Today, City Councilmembers Brad Lander and David Greenfield announced that funding for Borough Park’s Beth Jacob Day Care Center and Gan Day Care Center has been fully restored.  Half of the classrooms in these centers had been targeted for cuts under the budget proposed by the Bloomberg Administration earlier this year.

“I am thrilled that Beth Jacob and Gan will still be able to provide outstanding childcare to the families of Borough Park,” said City Councilmember Brad Lander, who represents the northern section of Borough Park.  “This is a victory for the children and families who depend on their high quality services to learn and grow.”

“The full restoration of hundreds of child care slots for these two programs is a multi-million dollar achievement and welcome relief for the many families who rely on Bais Yaakov and Gan Day Care for safe, affordable child care,” said Councilman David Greenfield. “I want to thank all of my colleagues but especially Council Member Brad Lander & General Welfare Chair Annabel Palma who worked tirelessly negotiating a deal that would ensure these centers, and centers like them, would remain operational. Once again, this shows that when our communities come together there is no limit to what we can achieve.”

“I really appreciate that Councilmembers Lander and Greenfield understand the need for childcare,” said Carol Hubner, Executive Director of Gan Day Care Center.  “Our children and families appreciate our councilmembers’ thought and sensitivity on this issue.”

Throughout this year’s budget process, the two councilmembers prioritized restoration of childcare funding.  Under the mayor’s initial budget proposal, over 16,000 children would have lost their day care.  The City Council – under the leadership of Speaker Christine Quinn, Finance Chairman Domenic Recchia, Assistant Majority Leader Lew Fidler, and General Welfare Chair Annabel Palma – negotiated a substantial restoration, preserving care for thousands of voucher-holders, and reducing day care classroom cuts from 320 classrooms to 60 classrooms. 

However, both Beth Jacob and Gan Day Care Centers remained at risk until this week.  Gan was initially threatened with a loss of 5 classrooms (out of 9), and Beth Jacobs with a loss of 4 classrooms (out of 8).  Councilmembers Lander and Greenfield fought to ensure that these two centers were fully restored, so that Borough Park families did not once again bear an unfair share of child care cuts.

“We appreciate all that Councilmembers Greenfield and Lander have done on behalf of our community,” said Miriam Berg, Executive Director of Beth Jacob Day Care Center.  “Together, we can continue to serve our children.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)