New York, NY – Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages joined New Yorkers United for Child Care (NYUC), colleagues in the legislature, and parents during the launch of NYUC’s 5-year plan to implement universal childcare in New York State. The group called on action to implement a universal childcare program to save costs for families and strengthen New York’s economy by making this critical investment.

On average, New Yorkers pay $22,000 annually per child for childcare. With this cost on par with college tuition, many families have to sacrifice major financial resources or forgo employment to either pay for these costs or take on childcare responsibilities themselves. By implementing childcare that is free, accessible, and flexible to family needs, New Yorkers would save thousands of dollars annually and our economy would enjoy higher workforce participation.

Assemblywoman Solages said, "If we want families to stay and thrive in New York, we must stop treating childcare as a personal burden and start investing in it as a public good. By implementing universal childcare, we lower costs for families, strengthen our workforce, and tackle the affordability crisis head-on. Now is the time for bold action to provide relief to families."

Universal childcare would be a major step forward in dealing with New York’s affordability crisis. Removing the burden of childcare from individual families would provide peace of mind to millions of New Yorkers who struggle with these expenses.