“If universal childcare is free for all, the families who would benefit most over the long-term would likely be those already thriving economically. Meanwhile the financial benefits for those barely getting by, while vital, could become offset by the resulting increases in other costs.”
We have reached a defining moment in the movement for universal childcare in New York. Our Mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, rode the issue and just a small handful of others to City Hall. Gov. Kathy Hochul seems intent upon handing him at least a partial win on the issue, seeing it as a potential asset to her re-election effort next year.
The contours of her proposal, and for legislation, are being shaped now. It is crucial that we get this right.
Universal child care can be transformative, but only if it is built with an honest understanding of how wealth and economic insecurity shape the realities families face. Without that, even a well-intentioned program could help higher-income households pull further ahead while leaving struggling families treading water. The cost of living crisis demands a well-designed program that closes gaps rather than one that inadvertently widens them…