New York City

Advocates push for universal childcare for two-year-olds

January 14, 2025 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
Photo by Stephanie Wang/Chalkbeat
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EAST FLATBUSH — BROOKLYN PARENTS AND ADVOCATES are campaigning for city officials to implement “Universal 2-Care,” a program that would offer free childcare for two-year-olds, reports the New York Daily News. At a “stroller brigade” rally on Sunday at City Hall, families were joined by local politicians, including Comptroller Brad Lander and Councilmembers Alexa Aviles, Tiffany Caban, Shahana Hanif and Sandy Nurse, to push for affordable services accessible within 15 minutes of home.

The initiative would build on the city’s universal pre-K and 3-K programs, potentially benefiting 60,000 children, although with a hefty price tag of an estimated $1.3 billion per year. Advocates stress the urgency, as well as the economic benefits, of helping families stay in NYC amid the affordability crisis, citing annual costs for childcare averaging $23,400. Mayor Eric Adams highlighted existing childcare initiatives in his recent State of the City address, but has not endorsed this specific proposal. Meanwhile, Governor Hochul on Tuesday, during a visit to a Bushwick day care, announced a task force to explore statewide universal childcare.

The plan is also endorsed by grassroots organizations and providers of child care, including ALIGN, All Our Kin, Citizens Action, Citizen’s Committee for Children, Grand Street Settlement,  Fifth Avenue Committee, Neighbors Helping Neighbors and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice.

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