Childcare providers ask for an extension of financial aid due to the fires

Esperanza Melo, owner of Melo & Reyes Child Care Center in Altadena, walked through the rubble of her patio, trying but failing to hold back the tears. 

“I have to throw away almost everything,” said Melo while looking at her belongings inside her house.

The fire on January 7 forced her to evacuate, leaving everything behind.

When she returned a few days later, she noticed the front of the house had minimal damage, but the back side was completely burned. The fire also destroyed dozens of toys, tricycles and educational and interactive materials. While the interior of the house didn’t burn, the excessive amount of smog and ashes made the childcare center inoperable.

She recalled the many years of hard work it took her to acquire her center's items. She said she has to start all over again at age 68, as she is the main provider for her elderly parents and the employer of five people.

As a result of  the fire, her son, daughter-in-law and five grandchildren were also affected, as they lived on the house's second floor and had to evacuate. Now, all of them are trying to find a permanent home while they stay  with family members. 

Hundreds of childcare providers affected 

Melo is one of hundreds of childcare providers scrambling to recover and rebuild after losing their homes and jobs.  

She joined her union at a press conference last Friday to request Governor Gavin Newsom to expand the financial aid to child care providers who lost everything during the fires. 

Max Arias, executive director of SEIU Local 99, which represents childcare providers, said that in the aftermath of the fires, 200 childcare centers in Altadena were burned to ashes or severely damaged. This affected about 1,500 children and their families. 

Arias commended the governor for signing an executive order right after the fires to extend payment for 30 days for providers. However, those 30 days ended on Thursday. 

Arias said that as providers continue to face uncertainty at this moment, they need the state’s help again. 

"We're demanding and we're imploring that the State of California act with the same urgency that they had 30 days ago. We demand that aid to child care providers be extended indefinitely, so they can start the process of recovering and rebuilding now,” said Arias during the press conference. "The families of this community need this. It's about providers, it's about children and it's about working families." 

Senate promises to introduce bills that will help

A second press conference held Friday afternoon reunited a group of California senators who said they are working on a package of bills that includes financial aid for providers affected by the fire. The bill package, called “The Golden State Commitment,” is expected to be introduced within the next few days and signed by the governor right after. 

“We are committed to continuing working with the Small Business Association to get those dollars out as quickly as possible,” said California Senate President pro-Tempore Mike McGuire.