Mayor Eric Adams has launched a new child care pilot program, that if successful, could make NYC the first major U.S. city to give free universal child care to low-income residents. The pilot program is all part of Mayor Adams’ “Best Budget Ever” for the Fiscal Year 2026.
To be clear, Mayor Adams’ child care pilot program differs from Democratic Nominee Zohran Mamdani’s universal child care proposal.
The new child care pilot program will specifically aid low-income residents with children up to two years old, funded at $10 million. Meanwhile, Mamdani’s plan includes all residents, not just low-income families, with children from six weeks to five years old, funded at $5 billion by taxing the uber-wealthy.
Although Mamdani’s proposal is on much larger scale, Adams’ new pilot program is a step toward universal child care in NYC.
Who is eligible?
Eligible families must be low-income with children two years of age and younger. Income thresholds have yet to be announced. The pilot program is not universal and will prioritize hundreds of families with the greatest need.
Some of Adams’ other budget revisions include:
- Increasing funding for programs that provide free legal funding to immigrants
- Establishing the LGBTQ+ Emergency Support Fund
- Supporting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Supporting community-based gang violence intervention program, “Project Restore”
- Position openings within the New York City Emergency Management Department
- Creating the Department of Sustainable Delivery within NYC DOT to regulate commercial e-bikes
- Funding for pro-bono attorneys who aid unaccompanied minor immigrants in removal proceedings
- Funding increase to operating support of NYC’s Cultural Institutions Group
- Investments Intensive Mobile Treatment teams and Assertive Community Treatment
- Funding for criminal justice initiatives
- Funding to hire 170 additional parks enforcement patrol officers, gardeners, and city park workers for the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
- Funding to create the South Bronx Community Justice Center
- Funding to provide legal services in divorce proceedings for domestic violence survivors
“We are excited to announce that the ‘Best Budget Ever’ has gotten even better,” said Mayor Adams. “Once again, our administration is proud to have worked with City Council Speaker Adams and the whole City Council to successfully deliver a responsible, on-time, and balanced Fiscal Year 2026 Adopted Budget that prioritizes public safety, affordability, and improved quality of life for all New Yorkers.”
See more of what the Fiscal Year 2026 budget includes on the official website of NYC.