Child-Care Issue in Presidential Politics

As a City Council member who has made child care a top priority for Los Angeles, I was heartened by The Times urgent “call to action” editorial (“Child Care Time Is Now,” July 27).

Los Angeles understood and promoted the benefits of child care long before it became the popular thing to do. The city adopted a sweeping child-care policy last year, declaring that affordable and accessible quality child care is an integral part of Los Angeles’ development. We backed up our commitment by hiring a full-time child-care coordinator, Patricia Lane, who is working with the public and private sectors to encourage development of more child-care facilities.

Cities can’t do it alone; child care is a collective responsibility to be shared by all levels of government, parents, child-care professionals, employers, employee organizations, and business and community leaders.

There’s been much talk at the federal level about the importance of the family, the importance of our children. The time for talk has long passed; it’s time for action now. I urge Congress to quickly pass the aptly-named ABC bill.

JOY PICUS

Councilwoman

Los Angeles