Mayor Mamdani and Gov. Hochul Announce Over 2,000 Children Enrolled in New York City’s 2-K Program New York City and state officials announced that more than 2,000 toddlers have been offered seats in the city’s inaugural 2-K program, a universal preschool initiative aimed at providing free child care for two-year-olds. The announcement marks the conclusion of the first application cycle, which saw over 5,700 families apply for just over 2,000 available spots. Officials emphasized that the program addresses a critical need for affordable child care, with each free 2-K seat estimated to save families an average of $26,000 annually. The program, launched earlier this year through a partnership between the city and state, provides free child care at centers and family homes across five school districts. Governor Kathy Hochul allocated $1.2 billion in funding over two years to kickstart the initiative, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani has advocated for additional tax increases on the wealthy, corporations, and high earners to sustain the program. Hochul stated her commitment to expanding the effort, though she noted she cannot guarantee future funding at this time. The response to the program has been overwhelming, with 82% of families who received initial offers matched to one of their top three preferred programs. Over half of the families secured their first-choice option, and 99% of offers were made to programs listed on their applications. Most seats will be full-day and full-year, ensuring consistent care for participating children. Mamadani highlighted the program’s significance, stating, “The overwhelming demand for 2-K shows what families across the city have known for years: New Yorkers need free, universal child care, and they need it now.#new_york_city #2k_program #mayor_mamdani #gov_hochul #center_for_new_york_city_affairs
Former President Obama and Mayor Mamdani Read to Bronx Pre-K Students Former President Barack Obama joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a Pre-K center in the Bronx on Saturday, April 18, 2026, to read to a group of young children. The event, held at the "Learning Through Play Pre-K Center," marked their first face-to-face meeting since Mamdani’s historic election last year. The two spent the afternoon engaging with students, reading children’s books, and discussing the concept of "flourishing" from the story "Alone and Together." Obama playfully asked Mamdani to explain the word, prompting the mayor to respond, "Together we flourish! What does 'flourish' mean? Mr. Mayor?" Mamdani replied, "It means that we're doing really well," before the pair continued their interaction with the children. The meeting followed a private conversation between Obama and Mamdani just before Election Day, during which Obama reportedly called the mayor "impressive to watch" and offered to serve as a sounding board for his policies. Eyewitness News reported that Obama spent 30 minutes on the phone with Mamdani, highlighting their growing rapport despite the political divide within the Democratic Party. Mamdani, who has been in office for 100 days, is currently implementing the city’s first 2K program, which provides free full-day childcare for two-year-olds. The event coincided with the mayor’s efforts to expand early childhood education initiatives, a key focus of his administration. When asked by Eyewitness News about his assessment of Mamdani’s first 100 days as mayor, Obama hesitated, stating, "Well I'll tell you—I'll do this somewhere else.#eyewitness_news #former_president_obama #mayor_mamdani #learning_through_play_pre_k_center #2k_program
