NEW YORK (WABC) — New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is not waiting to be sworn in to begin his work running the city.
On Thursday, Mamdani spent time with kids at Little Scholars Childcare Center in Chelsea.
He read to the children and reporters asked him questions about one of his top campaign promises: universal child care.
His plan calls for the city to provide free child care for those aged 6 weeks to 5 years old, saying it not only makes moral but economic sense.
“In 2022 alone, our city lost an estimated $23 billion in economic activity because parents had to leave jobs or reduce their hours to care for their children,” Mamdani said.
All of this comes with a steep price tag that his camp estimates between $5 billion and $8 billion annually.
While Gov. Kathy Hochul has vowed to help, the pair has different views on how to make the mark.
Mamdani wants to do it through a tax hike on millionaires and corporations — a move that would need state approval, but could possibly raise about $9 billion.
Before arriving at the child care center on Thursday, Mamdani met with business leaders and floated the idea.
“That’s a conversation that continues, and it’s one that I believe presents the most obvious way to fund initiatives such as this,” Mamdani said.
Questions still on the table center around staffing for the younger group of kids, space and eligibility.
Mamdani says fixing the existing flawed system is top of mind.
“There have been offers to families who live in Bed-Stuy for a three case seat, and when they look at the details, that seat is in Astoria,” Mamdani said.
But when pressed for details, Mamdani, who officially steps into his new role in three weeks, pointed out he’s not yet mayor but is hard at work preparing for the job.
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