Mayor’s Statement on the Commission

As a new dad, my wife Veronica and I feel every day the hopes and pressures that so many Manchester families carry, and it reminds me constantly of our responsibility to give every child the strongest possible start. Earlier in the year, my wife and I were trying to line up child care for our daughter, and even with many advantages, information, and support, we felt the same stress and uncertainty that thousands of parents in this city feel. Child care is the second highest expense for families, only behind housing (source: October report from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute) . We found ourselves comparing waitlists, juggling schedules, and wondering how families with fewer resources manage to navigate a system that is stretched so thin. 

And the data shows just how thin it is. Across New Hampshire, licensed child care capacity for children under five has dropped nearly 13 percent between 2017 and 2024, even as the number of young children has barely changed. Providers statewide are operating at only 85 percent of their licensed capacity due to staffing shortages and financial strain. And the economic impact is enormous: New Hampshire businesses lose an estimated $56 million every year and families lose an estimated $177.9 million in income because parents can’t find or afford child care and are forced to reduce hours or leave the workforce.

That experience made something very clear to me: if it’s this hard for us, it’s far too hard for too many. Child care isn’t just a family issue; it’s a workforce issue, an economic issue, and a livability issue for our entire city.

My vision is a Manchester where every family, no matter their language and culture, neighborhood, or income, can access the quality care and early learning opportunities their children deserve whether in a center, home or school setting (Source: Redbud Consulting, polling for NH voters). We can build a city where parents don’t have to choose between earning a paycheck and ensuring their kids are safe and supported. We can build a city where early educators are respected, well trained, compensated fairly, and able to sustain their businesses reflecting the trusted early childhood professionals they are. And we can build a city where early literacy and numeracy, family engagement, and school readiness are woven into the fabric of our community.

This is not a small challenge, but it is one we can meet by working together across city departments, schools, nonprofits, and neighborhoods. It is an issue worth our time and attention since high quality early care and education promotes family well-being and economic stability, plus short and long term benefits for children resulting in higher academic achievement, greater likelihood of high school graduation and college completion, better employment and earning potential, improved health and well-being, and reduced involvement in the criminal justice system.

As a father, as a mayor, and as someone who wants every child in Manchester to have the opportunities my own child will have, Quality early care and education is essential to a functioning Manchester economy, enabling parents to work and provide for their families, while also offering lifelong benefits for children. I am committed to making that vision real. Together, we can create a stronger, more vibrant future for every family in Manchester.