2 weeks Ago
Saint Paul is a city that does great things. From our first-in-the-nation non-discrimination ordinance in 1974 to our groundbreaking indoor clean air act and our ban on conversion therapy, we lead the way on policies that show care for our neighbors and build a more equitable community. This election, we have a chance to show once again that we can do big things — by investing in our smallest residents.
We all know that it’s critical for families to have trusted child care so parents can work and children can learn. While other levels of government are talking about childcare, here in Saint Paul, we have the opportunity to act. This year, Saint Paul voters will get to decide whether to create our city’s first-ever early learning fund to help families find and afford childcare.
Here’s why we hope you’ll join us in voting yes for the early learning fund: The opportunity is too good to miss. Most brain development occurs before the age of 5. When young children are in stimulating learning environments, they build the social and emotional skills that help them succeed in school and life.
If we miss this window of development, we spend time and money catching up later on. The status quo isn’t working. Childcare in Minnesota is prohibitively expensive and thousands of kids in St.
Paul are missing out. On average, the cost of care for one child is $13,000 per year. In St.
Paul, where a majority of children live in families with incomes below 185% of the federal poverty line (about $54,000 for a family of four), childcare is an impossible burden. At the same time, childcare operators — especially in-home providers who are often women of color — are struggling to stay afloat. Despite increased investments by the state in recent years, hundreds of St.
Paul children remain on waitlists for childcare, and most families pay more for childcare than they do for housing. We can make a difference for thousands of children. Related Articles A Saint Paul early learning program would be targeted at the children who benefit from it most, children at the lowest incomes and who face other challenges, such as those in the foster care system or who are unhoused.
Like other important public programs, such as HeadStart and Section 8 housing vouchers, the early learning program won’t be able to fully meet the need on its own. But that shouldn’t stop us from making a difference for thousands of kids. There is no smarter investment.
Research has shown that investing in quality early learning yields a return of $16 for every $1 spent. At full scale in year 10, the early learning plan will cost the average household just 44 cents per day, while the savings to our community will be invaluable. When kids get off to a great start, when parents can work and support their families, when businesses can count on a stable workforce, and when childcare providers can stay open and pay their workers a thriving wage, we all reap the rewards.
As our late former mayor George Latimer said, “What we do for the littlest and the most vulnerable of our society is finally the test of what our quality is.” This election season, let’s show the true quality of ourselves and our city. Let’s vote yes.
Hwa Jeong Kim is vice president of the St. Paul City Council and represents Ward 5. Council member Rebecca Noecker represents Ward 2.
Council member Nelsie Yang represents Ward 6..
