NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — New York City parents marched with a brigade of strollers, toddlers and local officials at City Hall Park on Sunday to advocate for 2-Care, or free universal child care for 2-year-olds.
“Right now in NYC we have universal pre-K, we have quite a bit of 3-K availability, but oftentimes we hear over and over again from families that it’s really expensive to get to age 3,” Nora Moran, director of policy and advocacy at United Neighborhood Houses, told 1010 WINS.
According to New Yorkers United for Child Care, child care costs an NYC family on average $23,000 per child per year. Organizers argue that this cost is unaffordable, and forces working class families to move out of the city and into the suburbs.
“The steep cost of child care is pushing parents to their breaking point, and out of New York all together,” said Rebecca Bailin, executive director of New Yorkers United for Child Care. “Universal 2-Care is an important step towards reversing these devastating trends and bringing universal, public child care to all of New York State.”
Organizers outline 2-Care as free, universal, all day (from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), easy to apply to and in parents’ neighborhood (within 15 minutes of the home).
They argue that 2 is a critical age for children—with 80% of their brain growth happening before age 3—and that quality child care will both boost the city’s economy and set the next generation up for greater success upon entering formal schooling.
Parents say that with free child care, a major financial burden would be lifted and allow them the opportunity to enter or reenter the workforce. The city lost $23 billion in economic activity in 2022 due to parents leaving jobs or cutting back on hours due to child care concerns.
Stephanie Park of Park Slope, a member of New Yorkers United for Child Care with two children ages 1 and 4, agrees.
“We want to raise our family in New York City but the cost of child care makes it really hard,” Park said. “Free 2-Care for our family would be huge for lightening our financial load and help make some of our family’s dreams (like saving for our kids’ college funds, paying off student loans, and buying a home) come true.”
According to organizers, families with children under six are twice as likely to leave the city, especially those earning a minimum wage annual income of only $36,000.
“I love how NYC is an incredibly diverse city,” Councilmember Sandy Nurse said. “I don’t want to raise my kids in [a] city that’s been hollowed out because most people can’t afford to live here. That to me is not an interesting place to live and raise my kids.”
Other councilmembers, Comptroller Brad Lander, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, State Sen. Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Harvey Epstein also attended the march in support of the initiative.