School may be out indefinitely for L.A. kids, but Mayor Eric Garcetti told our newsroom's local news and culture show Take Two today that he’s looking into a way to use federal funds to reopen recreation centers. The goal, he said, is to provide some kind of programming to help take care of kids during the day.
“[We’re] looking at some of the ways we can help in the summertime,” he said. “We’re hoping to have some childcare, which has always been permissible, or camps, which parents need to have – especially in low-income areas – if they’re going to get back to work.”
He framed it as an economic issue, saying that without some assistance, L.A.'s economy might continue to struggle, without a workforce that can clock back in, knowing their children are being supervised.
“Parents won’t go back to work if they’re kids can’t get back to school in some manner,” he said.
Garcetti added that the idea would need the county’s approval, as well as the passage of the HEROES Act, a $3 trillion economic stimulus package that has passed the U.S. House and currently sits in the hands of the U.S. Senate.
Take Two airs at 2 p.m. on weekdays at 89.3 KPCC.
LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH GARCETTI HERE:
READ MORE ABOUT THE PLAN FOR EDUCATION DURING THE PANDEMIC:
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