MOTION-- Nearly 80 school districts and a number of private schools across Los Angeles County have enacted closures in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As the nation's second largest school district, LAUSD alone enrolls approximately 700,000 students. In response to LAUSD's closure, the District will be opening 60 grab-and-go meal locations for students, but LAUSD will not be providing day care or supervision for students during the period of closure, which may leave working parents with few options other than taking time off work. In addition to healthcare workers across the city, many Los Angeles city employees, including our sanitation employees, Department of Water and Power, and first responders in the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Fire Department, will continue to maintain essential services such as keeping our electricity and water on, performing trash collection, and responding to emergencies as they arise.
In the wake of school closures as a result of COVID-19, many of these employees will face difficult decisions when it comes to childcare. It is critical that the City of Los Angeles take every action to ensure these employees are given the childcare support they need while the pandemic is ongoing.
I THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council direct the Emergency Management Department, in coordination with the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Department of General Services, and other agencies as appropriate, to report back before or at the March 24th City Council meeting on the opening of designated emergency childcare centers that provide supervision and meals for the children of city employees, first responders, and healthcare workers.