City Hall to Meet with Childcare Centers Amid Backlash Over Sudden Closures
Community Resistance Pays Off, But Talks Not Enough, Say Advocates
City Hall will meet with four Brooklyn childcare centers fighting to stay open, just weeks after the city announced it would not renew their leases. The sudden closures have prompted outrage from families, providers, and local politicians, who packed the steps of City Hall in protest.
Supporters Criticize City Data, Call Out Funding Issues
The city has claimed that the affected facilities were under-enrolled and too expensive to run with so few children attending. However, the facilities dispute this, citing months of unpaid bills and inaccurate enrollment numbers. Nuestros Niños, for example, claims to have 96 children enrolled, not four, as the city initially reported.
Closures Part of Broader Issues Facing Childcare
The move to close the four centers is part of a larger issue of underfunding of childcare by the Adams administration. Comptroller Brad Lander has stated that the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 is $300 million short of what’s needed to provide childcare for families currently receiving it.
Forging a Path Forward
City Hall spokesperson Amaris Cockfield acknowledged the concerns of providers and families impacted by the impending closures, stating that the administration is committed to working with early childhood education provider partners to find a solution. However, supporters say that talk is not enough, and that concrete action is needed to save the childcare centers.
Conclusion
The fate of the four childcare centers remains uncertain, but the community’s determination to save them is clear. With City Hall set to meet with the centers, the next steps will be crucial in determining the future of these vital institutions. As Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez stated, "This is not a real victory until there is an unequivocal commitment to fully reopening these sites and accepting new registrations."
FAQs
Q: What are the four childcare centers facing closure?
A: Nuestros Niños, Grand St. Settlement, Friends of Crown Heights, and Fort Greene Council.
Q: Why are the centers facing closure?
A: The city claims they are under-enrolled and too expensive to run, but the centers dispute this, citing months of unpaid bills and inaccurate enrollment numbers.
Q: What is the city’s proposed budget for childcare in Fiscal Year 2026?
A: The proposed budget is $300 million short of what’s needed to provide childcare for families currently receiving it.
Q: What is the next step for the centers and the city?
A: City Hall will meet with the centers to discuss a potential solution.
