Updated January 8, 2026 at 2:14 PM AKST
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's ambitious campaign pledge to offer universal child care took a significant step forward Thursday.
Appearing together, Mamdani and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a plan to increase spending on child care starting this year with the goal of eventually providing universal child care throughout the state for kids under 5.
In an interview with All Things Considered, Mamdani said the announcement means the state will commit $1.21 billion for New York City "to take the first steps towards universal child care."
The city will be able to fund fixes to make universal care for 3-year-olds "a reality" and work toward enrolling about 2,000 kids aged 2 this fall, Mamdani added. He also praised Hochul for her partnership and for her commitment to fund the plan over the next two years.
Unfulfilled promises have turned New Yorkers away from politics, Mamdani said, adding that "if we want people to believe in our democracy, we have to show them that our democracy can actually deliver for them."
Speaking to NPR's Juana Summers, Mamdani discussed how the city and state will pay for and manage the expanded childcare program, the challenges posed by the Trump administration's freeze on national childcare assistance funding and immigration enforcement.
Listen to the full interview by hitting the blue play button above.
The web copy was written by Obed Manuel.
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