New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani got an early win on a signature policy proposal thanks to Gov. Kathy Hochul.
On Jan. 8, Hochul announced the city and state would partner on a plan to launch free universal childcare for 2-year-old children in New York City. Mamdani, a week into taking office, had centered no-cost childcare for New Yorkers in his winning campaign to address cost of living.
The two Democrats need each other — Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has to make good on sweeping proposals in the nation’s largest city, and Hochul, a moderate, needs to show receipts as she faces re-election in 2026. The childcare plan, part of Hochul's budget proposal, would need approval by the Legislature as part of the state's budget.
New York City already has universal preschool for 4-year-old children, and offers 3-K, or early childhood education for 3-year-old students.
Hochul and Mamdani are set to launch the free childcare program beginning at 2 years old within New York City. Hochul’s office said she is committed to fully funding the first two years of the expansion.
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