A South Brooklyn lawmaker wants the city to foot the bill when it comes to low-income poopy diapers.
City Councilman Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend) joined elected officials, high school students, and advocates on the steps of City Hall last week to call for a hearing for his bill Int. 380, which would require the city to provide free diapers at domestic violence (DV) shelters, childcare centers, and other city facilities.
Treyger alongside State Sen. Roxanne Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill, Starrett City) pushed for passage of the public health bill that aims to subsidize the expensive price of diapers for low-income families across the five boroughs.
“Diapers are an expensive necessity and many families struggle to afford them. The cost of diapers can especially be a hardship for single parents, and studies show that moms who struggle to afford diapers are more likely to have depression. No parent should ever have to choose between paying rent and buying clean diapers for their child. Our city must show basic decency by providing clean diapers to families,” said Treyger.
According to the GOOD + Foundation, an organization aimed at breaking the cycle of family poverty through donated goods and services, disposable diapers cost $70 to $80 per month per baby and infants require up to 12 diapers per day, toddlers about 8.
“Supplying diapers to children in DV shelters and families in need at city facilities is not just common sense, it’s the right thing to do. Part of our job as elected officials is to address the health and well-being of the most vulnerable parents, care-givers, and young children in New York City,” said Persaud.
According to City’s Department of City Planning, there is a birth in New York City every 4.4 minutes. In addition, a 2013 Yale University study found that three in 10 poor mothers cannot afford an adequate supply of diapers.
“No baby should be exposed to preventable health problems that arise from being in a dirty diaper when our city could easily step up and make sure clean diapers are available,” added Treyger.
Other Brooklyn City Council Members signing onto the bill were Alicka Ampry-Samuel (D-Brownsville, East Flatbush, Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant), Laurie A. Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights), Stephen T. Levin (D-Northern Brooklyn, Boerum Hill) and Justin L. Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach).
The measure now goes before the council’s Committee on Government Operations for further review.
