47,000 children stand to lose their slots in daycare and after-school programs if these cuts go through and many of our viewers are concerned. In our snap poll tonight, 40% of you said you are directly affected by these cuts, with an additional 47% saying that even though you aren't affected, you are still concerned. We’ll see if the message gets through to City Hall – until then, we are likely to see a lot more rallies like today’s.

One day after City Council lawmakers debated proposed budget cuts to after-school and child care programs, children delivered petitions to City Hall protesting the plan. Advocates say more than 47,000 children are at risk of losing access to these taxpayer-subsidized programs, unless $170 million is restored to Mayor Bloomberg's proposed budget.

A final decision must be made before the budget is due at the end of June. Many parents are concerned about how they will be able to continue to go to work if affordable child care isn't an option. Do you support their fight to restore funding?

Should the Council restore $170 million to prevent child care and after-school program cuts? Will rallies and petition drives make a difference in influencing the current crop of elected officials? If the cuts go through, how would your family be affected?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

All these cuts are cutting off our nose to spite our face. Children need nurturing early in life. These programs are long term investments. We can pay for kids now or pay later in the form of prison, unwed births, welfare, etc. I wish politicians would see the big picture for once!

Teri
Jackson Heights

Better the children learn now: Life is hard.

There is no free lunch, especially at taxpayer expense.

David
Brooklyn

Cuts are always painful...

What does the future hold?

Damond
NY

These cuts need to be restored, the city cannot punish the working poor and their children, who are struggling to survive during these difficult economic times.

Felix
Bay Ridge

After school programs are essential for many families, and I sure hope the petitions and rallies make a difference. To cut funding to these programs at a time when families are struggling to make ends meet is thoughtless and irresponsible.

Barri
Jackson Heights

Well, if this is not a pathetic situation.

Seems there is million upon millions upon millions for park benches and pedestrian walkways (as if they were necessary during an endless depression/recession) - but no money for the very people whose money is taken and being wasted on those same benches.

Totally, completely pathetic.

Complete mismanagement.

I should run for Mayor !

Esmerelda
East Village

I repeat myself. Schools will remain poor as long as they are ruled by the government and the unions. No appreciable progress will be made until schools function on a free market.

Joe
Port Richmond

All of these city council members voted the very way this dictator wanted them to. So because of greed on all their parts they are paying the price for the 3rd term. This Bloomberg has a vision of what's to come in this city and so he could not see that there would be problems down the road with day care centers and after school programs. He wants to control everything and all of you still don’t get it that rich people are very sadistic towards the little people they give with one hand and take with the other. Schools are closing, planting ridiculous trees all over the place, bike lanes all over the place.

I could go on and on forever and ever and now I see that the fire house in City Island is threatening to be closed again. What the hell is going on? They only have one road out of the island.

We are not interested in their speeches and whatever rederick they spew on us and this Miss. Q. goes right along with the game that they play with our lives. Everybody falls all over her. Well, now you all pay the price.

Maxxiee
Morris Park

As with all cuts that affect education, early childhood intervention, and even healthy school food, I say...what are they thinking!!?? If we want a healthy, educated population, why don't we fully invest in those things as early as possible? Why do we build jails and stadiums instead?

We need the millionaire's tax.

Anni
Manhattan

FIRST, THEY WILL BALANCE THE BUDGET AND CAUSE ALL THIS HISTRIONICS FOR NOTHING. BECAUSE, AFTER THEY BALANCE THE BUDGET, THE MUCH NEEDED MONIES WILL REAPPEAR. HOORAY! IT'S THE BIGGEST MAGIC SHOW EVERY YEAR.

Joe
Bay Terrace

Why doesn't Bloomberg do just one thing for the people before he is forced out of his third term & help keep kids off the streets. He must have $170m stuck under his couch cushions.

Jeremy
Forest Hills

I am a daycare teacher who has been working in the system for 10 plus years. I presently work at a daycare center that will be closing and the centers name is Dawning Village in East Harlem. I have never seen a center where the teachers, the directors and the parents are trying to save this center. We go to rallies with parents and kids and we see children saying SAVE OUR SCHOOL. Mayor Bloomberg please restore the budget and this is not a babysitting education starts at the beginning and they are the future where will they go..

MRS. K

BLOOMBERG IS A COLD HEARTED MAN EVEN THE CHILDREN WON'T FAZE HIM

Pedro
Bronx

REMINDS ME OF AN OLD SAYING...."THE MARK OF A TRUE CIVILIZATION IS HOW THE YOUNG AND ELDERLY ARE TREATED"

DMD
Washington Heights

This definitely targets the poor. My sons school is closing in September because we live in a small ten project NYCHA housing and share a zip code with the wealthy 11201

Yvonne

It's extremely clear that Bloomberg cares little for the poor or struggling underclasses of NYC. In fact, his policies only point toward trying to eradicate them completely. This plutocrat wants to turn the NYC into Bermuda West, full of billionaires, high tech businesses and expensive tourist areas. The rest of us can go jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, so long as it doesn't interfere with his helicopter flights.

Gretchen
Upper West Side

I am a single mother of two children, ages 3 and 5. We live as a 3 family home in Staten Island, with one income. Child care is very expensive and vouchers for child care are very scarce to come by. According to my income, I am living at the level of poverty. I feel that I am working to keep my independence and not have to lean towards Public Assistance through the Human Resources Administration; how are single parents of younger children supposed to work for a living if we are paying bills and paying for child care with no program assistance? The children are not being thought of. They will not get the best quality education due to budget cuts.

I agree 1,000% - people should not have kids if they can't afford them. And this has ZERO to do with Bloomberg "buying" a third term. Get your issues straight people.

If the city is cutting day care funding (which I agree with), the city should allow parents to form day care cooperatives without the associated red tape and insurance requirements. Parents can pool resources to hire caretakers or volunteer themselves. Plus, I can easily see local businesses provide support and funding in the same way local businesses currently fund little league softball teams.

Joe
Queens

I'm not effected, but I'm still concerned. These kids are going to end up back on the streets without positive programs after school. The blame falls with:

1) the mayor for putting money first &
2) the people for not speaking out more.

Mike
Morningside Heights

It's the same old game. Bloomberg cuts, the council restores and makes political points. everyone knows most of the cuts will be restored. that's not the problem. The problem is a bait and switch, because while everyone is looking at the program budget and trying to figure out what programs for poor and working people will get the pieces of the constantly shrinking pie, no one, including the media, ever looks at the adminsistrative budget, which is infinite. Billions are going to private contractors for hundreds of programs like Citytime, where money is stolen and wasted. Billions are going to city agencies that are already top heavy with managment and new 6 figure management positions are created every day, but there is a hiring freeze for ordinary workers. Why can't some of the money from the administrative budget go to the programs that the people need? Wake up comptroller, public advocate and media and do some investigation into where our tax dollars are really going.

Meryl
Manhattan

I am a single mother of a 3 year old daughter. I work part time and go to school full time. I am able to work and be a student because my daughter is in ACS daycare. Unfortunately because of Bloomberg my daughter's daycare will be closing June 30th and am now at risk for not only being jobless but also having to withdraw from school, I am one semester away from graduating with my Associates in Criminal Justice.

Andrea

This story is just another example of people who have children they can't afford and expect someone else to pick up the tab. I totally agree with Claudia. Why don't people start living within their means and that includes having children? Why should 'rich people' pay for people who are irresponsible, drop out of school, go on drugs and have multiple children??

Joan
Queens

Claudia in Cambria Heights hit the nail on the head! Don't have children if you can't afford their care! Parenting comes with responsibility. Their should be licenses to have children. I have a dog. He has a license. And I can afford to care for him w/o help from the government.

Dennis
Hamilton Heights

These cuts are going to make it very difficult for families to survive. Subsidized childcare allows them to work and provide their children with the basics. It provides a safe learning enviornment for the children. These cuts are going to destroy entire communities. Early Learn is apoor idea that was not planned based on the needs of families. It is based on greed and stupidity I support the child care fight to restore the budget and keep our children safe.

Maria
Brooklyn

To all the people exclaiming that they themselves should not be penalized for poor people having children,

First take away health care and birth control. Then punish them for having children...

Not very logical. People living in a poor neighborhood do not become wealthy over night.

You are selfish!

Lisa

I am a working mother and my kids are now grown. I now own my own business and pay corporate taxes. I would never have gotten where I am if I was not helped during those 2 years when my family needed day care. I think most people like me would gladly pay the few extra dollars a year in corporate taxes that would cost to keep day care subsidies.

Are the people that say that parents are the only responsible for kids' day care cost implying that if these parents cannot pay is ok to punish their kids? Are we not responsible for our old and our young?

GS
Chelsea