Voice of the People: Councilmember Wilson’s Opinion

Council-member Wilson’s opinion regarding GT Child Care is worthy of discussion. If Child Care is not the responsibility of the city, we must also look at ending support for the Senior Center. Clients on both ends of the age spectrum are worthy topics of civic consideration. Ending Child Care in that facility and casting employees into unemployment like human rubbish may not be a net gain for Grand Terrace. Where would the children go? Where would the employees go? Where will the loss of the revenue cycle go? The people, who work at the Child Care Center, spend their income in Grand Terrace. Parents picking up their children in Grand Terrace, shop in Grand Terrace. We were told in the past, the Child Care is self-supporting. If this is not true we should see real numbers, not just generalities. Consider, supervised children are not engaged in criminal activity after school. How many 80-year-olds are making trouble in our streets? What are the alternatives considered? The running of the Day Care could be done as an Employee Owned Venture after the City divests itself of employee paid in retirements and the city contributions made to retirement as determined by prior agreement. This makes the employees whole and the city free of Future Unknowns regarding retirement. The building can be leased to the GTEOV Child Care Operator for a small concessionaire fee of 100.00 per month or a nominal fee. Perhaps a Senior/Child Care Center in one site may be more efficient.