Senator Dean Murray Leads Roundtable on Long Island's Child Care Issues

The issue of child care continues to present unique challenges to parents, childcare providers, businesses, and lawmakers across Long Island and the wider New York State. The cost of child care surged by 6%, according to the July 2023 Consumer Price Index report. A staggering 67% of parents are now spending 20% or more of their household income on child care, as per recent data from Care.com.

In a recent roundtable event, NY State Senator Dean Murray met with stakeholders, including parents, childcare providers, business leaders, and school officials, to discuss the looming childcare challenges the county faces. They explored possible solutions to the high costs, limited availability, and quality of childcare facilities on Long Island.

Senator Murray highlighted the multifaceted nature of the crisis. "The child care crisis we are facing is not just about affordability. It's about the limited availability of qualified child care facilities, low pay for child care workers, and hiring issues arising from parents not reentering the workforce," he remarked. He stressed the importance of statewide discussions "so we can share ideas on creative ways to tackle these problems."

Maria Ahrens of Paper Planes Early Learning Center emphasized the importance of early childhood educators, stating that they "play a vital role in shaping the minds and hearts of our youngest and most vulnerable population." She further commented on the impact of universal pre-K, noting its unintended consequence of rising costs for parents of younger children.

Nicole Craveiro, founder of Crave HRO, highlighted the longterm vision, remarking, "Children are our future employees, and we need to invest in them."

Kevin Hyms of the Brookhaven Chambers of Commerce Coalition discussed the business community's role in addressing the crisis. He emphasized the need for the State to recognize childcare providers at the same level as healthcare providers and encouraged the offering of incentives to businesses providing childcare benefits. This move, he believes, would enhance employee retention and save on recruitment and training costs.

The sentiment to collaboratively address the issue was echoed by Alex Piccirillo, President of the Board of Education, Sachem School District. He emphasized the importance of ensuring childcare remains available and affordable for all.

Jennifer Marino Rojas, Executive Director of the Child Care Council of Suffolk, Inc., expressed gratitude to Senator Murray for his efforts. "Significant changes are needed to ensure all families have access to affordable, high-quality child care," she asserted, emphasizing the need for fair compensation for the workforce.

As Suffolk County grapples with these challenges, it is clear that a collective effort bridging various sectors will be crucial in navigating the way forward.