30 Issues in 30 Days: Childcare in New York
Summary
This episode of The Brian Lehrer Show examines affordable child care as a key issue in the New York State governor’s race between Kathy Hochul and Bruce Blakeman. WNYC reporter Bridget Bergen and Empire State Campaign for Child Care manager Shoshana Hershkowitz discuss Hochul’s push for universal care versus Blakeman’s tax credit proposal, which includes controversial remarks about non-working parents. The guests also address the critical need for higher wages to retain early childhood educators and the role of employers in funding these services.
Topics discussed
Sponsorships and election reminders
Intro to Issue 4: Child Care in the Governor's Race
Guest introductions and voter anecdote
Gov. Hochul clip on universal child care goals
Analysis of Hochul's record and policy gaps
Advocate perspective: Universal care and workforce wages
Blakeman clip: Tax credits and 'lazy' criticism
Contextualizing Blakeman's stance vs. GOP trends
Discussion on tax credits vs. public funding
Advocate response to universal program pushback
Hochul's response to Blakeman's comments
Political analysis of Blakeman's coded language
Caller: Educator retention and pay issues
Workforce compensation and scaling universal care
Caller: Employer responsibility for child care
Role of businesses and partnerships in child care
Hochul on AOC and voter turnout strategy
Polling differences and closing remarks
Upcoming events and next week's preview
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