NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani Promises Free Childcare, Follows NM Model

UPDATE: New York City’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, has just announced a bold plan to implement free childcare for all children under six, taking inspiration from New Mexico’s recently launched universal childcare policy. This initiative aims to address the skyrocketing costs of childcare in the nation’s most expensive city.

Effective November 1, New Mexico eliminated income limits and copays for childcare, making it universally accessible for parents across the state. The program is not only set to ease the financial burden on families but also includes a significant pay raise for childcare workers, boosting their wages to $18 per hour. This could serve as a crucial model for Mamdani’s proposed initiative in NYC.

Mamdani plans to fund this ambitious program by introducing higher taxes on wealthy residents and corporations, estimating the total cost around $6 billion. This funding is essential for expanding the city’s childcare slots for children aged six weeks to five years. In a city where childcare costs have increasingly outpaced inflation, many families are forced to search for alternative, often less reliable options.

In New Mexico, the average parent previously paid around $12,000 annually per child for childcare, significantly straining family budgets. Julie Kashen, senior fellow at The Century Foundation, emphasized the importance of reliable childcare, stating, “Childcare is the backbone of our economy.” She highlighted how this policy will not only alleviate financial stress but also enable parents to maintain stable employment.

One of the challenges Mamdani will face is securing funding similar to New Mexico’s model, which benefits from substantial tax revenues generated by the state’s oil and gas industry, amounting to over $11 billion last year alone. These funds support a permanent childcare fund valued at approximately $10 billion, expected to grow to $12.6 billion in the coming years.

In an effort to strengthen the childcare workforce, New Mexico’s policy raised the minimum wage for childcare workers, now set at $18 per hour, which is significantly higher than the state minimum. This increase is critical, as many current childcare workers earn less than other low-wage jobs. Hailey Gibbs from the Center for American Progress noted that fair compensation, along with benefits, will attract more talent to the industry and retain dedicated workers.

In New York City, median wages for daycare workers stand at a mere $18.09 per hour, far below the regional median wage of $28.55. Mamdani’s proposal to align childcare workers’ salaries with those of NYC public school teachers, expected to reach around $70,000 for new employees, could significantly enhance the appeal of the profession.

As Mamdani prepares to take office, the focus shifts to how quickly and effectively he can implement these changes. The success of New Mexico’s policy could pave the way for a transformative childcare system in New York City, one that prioritizes both families and the essential workers who care for their children.

Parents and advocates are eagerly watching these developments, which could reshape childcare accessibility across the city. This initiative is not just about providing free childcare; it’s about investing in the future of working families and the economy as a whole.

For parents navigating the complex childcare landscape, these changes could be life-changing. Stay tuned for updates on Mamdani’s progress and the potential impacts on families across the city.