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Child care crisis

Capital - 6/14/2020

Child care crisis

County Executive Steuart Pittman says there's a "looming child care crisis" ("The leaders of Maryland's 7 largest counties call on Hogan for subsidies for child care centers, extended eviction prevention plan, The Capital, June 12).

Maryland Family Network has recognized this for a long time and we greatly appreciate that six of Maryland's county executives and Baltimore's mayor are taking it seriously.

Let's be clear - the crisis is not "looming" - it has arrived. Results of a new Maryland Family Network survey (conducted from May 5 - 15) show that 51% of child care programs in the state predict going out of business as a result of COVID-19 closures. Maryland's children would suffer for decades from this loss because those who have access to high-quality early care and education grow up healthier, earn more, and are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than those who do not have access to these programs.

For their parents who have been underemployed during the pandemic, we agree with county executives that creative solutions are needed to help those families access care. If not, some may be forced to choose illegal and unsafe child care options. Child care should be open but we must continue to heed the advice of public health officials, doctors, and researchers to do so safely.

We must protect both children's health and the sustainability of the child care business. This is why we strongly support efforts at all levels to bring financial help and relief to both parents and providers. While some relief has been passed at the federal level, it falls woefully short of what's needed to ensure our child care system survives this crisis.

Early care and education opportunities have long been unequal, unaffordable, and unattainable for too many families. Meanwhile, child care providers have struggled with low wages and high costs. Sadly it often takes a crisis to remind us of what's important.

Returning to "normal" is not enough. Building back better child care is.

DOUG LENT

Communications Director

Maryland Family Network

Baltimore

Gun violence

That loud noise you hear represents all the criminals celebrating and giving one another high fives. The reason for this celebration is the recent anti-gun task force, bureaucrats call it gun violence awareness day (The Capital, June 6).

The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force even has a uniform, orange shirts and ties. They list a plethora of new laws designed to infringe on law-abiding citizens their rights under the Second Amendment. These lawmakers are trying the same thing other blue states have tried and expecting a different result.

A smart scientist had a name for this, he labeled it "insanity." The state needs to enact a shall carry law, one that 40 other states have. These bureaucrats need to compare between these states and the states that have a may carry law. I think they are afraid of the results.

Criminals don't fear the police, they fear another person with a gun. The police arrive after the criminal has killed someone. And if they arrive on time, they have to warn the perp and take a 30-second video to protect themselves. T

The task force needs to stop enacting symbolism over substance laws and give law-abiding citizens the option to protect themselves and their families.

JULIUS G. ANGELUCCI

Severna Park

My son's service

I want to clarify my thoughts regarding my son's service in the Army ("Parents, school figures learn to have tough conversations on identity as kids grow aware of racism in America," The Capital, June 7). I believe the referenced paragraph did not fully convey my family's patriotism and our country's responsibility to ensure that all of our troops know that they are equally valuable.

As a family, we love our country. My son is serving his country and he has deployed to fight for our country. When injustices like the George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery murders occur, it is very important for us to come together to fix the problem.

It's important for us to convey to all African Americans serving, and to the parents of those serving that the elected officials in our country are fighting for them as hard as they are fighting for all of us.

LATICIA HICKS

Annapolis