South San Francisco – “The times are all the time,” said Markus Alvarez, a union leader in the construction trades, describing members who might leave before dawn for a job in San Luis Obispo or work a night shift in Concord.
“If there’s child care available for that, it’s very limited or not at all.”
Alvarez spoke at the first in a series of town halls where parents, caregivers and providers gathered in a community room to share ideas for addressing what many call a crisis: the lack of affordable, quality child care in San Mateo County.
Alvarez put a spotlight on a segment of the workforce rarely heard from: trades workers with little control over where or when they work – and the challenges those schedules create for their families.
The town hall was the first of several hosted by San Mateo County Supervisors Jackie Speier and Lisa Gauthier, both grandmothers of adult children facing the costs and availability of child care. They said stories from families will help shape potential policies aimed at making San Mateo County more friendly and affordable to working families.
While San Mateo County ranks near the top nationally in family income and housing prices, parents face steep child care costs while providers say rising rents, food and insurance along with a scarcity of qualified staff put them on the brink.
At stake, Speier told the audience, is the region’s economic future.
“We have a workforce crisis here in San Mateo County that starts in the crib,” she said. “We expect our workers to work as if they don’t have children, and parents to raise their children as if they don’t have jobs. It doesn’t make any sense.”
She cited data showing that 81 percent of parents in San Mateo County struggle with access to affordable care and many have left the workforce altogether.
That economic hit, Gauthier said, is felt in homes across the county. “The cost of day care is a barrier to participating in the business community. Many family members are staying home so they can take care of their children for at least the first five years,” she said.
“When we think about equity and inclusion and the possibility for our young people, we need more spaces. We need it to be more affordable so that families can work and thrive and survive here. “
Those challenges were echoed by Julia Rigling of Pacifica, a medical assistant and mother of twins.
“People don’t always have two spots open,” she said. “They say, ‘Oh, I can take one.’ I can’t separate my babies. They’re a combo. We’re a package.”
Unable to find affordable care for both children, Rigling now works part time. Her husband, who started a new job this year, can’t take time off.
“We need more help. We need more teachers,” Rigling said. “We need more amazing people who want to do this every day and take care of our babies and love them like we love them and teach them amazing things.”
The next town hall will be Wednesday, Aug. 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at EPACENTER, 1950 Bay Road, East Palo Alto.
Organizers will provide light dinner for attendees and a kids' corner. Parents planning to bring a child are asked to please RSVP.
Supervisor Lisa Gauthier
Vanessa Smith, Legislative Aide
vsmith1@smcgov.org
650-363-4570
Supervisor Jackie Speier's Office
Katrina Rill, Chief of Staff
krill@smcgov.org
650-363-4571