Mayor-Elect Outlines Strategy to Make Free Care Available from 6 Weeks to 5 Years
Confronting New York’s Child Care Crisis
Among all his campaign commitments, Zohran Mamdani’s proposal for universal child care may prove the most transformative. The plan calls for New York City to provide free, high-quality child care for all children aged 6 weeks to 5 years old–while raising child care worker wages to match those of public school teachers. His campaign estimates the annual cost at between $5 billion and $8 billion, to be funded through tax increases on corporations and individuals earning above $1 million annually. The policy directly addresses a crisis affecting millions of families. CBS New York reported that more than 80% of New York City families cannot afford the average annual cost of center-based child care, which exceeds $22,500 per year for a single child. This cost burden directly contributes to families leaving the city. Mamdani has emphasized that families with young children comprise 14% of the city’s population but represent 30% of New Yorkers departing the city, with child care being the second-highest expense after housing.
Economic Case and Precedent
Research from progressive economists supports the economic logic of universal child care. The Conversation featured analysis from scholars noting that the availability of affordable, high-quality child care would lead 51% of stay-at-home parents to find work, and roughly one-third of employed parents to work more hours. In New York specifically, this could increase disposable family income by up to $1.9 billion, while reducing the estimated $23 billion in annual economic activity lost due to parents having to leave jobs or reduce hours. The policy builds on historical precedent. During the Great Depression and World War II, both federal and local governments established emergency nursery schools in New York to support children while enabling parental workforce participation. De Blasio’s “3-K for All” program also demonstrated municipal capacity to expand early childhood services, though reports indicate Mayor Adams subsequently cut funding to these programs.
Implementation Strategy
Mamdani has outlined a multi-faceted implementation approach. His campaign website details plans to open more child care centers by sharing space with the Department of Education, subsidizing commercial rent, and easing regulations to accelerate development. He has also committed to a transparent transition process. When touring a child care center in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, in December 2025, Mamdani told reporters: “On the question of timeline, on the question of phases, these are the conversations we are having over the course of this transition. We want to be clear and transparent with New Yorkers.” While details on immediate rollout remain under development, economists from across the ideological spectrum have endorsed the policy’s economic fundamentals, suggesting broad applicability beyond New York’s borders.
