Gov. Kathy Hochul rolled out a multi-billion-dollar plan Thursday to offer \u201cfree\u201d child care for all two-year-olds in New York City, while expanding pre-K and early child care programs in the rest of the Empire State \u2014 with no tax increases, at least this year.<\/p>\n
The Big Apple already has universal Pre-K and 3K programs, and Hochul said <\/a>she will partner with new Mayor Zohran Mamdani to age down the program to cover 2-year-olds.<\/p>\n She said she is committed to \u201cfully\u201d funding the first two years of the city\u2019s \u201c2-care\u201d program.<\/p>\n Governor Kathy Hochul at a NYC press crime briefing on Jan. 6, 2026. Janet Mayer\/INSTARimages.com<\/p>\n Mamdani made universal child care <\/a>a key priority in his successful bid for the mayoralty. His plan would eventually cover all children over 6 weeks old.<\/p>\n As envisioned by the socialist administration, Hochul said the first year of the program will focus on high-need areas selected by City Hall and expand to serve all interested families across the Big Apple by year 4.<\/p>\n In addition, the governor will help the mayor \u201cfix\u201d the city\u2019s 3K program <\/a>to achieve its promise of universal access.<\/p>\n Funding for \u201c2-Care\u201d will be included in the state budget, but will be paid for with existing revenue.<\/p>\n Gov. Kathy Hochul rolled out a multi-billion-dollar plan to offer \u201cfree\u201d child care for all two-year-olds in New York City, while expanding pre-K and early child care programs in the rest of the Empire State. Janet Mayer\/INSTARimages.com<\/p>\n It will not require additional taxes or other revenue raisers this year, Hochul\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n The Democrat is running for re-election this fall, and any tax increase would become a campaign issue and a potential political liability for the incumbent, who will face Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate for governor.<\/p>\n Democratic socialist Mandani, meanwhile, has proposed $9 billion in combined tax increases on millionaires and corporations to fund \u201cfree\u201d universal childcare.<\/p>\n Hochul said she is committed to \u201cfully\u201d funding the first two years of the city\u2019s \u201c2-care\u201d program. Paul Martinka<\/p>\n However, the idealistic millennial would need Albany\u2019s approval.<\/p>\n It could cost $15 billion to phase in universal child care across all 62 counties in the state, budget experts said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s one thing that every family in New York can agree on: the cost of childcare is simply too high,\u201d said Hochul, who calls herself the \u201cfirst mom governor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m proud to partner with Mayor Mamdani and leaders across our state to make this a reality, turning that foundation into a concrete roadmap that will transform the lives of working parents and kids across our state.\u201d<\/p>\n