District 2 pre-Ok college students take over the mini podium as Mayor Mamdani unveils plans for town’s new 2K little one care program
Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
Thursday, Feb. 5, marked the thirty sixth day of Zohran Mamdani’s time period as mayor. New York News is following Mamdani round his first 100 days in workplace as we intently monitor his progress on fulfilling marketing campaign guarantees, appointing key leaders to authorities posts, and managing town’s funds. Right here’s a abstract of what the mayor did at present.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani introduced on Thursday step one towards a brand new citywide little one care program for two-year-olds — opening a request for info to recruit suppliers for each the present 3K system and a brand new “2K” program.
The announcement happened at Metropolis Corridor’s Blue Room, the place the mayor and Colleges Chancellor Kamar Samuels had been flanked by a bunch of District 2 pre-Ok college students who had been invited to take part. The occasion was framed as one other step towards the mayor’s aim of implementing common little one care.
“We speak often about New York’s greatest or New York’s strongest or New York’s finest. Today, however, I’m thrilled to welcome what are surely New York’s cutest,” the mayor mentioned.
The kids crawled across the room, chatted amongst themselves, and infrequently drifted towards a miniature podium and its microphones as officers laid out the plan. At a number of factors, the briefing veered into preschool territory because the mayor referred to as on the kids to reply urgent questions, together with what their favourite animals had been, earlier than returning to the coverage rollout.
The administration mentioned it’s launching a request for info (RFI) inviting new suppliers to use to supply 3K providers for the primary time in 5 years, whereas additionally opening the door for facilities to take part within the metropolis’s new 2K program.
The mayor mentioned present suppliers are being surveyed about whether or not they wish to increase their capability or add 2K seats. Responses to the RFI and surveys of suppliers and households will assist decide the place these seats are situated.
“For five years, new providers have been cut off from contributing to our programs,” Mamdani mentioned. “Today, we say no more.”
Mamdani mentioned town plans to ship 2,000 seats for two-year-olds by the top of this 12 months and increase to roughly 12,000 seats subsequent 12 months.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York Metropolis Faculty Chancellor Kamar Samuels introduced the standing of kid look after all and a pair of to pre-k on Feb, 5, 2026.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell 
Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
The supplier software window is open now and runs via Feb. 19. Households with kids turning three or 4 this 12 months can apply for 3K and pre-Ok via Feb. 27, and the mayor emphasised the method shouldn’t be first-come, first-served.
Colleges Chancellor Kamar Samuels mentioned the RFI marks step one towards implementing 2K whereas increasing 3K, and careworn that the system is dependent upon community-based suppliers. She urged facilities to use, saying they’re important to delivering high-quality early childhood schooling throughout town.
Mamdani mentioned the growth is tied to a partnership with Gov. Kathy Hochul that may present greater than $1 billion towards common little one care. He pointed to that collaboration when requested earlier within the day about his endorsement of the governor’s reelection marketing campaign, saying the funding dedication made the growth doable, at the same time as they proceed to disagree on tax insurance policies for town’s millionaires and firms.
Childcare: Mamdani vows to root out unhealthy actors
The mayor was additionally requested about allegations at a Shiny Horizons little one care website close to Columbus Circle, the place former staff have been charged with little one endangerment and different offenses tied to abuse allegations.
The mayor mentioned town terminated that heart’s pre-Ok and 3K contract and that the Well being Division is looking for to revoke its permits to function following earlier reporting from CBS that an worker allegedly put a cleansing resolution containing bleach in a classroom water pitcher.
“After careful review of them, New York City Public Schools terminated its pre-K and 3K contract with the center and has taken immediate steps to remove the program from our system,” he mentioned.
“We take a stand against any provider who is not following the city’s high standards for health and safety,” he mentioned, noting short-term closures at a number of Shiny Horizons websites and promising continued inspections and responses to complaints.
He added that every one new suppliers signing up for the brand new scheme will bear background checks, inspections and unannounced follow-ups in response to complaints.
Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
Advocates for expanded early childhood applications praised the announcement afterward Thursday.
New Yorkers United for Youngster Care mentioned the transfer marked a pointy shift from the earlier 12 months’s fights over 3K and pre-Ok funding, calling it an indication of a renewed dedication to common little one care. The group’s govt director, Rebecca Bailin, mentioned the administration has targeted on outreach to households and is now taking concrete steps to develop the system, including that many mother and father nonetheless can not afford little one care and that town wants to maneuver shortly to increase entry.
Regardless of the occasional interruptions from the kids, officers described the RFI as a concrete first step towards a brand new, publicly supported little one care system that may ultimately begin at age two. Extra particulars about seat places and the 2K software course of are anticipated later this 12 months.
