Laetitia B.

Mamdani: So we stand here together across multiple levels of government with the recognition that working nine to five is not just an iconic Dolly Parton song. It is also a reality for many New Yorkers across the five boroughs. For those New Yorkers with young kids, however, holding down a nine-to-five and managing pickup and drop-off at a traditional 3 p.m. time can be unmanageable. We see parents who are forced to either miss important work obligations, reduce work hours, or shell out for secondary child care. Last month, we announced the launch of Universal 2K, free child care for two-year-olds, starting with 2,000 seats this fall in neighborhoods just like this one that need it the most. In the time since, we’ve been speaking to New Yorkers about how this program can best meet their needs. As part of that conversation, we are gathered here today, proud to announce that the default model for 2K seats across the city will be full day and full year, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Now, that is going to be 10 hours a day, 260 days a year. A typical school year, as we know, only lasts 180 days. What this will do is save working parents at least $20,000 per child. Now, part of the $1.2 billion we secured in partnership with the governor as we build out a pathway to universal child care for children not just two years old, but even further, as soon as we reach down to six weeks and older, it is work that is at its best when it’s supporting the needs of working families.