This is not an annoying steering wheel picture. It marks one major event in my January—my nail artist moved out of the city. Because I couldn't find another artist I like as much, I now drive one hour every month to a town thirty-five miles away to get my nails done.

My nail artist moved for, in her own words, "child care problems." The average day care center in the city charges far more than she and her husband could afford.  She had two choices: pay the sky-high price for child care or move to a more affordable town. She chose to move. And let's be honest: The choice isn't really a choice.

And her family is not alone. Major cities across the United States are losing young families because the cost of living is a major obstacle to raising children in large cities. My city—San Diego—is experiencing the trend right now, ranking as one of the most "childless" major cities due to the high costs of living, especially housing and child care. At this rate, San Diego will soon become the next San Francisco—San Francisco experienced a massive population loss during the pandemic, with more pet dogs than children at one point. Even after the population returned, San Francisco remains the city with the fewest children in the US, because the loss of young families is often irreversible.

I'd hate to see my city become the next San Francisco. Surveys indicate that the younger generation increasingly values walkability, public transportation, and shorter commutes—precisely what large cities offer. Studies also show that long commutes are detrimental to physical and mental health. If it weren't for the high cost of raising children, large cities would be more attractive to young parents.

Raising children in a city actually offers many benefits to young families: neighborhood parks, well-developed community environments, and easier access to playmates for children. Meanwhile, cities also benefit from retaining young families. Young families are major consumers across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and retail, and also generate tax revenue for cities..

Luckily, another major event in January showed that some leaders understand the importance of making child care accessible.

Zohran Mandani became the Mayor of New York City on January 1st. His overwhelming victory demonstrated how deeply the idea of "making New York an affordable city" resonated with voters. And he didn't disappoint New Yorkers—less than ten days into his mayoral tenure, Mamdani, alongside New York Governor Kathy Hochul, laid out a plan for universal child care. This vision is commendable. His campaign broadened the horizons of American voters, turning the idea of "investing in young families" into common sense rather than a government handout.

At the end of Mamdani's victory speech back in November, he said, "Together, New York, we're going to deliver universal—" and to which the crowd gleefully shouted, "Child care!" In my twelve years as a journalist covering parenting, education, and family policies in this country, I've never seen so many young people chanting slogans in support of child care policies. It was truly moving.  Even if it's only in New York right now, I hope his rallying cry will inspire leaders across the country to go further and pave the way for family-friendly policies.