How much money were you making in 2004? Could you survive on that today? Maybe, maybe not. Might be a stretch but hey, times are tough. How about 27% of what you were making in 2004, could you survive on that? Unless 2004 was a real banner year and you made ten times what you’re making today, maintaining your lifestyle on that money would be impossible. If you were making less than the median income for Washington, DC in 2004, then 27% of that amount won’t even meet your basic needs.
Yet the DC Government refuses to pay child care providers who accept the city’s subsidized child care vouchers, more than 27% of the rate they should have been paid in 2004. Aaron Brooks, owner of Power To Become Child Care Center and Jeffrey Credit, owner of Community Child Development Center are more than a little peeved about the situation. They let the city council know during a day of lobbying at the Wilson Building headed by Empower DC child care organizer Sequnely Gray. The following video lays out their argument.
Despite a $417 million surplus in the city’s budget, Mayor Vincent Gray and the DC City Council are unlikely to increase funding for DC’s subsidized child care program unless someone like you accepts the challenge and makes them change their minds. Contact your city council members and tell them to fund subsidized child care. Here are their phone numbers and email addresses:
Councilmember Phil Mendelson (202) 724-8032 pmendelson@dccouncil.us
At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds (202) 724-8064 abonds@dccouncil.us
At-Large Councilmember David Grosso (202) 724-8105 dgrosso@dccouncil.us
At-Large Councilmember David Catania (202) 724-7772 dcatania@dccouncil.us
At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange (202) 724-8174 vorange@dccouncil.us
Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham (202) 724-8181 jgraham@dccouncil.us
Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans (202) 724-8058 jevans@dccouncil.us
Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh (202) 724-8062 mcheh@dccouncil.us
Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser (202) 724-8052 mbowser@dccouncil.us
Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (202) 724-8028 kmcduffie@dccouncil.us
Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells (202) 724-8072 twells@dccouncil.us
Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander (202) 724-8068 yalexander@dccouncil.us
Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry (202) 724-8045 mbarry@dccouncil.us
