Mom Haiku #782 (3/1/26)

Summer dreams warm us
with camp adventure visions,
until expense burns.

Big win for NYC parents! $10M for child care for kids 0–2 has passed the City Council!

I was proud to join @ny4childcare.bsky.social earlier this summer, talking to parents and collecting signatures advocating for its passage.

We’re not done yet. Let’s make universal child care a reality for NYC!

1/ Something is fundamentally wrong when families are spending MORE on childcare than a mortgage or rent. Childcare is a textbook example of a broken market, failing parents, providers, and kids alike.

💸 Families are drowning in child care costs—and NYC has had enough.

Universal, free child care isn’t just a talking point—it’s a demand.

📢 Join the fight. Get Organized for city families can afford

New York Playbook POLITICO's must-read briefing informing the daily conversation among knowledgeable New Yorkers

4/
📺 Meanwhile in Brooklyn, Borough President Antonio Reynoso just dropped a six-figure TV + digital ad.

His message? Save our child care centers.

www.politico.com/newsletters/...

New York Post Your source for breaking news, news about New York, sports, business, entertainment, opinion, real estate, culture, fashion, and more.

3/
👀 Even Andrew Cuomo—who once opposed universal pre-K and 3-K—is now campaigning for mayor on a promise to expand it.

Democratic mayoral candidates make pitch to voters on child care The issue has taken center stage in the mayor’s race amid soaring costs.

2/
🚨 NEW from @madinatoure.bsky.social @politico.com : Mayoral candidates are competing to be the “child care candidate.”

From pledges to expand 3K/Pre-K to all kids under 5 to backing extended hours, they’re all feeling the pressure from parents—and voters.

www.politico.com/news/2025/05...

🧵1/
With costs crushing working families, candidates from mayor to borough president are scrambling to show they have a plan. Universal child care isn’t just popular—it’s politically essential.

Child care affordability is dominating the 2025 NYC elections. Here’s proof⬇️

This past weekend, we joined parents, children, and advocates at Lou Lodati Playground in support of funding free 2K @ny4childcare.bsky.social (1/4)

"As an expecting mother myself, I worry the cost of child care will drive my family out of New York.... Child care shouldn't be a luxury reserved for the rich. It should be every mother's right." Rebecca Bailin, @ny4childcare.bsky.social
#MomsEqualPayDay #EqualPayNY

Join Finance Chair Justin Brannan, Council Member Krishnan & allies at our day care at City Hall to thank NYC Council for delivering a win for full workday 3-K & Pre-K!

We’ll have activities for kids so pls bring them w/you!

RSVP: www.united4childcare.org/events/bring...

ATTN Families in the Bronx! Tomorrow, Wed 4/30 5-6PM, please join us for our 1st ever Bronx playground petitioning. We're partnering w/Council Member Kevin Riley to speak directly with BX families and gather 2-Care petition signatures. RSVP:
www.united4childcare.org/events/apr30...

But, the deal provides no funding to address worker pay, (~ $33K/year).

The budget falls far short of
@GovKathyHochul
's commitment to put NY on a pathway to universal child care.

We can do better.

It's time for Universal Public Child Care
united4childcare.org/upcny

Hochul’s investments in child care vouchers are welcome and will help families who are on the verge of losing their benefits. We'll be watching closely to ensure Mayor Adams does the same.

Yesterday, @governor.ny.gov announced a preliminary agreement on the FY2026 New York State Budget, including $400 million for child care vouchers and $110 million to build and renovate existing child care facilities.

Our response:
🧵

Our Spring Social was a success thx to our members!

Special shoutout to @nyccomptroller.bsky.social
Senators @zellnor.bsky.social @agounardes.bsky.social ,
And council member
@justinbrannan.bsky.social for being with us!

Join the movement: United4childcare.org/donate

No better way to celebrate the one-year anniversary of @ny4childcare.bsky.social and the incredible progress they’ve made in the fight for universal childcare than by leaping off the stage with a dozen toddlers and @zellnor.bsky.social!

📸: @bfurnas.bsky.social

Parents, Council Members, small biz, and voters across party lines are rallying behind #2Care.

Why?

Because child care for 2-year-olds costs $23,400/year.
It’s time to invest in families—and our city’s future.

Get involved: united4childcare.org/2-care-petit...

Child care is not a fringe issue.
It’s a mainstream priority—and a political force.
🗳️ 78% of NY voters support 2-Care
🗳️ Voters in the Bronx: 84% support
🗳️ Voters under 45: 83% support
Let’s win universal child care for all. #2Care

🚨 NEW POLL from
@dataforprogress
: 78% of NYers support expanding free child care to 2-year-olds:
✔️ 90% of Black voters
✔️ 86% of Latino voters
✔️ 83% of parents
✔️ 63% of Republicans
The message is clear: It’s time for #2Care.
@politico

🧵
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

Bring Your Kid to City Hall Day — New Yorkers United for Child Care Join us for a rally at City Hall Park to save the full day 3-K and Pre-K pilot. In his preliminary budget, Mayor Adams has cut funding for a pilot program providing free full day and full year seats...

If the mayor won’t pay for it—he should take care of our kids at 2:30.

So bring your child to City Hall and stand up for full-day Universal 3-K and Pre-K!

RSVP www.united4childcare.org/events/bring...

TAKE YOUR CHILD TO CITY HALL DAY
We were promised full-day care. Now it may be taken away.

Mayor Adams is cutting the free extended-day pilot instead of expanding it. Parents stand to lose +10,000/ year and will have to scramble to get care during full work days.

THIS SATURDAY! A party at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum to support our work for universal child care.

Museum admission included w/ tickets!

🔗RSVP
united4childcare.org/events/springs…

Proud as ever to count @rebeccabailin.bsky.social as a friend. She inspires, brings out the giggles - the whole package.

Join the fight @ny4childcare.bsky.social

Support Us — New Yorkers United for Child Care

Join thousands of NY parents building the power to win truly universal child care in New York. The momentum is on our side:
united4childcare.org/donate

NYUC leader, Tracy McNeil: “Child care isn’t a family issue, it’s an economic issue.”

“We can’t rely on elected officials to actually recognize what New Yorkers need,” she said. “We have to demand what we need.”

NYUC leader “Roona Ray waited to [have] children until she had finally found some financial stability…but it took months & several rounds of rejections to secure child care vouchers.Ray will cast her vote in the mayor’s race based largely on a candidate’s child care plan.”

We’re especially proud of our parent-leaders who were featured in the piece: Roona Ray and Tracy McNeil.

NYUC’s parent-leaders are the heart and soul of our movement. Their stories demonstrate why child care has become a defining issue for NY families.

As the NYT notes, child care is now a central campaign issue in the 2025 Mayoral election:

“All the Democratic candidates have built their campaigns on a promise to make New York affordable again, with child care as a centerpiece

The Child Care Crisis Is Motivating These New York City Voters Parents are fed up, and the candidates for mayor appear to be paying attention. Many have built campaigns on a promise to make New York more affordable, with child care as a centerpiece.

NEW: We’re in the New York Times! Our movement to win universal child care is gaining momentum.

“New Yorkers United for Child Care has organized more than 6,000 people… fueling the creation of a new species in NYC politics: the child care voter.”
nytimes.com/2025/04/17/n...
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