
CITYWIDE – WHEN THE CITY’S pilot of free daycare for 2-year-olds launches this fall, hours will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, all year long, in order to give full coverage to working and student parents, Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed on Thursday during a press conference in Brownsville, joined by state Sens. Roxanne Persaud and Jabari Brisport and Assemblymember Latrice Walker.
This move is expected to save working families up to $20,000 a year in childcare costs, the mayor said, and is being funded with the help of $1.2 million from the state. The initial pilot program will offer 2,000 seats, mostly at existing providers. Emmy Liss, executive director of the Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, also said the city was looking into expanding hours at daycare programs for 3-year-olds, most of which currently operate on a regular school day schedule.
The mayor also asked parents citywide to respond to the NYC Parents Survey, which is seeking opinions on childcare for young children and is available online on the city’s website.
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SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.

ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.