More than 1,000 new 3-K seats opening for NYC residents, Mayor Mamdani announces

More than 1,000 new seats for New York City's free 3-K program will be opening up this fall, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Tuesday.

Mamdani said the free child care program is being expanded to 56 zip codes across the city, including six on Staten Island, which was left out of the first rollout.

Program expanded across the five boroughs

The city offers free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, but the expansion comes as some parents say they were offered spots far from their neighborhoods, making the program difficult to use.

"For too long, families were promised universal 3-K but offered seats miles away, forcing them to pay out of pocket for child care or leave the city," Mamdani said. "Today we're making a new commitment: government can deliver real relief from the affordability crisis. By making 3-K truly universal, we're building a city where every New Yorker can afford to raise a family."

"We are bringing programs into communities where families actually live and where demand is the greatest," Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said.   

Mamdani said Tuesday's announcement is just the beginning.

"So hear me when I say this: if you live on Staten Island, more 3-K is coming. If you live in Western Queens, more 3-K is coming. If you in the South Bronx or South Brooklyn, more 3-K is coming. In more than half of the school districts of our city, more 3-K is coming, and this is an expansion that will help to address long-running issues with universal 3-K, including proximity," Mamdani said.

And for the so-called "affordability mayor," this was all about saving parents an estimated $20,000 a year per child and keeping parents in the city.

"In a city like ours, which lost $23 billion in economic activity in 2022 alone because of parents who had to quit their jobs or cut back working hours, this has the potential to supercharge our economy," Mamdani said.

The mayor also said New York City Public Schools will notify families when seats have been added in their communities. Residents have until April 24 to update their application.

Families who already applied don't need to take any action. 

First phase of 2-K program rolled out

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mamdani announced the first four communities receiving 2,000 free child care seats for 2-year-olds on March 3.

Areas in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn were part of the rollout.

"Launching 2-K in these four neighborhoods is just the beginning of our work to put money back in New Yorkers' pockets, strengthen our entire economy and help more families build their lives here," Mamdani said.

Hochul said the state will fully fund the new program for the first two years. The first 2,000 seats come with a $73 million price tag, and the state is prepared to spend up to $425 million next year.

Applications will open this summer. 

Staten Island residents still miffed by 2-K snub

Staten Island was left out of the first 2,000 seats available for 2-K, prompting the mayor to go there Tuesday to undo the hurt feelings. Parents there were happy to hear the news, but also wary.

"Mamdani has a thing against Staten Island. I think that has to do with the voting, but, um, with the whole sanitation stuff with Mamdani. So I guess he's coming out here [to], you know, build the relationship back [up] with Staten Island," resident Jon Velazquez said.

"This 3-K program would mean the world, you know? Right now, I'm a working woman here on Staten Island, and so I would be able to do both work and also make sure that my child is cared for," Tatiana Sabatelli said.

However, Staten Island City Councilman Frank Morano had a reminder for the mayor.

"It's hard to ignore that just days ago Staten Island was completely left out of the first rollout of the mayor's 2-K program. Not a single seat. That was disappointing, especially since we only learned about it when the mayor took the podium to announce it," Morano said. "I appreciate the administration bringing more 3-K seats to our borough, but if the goal is truly universal child care, Staten Island needs to be part of the 2-K rollout as well. Our families pay the same taxes and deserve the same opportunities as every other borough."