Lauren Melodia on the True Cost of Care and New York City’s Economy

<p>Greg sits down with Lauren Melodia, Director of Economic and Fiscal Policy at the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School, for a conversation about child care, affordability, economic justice, and building an economy that works for working New Yorkers.</p><p><br></p><p>At the center of the conversation is New York City’s child care system and the workers holding it together. Lauren and Greg examine the realities facing home-based providers, many of whom are immigrant women and women of color earning far below a living wage. They discuss the need for wage subsidies, stabilization funding, rental assistance, and contracts that cover the true cost of care.</p><p><br></p><p>Along the way, they talk universal programs, targeted investment, housing affordability, the Rent Guidelines Board, racial unemployment disparities, immigrant labor-force participation, the Knicks, and the challenge of turning bold policy commitments into systems that work.</p><p><br></p><p>Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network</p><p>Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition</p><p>Topics: workforce development; economic justice; Center for New York City Affairs; The New School; child care; early childhood education; family child care providers; universal child care; Child Care Assistance Program; living wages; nonprofit human services; home health care; affordability; housing; inclusive economic development</p>