Morano questions accessibility of 40-slot Little Apple child care pilot
Morano notes the child care program has only 40 slots in lower Manhattan and asks how it helps workers in Staten Island or on overnight shifts; Porter says it is a pilot meant to develop a framework that could be expanded, and Hudson notes the long waiting list.
Lastly, as a father of two, the points that you raised about child care really resonated with me.
And you spoke proudly about the new Little Apple Child Care Center.
But the city's new program has just 40 slots, all in a building in lower Manhattan.
How many municipal employees have children who could potentially qualify for these 40 slots?
And how does this program help a sanitation worker in Staten Island or a correction officer working overnight or somebody whose job requires them to be at Queens at 6 o'clock in the morning?
I mean, don't get me wrong.
I'm glad we're helping these 40 families.
But I don't want us congratulating ourselves for creating a benefit that's inaccessible to the overwhelming majority of municipal workers.
Yes, point taken, right?
However, this is a pilot program, and it is a step in the right direction.
to develop programs and opportunities for that, you know, will benefit city employees.
The goal here was to develop a framework that could potentially be expanded.
But right now we're in the middle of the pilot and, you know, we're more than happy to follow up and share with you, you know, any positive or not so positive outcomes from the pilot program.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
You must have a very long waiting list for that pilot.