New York City parents may soon have access to free child care for their two-year-olds, under a plan unveiled Thursday by Gov Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani — a major boon for the city's mayor on one of his signature campaign promises just days into his new job. ADVERTISEMENT“This is the day that everything changes,” Hochul said, also debuting a proposal to expand statewide access to child care in the coming years. The governor said she is committing to funding the first two years of the city's free child care programme for 2-year-olds, describing it as an expansion of the city's existing universal pre-K and 3-K programmes. The first year will focus on “high-need areas” selected by the city, then expand across the city by its fourth year, according to the statement. Rebecca Bailin, executive director for the advocacy group New Yorkers United for Child Care, called the plan a “historic moment,” adding: “By bringing together the Governor and Mayor around a shared commitment to child care, tens of thousands of families could finally get the relief they desperately need.”

Source: The Telegraph January 09, 2026 19:22 UTC