for governor, criticized what his campaign press office said he deemed \u201can inequitable, city-first approach.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking moms and dads everywhere deserve support,\u201d Blakeman said in a written statement. \u201cWhat they don\u2019t deserve is to be used as a bankroll to finance a day care program for New York City which excludes their children.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Reuters contributed to this report.\n<\/p>\n
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