Police Workers Lose Day Care Center

One child wears his plea for day care. (Dor Levinter/The Epoch Times)

NEW YORK—The children of the “Finest Child Care Center”, a day care center for police workers and community housed at police headquarters in lower Manhattan, are now in danger of evacuation.

Parents, supporters and even the children themselves came to protest in front of One Police Plaza on August 19th.

“The Police department has notified the center that they must close September 30th (2009)”, said Neal Tepel, assistant to the executive director of District Council 1707. “It’s a tragedy because this program was set up for those that work for the Police Department.”

The NYPD Office of Management and Budget decided to close the day care and vacate the three basement rooms it utilizes.

“They want to set up a task force emergency cases, so they need the room”, said NYC Council Member Alan J. Gerson. We have had a day care center here for over 20 years. We have over 30 children, some from the neighborhood, some are children of people who work for the police, (kids) who really have no place to go.”

The decision of closing this day care raises a serious problem for the families using its services. The children and their parents will have to find another arrangement in a very short time, while finding one that is affordable and still provides quality early education for those 2.5-5 years old, not a simple mission.

Another option that has been raised is to relocate the day care, but this is no easy solution. Gerson claimed that, “The city is saying they will get vouchers, but vouchers only work if there is a place to go to use it. We have a waiting list currently in all centers in this area.”

“This is not going to bust the budget, this is not about money. This is about the political will to do right by our children,” said Gerson. “We are talking about our youngest most vulnerable kids, who need a good start in their educational career.”

According to Tepel and Gerson, the Police Department has said it would try to arrange for temporary extension on the current space so a permanent location can be found.

“As long as there is a possibility of coming up with an alternative the police department will work with us,” said Gerson. “But we need the support, the full support of all the administrations, specifically the ACS to come on board.”