Mamdani took a concrete step towards providing universal childcare in the city. From his January announcement with New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, who pledged to help fund the initial stages of the program to the tune of $73 million, the city has designated the first four school districts, which will open 2,000 seats for 2-year-olds. The program’s intent is to relieve the costs of private care, often running in the $2-3000/month range, for any family who needs it, regardless of zip code, income, or immigration status.” The four districts targeted include northern Manhattan, the Bronx, eastern Brooklyn, and parts of southern Queens, where lower-income residents and communities of color are more common. For more on free, universal childcare, check out our latest story on the issue.