More than 300 New York City children in the Bronx and Manhattan may be left without a daycare center as Administrative Children’s Services plan on closing 2 more centers, 1 in each neighborhood. Given that thousands of kids are currently on wait lists to get into city funded daycare centers, closing 2 seems like a strange choice.

ACS blames repairs that are too expensive and general mismanagement on their decision not to renew their contract with the Lucille Murray Child Development Center in Mott Haven. Many of the parents think the real motivation might be the Department of Cultural Affairs desire to use the space for arts purposes and while they like the idea of art in their community, they don’t like it at the expense of their children.

Parents worry that there won’t be enough slots in surrounding centers to take in all the ousted kids - which begs questions about what a working parent is suppossed to do?

One thing folks who need help and those who are interested in helping can do is to check out http://www.childcarenyc.org for ideas and inspiration. Regeneracion Childcare NYC is a group that focuses on promoting community and building movements through providing childcare to those who need it.

They provide childcare to different collectives and organizations so parents can participate and to build radical communities and relationships. These folks understand that children are a vital part of each and every community, and that we need to work together to ensure they have proper care and love. The beginning of their Vision Statement is below, give it a read and get involved @ their website :

In this city that never sleeps, in which we are constantly moving, running on concrete and breathing clogged air, squeezing into small spaces that are stacked on top of each other, involving kids into our organizing work is a struggle in itself.

Across the city, many women of color led projects recognize kids and families as integral to movement building. Inspired by these projects, a group of organizers pulled together Regeneración. We participate in child-raising as a form of resistance that builds radical communities and relationships.