New York City is inviting some municipal workers to apply for free on-site child care for infants and toddlers, Mayor Mamdani was set to announce at a news conference Monday morning.
The 4,000-square-foot facility at the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building in Lower Manhattan is expected to serve 40 children, ages 6 weeks to 3 years old — with extended days and hours through the summer until 6 p.m.
The announcement marks a first step toward Mamdani’s promise to expand free child care to younger children. While the mayor campaigned on educating kids as young as 6 weeks, his plans so far have started with 2-year-old children, who are typically less complicated — and costly — to supervise than infants.
The pilot was first set in motion under former Mayor Adams as an option for the children of Department of Citywide Administrative Services employees. Mamdani plans to expand access to all municipal workers in the building and DCAS employees across all work sites, according to a news release.
More than 2,000 city workers across a dozen agencies are assigned to the Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street. Renovations are expected to cost $10 million and be completed by the fall.
“Change begins at home,” Mamdani said in a statement. “As we deliver universal child care to New Yorkers, that work must include the public servants who keep this city running.”
Applications will open on April 30, with offers expected to be released in June.