“Expensive and challenging” - East Palo Alto Town Hall spotlights child care crisis
- David Rages
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
When East Palo Alto parents and providers were asked to describe child care in one word, their answers spoke volumes: expensive, challenging, frustrating, confusing. A few said awesome or nurturing, but the overwhelming sentiment revealed a system under severe strain.
That was the starting point for a community town hall meeting held in East Palo Alto at the EPACENTER on August 27, 2025. Parents, providers, and county leaders gathered to confront the growing crisis in child care across San Mateo County.
The event opened with remarks from East Palo Alto City Manager Melvin Gaines, who reminded the audience that child care should be treated as public infrastructure. “It’s infrastructure like roads and bridges are,” Gaines said.
System in Crisis
San Mateo City Councilmember Nicole Fernandez, introducing Supervisor Lisa Gauthier and Supervisor Jackie Speier, emphasized how personal the issue is for families and grandparents alike. Supervisor Jackie Speier echoed the concern, pointing out that while developed countries like those in the Nordic region spend about $30,000 per child annually, the U.S. spends only $500.
The shortage is critical: only one in three parents looking for care in San Mateo County can secure a licensed spot. Families face transportation challenges, long subsidy waitlists, and difficult choices between preschool tuition and other essentials like rent or saving for college.
Parents Speak Out
One young single mother from New Creation Homes shared her struggles, highlighting three persistent challenges: transportation, lack of vehicle access, and the difficulty of navigating complicated subsidy systems. There are two stages. Stage 1 is controlled by San Mateo County Human Services Association(HSA). So, if a parent is receiving cash aid then they do not qualify for child care subsidies from 4Cs Child Care Coordinating Council. Stage 2 parents in need with no HSA relationship do qualify for subsidies with 4Cs but on a highest need basis. The lower the income the quicker a family can get the subsidy, potentially leaping in front of families in need, but with a higher income.
Providers Under Pressure
David Fleishman, CEO of the San Mateo County 4Cs, explained why many centers are struggling to stay afloat. He said that subsidy payments are tied to attendance forms, which are still processed on paper and arrive up to 18 days after processing.
“What we control and what we don’t control is a constant challenge,” Fleishman said, noting that state rules force centers to provide care first and get reimbursed only later.
Supervisor Lisa Gauthier remarked that relying solely on paper forms in Silicon Valley is unacceptable. Fleishman agreed that a new system should be put in place.
Many providers said that they cannot rely solely on subsidized families, because delayed payments make covering costs nearly impossible. By contrast, private families typically pay at the start of the month, giving centers much-needed stability.
Searching for Solutions
Ideas raised at the town hall included:
A proposed half-cent sales tax to expand child care funding.
Building new centers, such as the one planned at Bay Meadows near the San Mateo train station.
Lowering the age definition of “infant” from 24 months to 18 months to better meet demand.
Creating a universal county portal to unify subsidy systems and streamline applications.
Creating a respite system for providers to access during emergencies.
Supervisor Speier called for a centralized eligibility list and single application system, saying, “We need to unite the subsidy system and integrate it.”
More Than a Convenience
Speakers stressed that child care is not just support for parents—it’s a lifeline for children. Many children receive two of their three daily meals in care and access to early learning helps prepare them for school and community life.
As the town hall meeting closed, the message was clear: San Mateo County’s families need solutions now. Or, as one attendee put it, “These are lives, but we spend more on the people, who watch our money than we do to people, who watch our children.”
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