NYC’s Free Childcare Plan: Learning from New Mexico’s Success & Caregiver Raises
Zohran Mamdani, a New York City mayoral candidate, is proposing free childcare for all New Yorkers, potentially modeled after New Mexico’s new policy that eliminates income limits and copays. New Mexico funds its program through oil and natural gas revenue, allowing it to invest in a permanent fund and raise the minimum wage for childcare workers to $18 per hour. Mamdani’s plan would cost approximately $6 billion, funded by taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and corporations, and also includes matching pay with NYC Schools teachers’ salaries. Universal childcare aims to boost economic stability for families and attract and retain workers within the industry.
John Q. Hosedrinker