Resolution/Support for Childcare for All Page 1 of 3
Rev: 7/27/2023
RESOLUTION NO. 24-9352
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA,
SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO PROVIDE UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE
TO ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE COUNTY OF SANTA
CLARA AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS, the Council for a Strong American issued a report in early 2023 which details that the shortage of infant-toddler childcare costs the United States $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue every year;
WHEREAS, this shortage translates to a $15 billion economic threat to California and a $3 billion threat to Santa Clara County;
WHEREAS, a family living in Silicon Valley needs to pay an average of $26,450 per child per year for infant care and $21,900 per year for one preschooler’s childcare; WHEREAS, the two most significant monthly expenses faced by working families are rent and childcare;
WHEREAS, families in Santa Clara, as experienced across the United States, face a national industry crisis amid a shortage of childcare service providers and programs; WHEREAS, the lack of an affordable childcare option leads to underemployment, greater housing instability, less consumer spending, depressed business productivity, and the near impossibility of seeking, securing and maintaining employment . Childcare is one of the most immediately impactful anti-poverty measures at our disposal; WHEREAS, families should be empowered to choose the childcare program that meets their children’s needs;
WHEREAS, supporting accessible and affordable childcare is an effective way to improve the welfare of children and their parents, provides vital infrastructure to working parents and supports early childhood development, allows families to remain in a geographic ar ea, creates a stronger economy, improves business productivity and consumer spending, decreases poverty and leads to safer communities and provides revenues for cities; Resolution/Support for Childcare for All Page 2 of 3
Rev: 7/27/2023
WHEREAS, cities have a direct interest in building strong local economies, supporti ng and benefiting from local small businesses, attracting and retaining families and employers; WHEREAS, one of the most impactful tools we can deploy to solve our gr eatest economic and societal challenges is investing in broadly accessible, high- quality childcare immediately; and WHEREAS, investments in the childcare sector should prioritize supporting our most underserved children and their families, including but no t limited to families of color, families of children with special needs, low-income families, and undocumented families; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA AS FOLLOWS:
1. That the City Council of the City of Santa Clara hereby:
A. Supports all efforts to provide universal childcare options to all children of families in the County of Santa Clara and the State of California; and B. Joins with Build the Future Santa Clara County in advocating for compr ehensive and collaborative solutions to solve our childcare crisis, incl uding but not limited to building a coalition of stakeholders across all sectors including smal l and large businesses, community based organizations, neighborhood associations, law enf orcement authorities, local governments including school and special dis tricts and city councils, and labor and trades unions for the purpose of identifying and implem enting solutions to this economic and social crisis; and
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C. Desires to support efforts to provide childcare options to all children and families in the County and the State of California;
2. Effective date. This resolution shall become effective immediately.
I HEREBY CERTIFY THE FOREGOING TO BE A TRUE COPY OF A RESOLUTION PASSED
AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, AT A REGULAR MEETING THEREOF HELD ON THE 27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2024, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: COUNCILORS:
NOES: COUNCILORS:
ABSENT: COUNCILORS:
ABSTAINED: COUNCILORS:
Attachments incorporated by reference: None
Resolution/Support for Childcare for All
Rev: 7/27/2023
Becker, Chahal, Hardy, Jain, Park, and Watanabe,
and Mayor Gillmor
None
None
None
ATTEST: ~
NORAPIMENTEL/41
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
CITY OF SANTA CLARA