At the Tenth Anniversary luncheon of the Great Neck/Manhasset Community Child Care Partnership, Inc., Town of North Hempstead Supervisor May Newburger was the keynote speaker, pinch-hitting for Representative Carolyn McCarthy who was fighting for tougher gun control in Washington and unable to attend. Ms. Newburger had high praise for the Partnership members who have been working to increase the availability and quality of childcare and family support services.

But May Newburger is angry. Twenty years ago when she was Great Neck's assemblyperson, she introduced legislation to fund universal childcare and now 20 years later advocates are still struggling to fund quality childcare facilities. She remarked, "We are the only industrialized country in the world that does not have affordable, accessible and excellent childcare for everyone." Ms. Newburger went on to state that dependable childcare is a business issue, not a "frill" and should be addressed by powerbrokers seriously. She advised advocates to "go after" state and federal officials to make this investment in the future of our country. In addition, she stated that childcare workers should be honored by being paid well, trained properly and that their status should be elevated and their work treasured.

From the applause, her audience was in total agreement.

Honored at the luncheon were Lilo Leeds and Ruddy-Ann Friedman, co-chairs of the Partnership who have been staunch supporters of the cause and enlightened leaders of the Partnership. The incoming co-chairs for 1999-2000 are Deedee Friedman and Debbie Klein.

For further information about the work of the Partnership, call Executive Director, Susan Stevenson at 504-0150.