(The Center Square) — Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is touting her administration's plans to spend $4.5 billion on a statewide "universal" child care program as she seeks another term in office.
On Thursday, Hochul visited a child care facility in Queens where she highlighted a new pilot program she said will expand child care in Dutchess, Monroe and Broome counties, with $20 million in funding for each county. The plan includes expanding state-funded child care for 3-year-olds and eventually 2-year-olds.
"This is going to change the lives of thousands of families and children across New York, and I'm really excited about making sure that this happens," Hochul said in remarks.
The governor said the initiative would also benefit New York businesses — and the state's economy — by taking pressure off working parents to find affordable child care.
“Businesses know that they can be more competitive when they can open up their opportunities to everyone who wants to work," Hochul said. "When our parents go back to work, the economy roars, New York State is going to continue to realize its full potential."
Last week, Hochul teamed up with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to announce a plan to provide free child care for 2-year-olds, beginning with the "high-needs areas" of the city. Hochul has committed $1.7 billion to fund the first two years of the program. She also highlighted the plan during her state-of-the-state address.
Universal child care was also a key campaign issue for Mamdani, and Hochul's support for the effort has delivered the Democratic socialist an early win for his new administration.
A lack of child care options in New York is costing working families, some of whom are spending 20% to 40% of their annual income on programs, according to a recent report by the Economic Policy Institute.
The average cost of child care is $15,394 a year in New York, the sixth-most expensive state in the nation, the report noted. Child care costs in New York City are among the highest in the nation, ranging from $26,000 to $40,000 per year per child.
Last year, Hochul clashed with fellow Democrats and child care advocates over a proposal floated by lawmakers during budget negotiations, which called for spending $5 billion for a universal child care system for all New York families, regardless of income or immigration status.
Her new initiative comes as the Trump administration moves to freeze $3 billion in federal child care dollars slated for New York in response to concerns about fraud in public benefits programs.
Hochul is also seeking a second full term in office in November's election amid a challenge from Republican Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, who has been hammering away at the incumbent governor over the issue of affordability and her support for Mamdani's lefty agenda.
"If universal child care is truly a priority for this administration, then it should be implemented fairly and statewide," Blakeman said in a statement last week. "Anything less is an insult to hardworking taxpayers outside New York City."
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