Members of the New York City Council slammed Mayor Eric Adams’ proposed budget cuts to early education on Wednesday, pointing to some 2,500Multiple parents have told Gothamist they didn’t get any of their choices and were put on waitlists stretching into the triple digits.
As the lawmakers head into the final stretch of budget negotiations before a July 1 deadline, councilmembers rallied on the steps of City Hall and emphasized that child care was among their top priorities. They said free early childhood education helps alleviate the city’s affordability crisis, aligning themselves with working parents on an issue that is becoming a sharp thorn in the mayor’s side ahead of next year’s election.
On 3-K, the mayor insists every family who wants a spot will get one. Officials said there were 43,000 applicants for 52,000 seats, and the administration will now be working to connect families to open slots.