LABOR, COMMUNITY RALLY TO STOP PROGRAM CUTS, SAVE CHILDCARE SERVICES

For Immediate Release rnMonday, September 21 2009 rnContact:Ruth Castel-Branco, 202 489 2273rnrnLABOR, COMMUNITY RALLY TO SAVE CHILDCARE SERVICES, STOP PROGRAM CUTSrnrnWashington, DC— As DC Councilmembers gather for their morning breakfast tomorrow, hundreds of District residents will mark the opening of the legislative session with a rally and press conference to demand a halt to the impeding privatization of public services in the City, an impact assessment of recently-privatized facilities, greater accountability in the way does business and stronger oversight from the City legislators. rnrnOn September 25th thirteen childcare centers at DC Parks and Recreation will close their doors. “I have no idea how I will be able to find childcare for my son,” said Jane Andrews, a member of Empower DC and mother whose son Andre was on the waiting list for one of the centers now closed. “There are so few centers that accept children with disabilities, I simply don’t understand why the Mayor is shutting down these high-quality, badly-needed child care services.” rnrnDefying emergency legislation passed unanimously by the City Council requiring an impact-assessment of closing the centers, Mayor Fenty has pushed ahead, handing pink slips to over 150 DPR workers earlier this summer.rnrn”I worked as a teacher at DPR for almost twenty years and have watched generations of children grow up, have kids, and bring their kids to the center. What will happen to them now?” asks Darlene Williams, a member of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2741 which represents rank and file workers at DPR. “The City Council has the responsibility to stop the closure of the daycare centers and reinstate the workers.”rnrn“Since coming into office the Mayor has consistently defied the will of the people in order to move public resources into the private hands of the corporate interests that fund his campaign,” said Roger Newell, chair of DC Jobs with Justice. “It’s time for the City Council to step up and hold this rogue Mayor to account.”rnrnWHO: Take Back DC CoalitionrnWHAT: Rally and press conference, with banners and signs. Good photo op.rnWHEN: 8:30 am. Tuesday, September 22, 2009rnWHERE: Front steps, Wilson Building. 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW.rnrn###rnrnTake Back DC is a broad-based campaign led by labor and community groups working to protect public services for all District residents, strengthen transparency in the way the City does business and hold elected officials accountable. The founding members are American Federation of Government Employees, ANSWER Coalition, DC Jobs with Justice, DC Statehood Green Party, DC Professional Taxi Cab Drivers, Dominion of Cab Drivers, Empower DC.rnrn