(The Center Square) – A statewide universal child care program could cost state taxpayers roughly $14 billion, half of which would support families in New York City.
The policy is among several that Gov. Kathy Hochul says she shares with Zohran Mamdani, a day after endorsing the New York City mayoral candidate self-described as a Democratic Socialist.
“We had conversations along the lines of how do you get to that place someday, but you manage the rollout, so yes we have had conversations about specifics,” the governor said on Tuesday after receiving a COVID-19 shot at a press event in New York City. “My view was get to the election and we’ll talk before the next session, find other areas of collaboration but also he’ll have to bring a full list of what New York City needs to operate. It’s a lot.”
According to Mamdani, reforming child care affordability, eliminating city bus fares, turning grocery stores over to the government and raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy are key components of staving off mass migration from the notoriously unaffordable city.
He also wants to deemphasize police response to certain emergencies in favor of mental health resources, “Trump-proof” the city from immigration enforcement and raise the minimum hourly wage to $30. That’s the equivalent of $62,400 annually for 40 hours a week full-time.
Critics have panned the underdog candidate as “extremist,” but RealClear’s 18.8 percentage point average polling lead suggests that it is resonating with city residents.
As such, the governor faced sharp criticism for embracing elements of Mamdani’s far-left platform – a claim she says she doesn’t care about. Instead, the first-term Democrat prefers his independence from the Trump administration.
“If you read what I wrote very carefully, there are certain areas where I said I disagree with him,” she said. “I will always continue to reserve the right to disagree. This does not mean I’ve changed who I am.”
Universal child care support is popular within the New York Assembly, where Democrats represent roughly two-thirds of the state’s 150 legislative districts. Republicans, too, support expanded access, though prefer limiting support to lower-income families.
All agree the systemic issues are worsening the crisis: care deserts, low wages and labor shortages – like most of the country post-pandemic – make covering the cost a tall order.
