Democratic Socialists of America officials are pushing for extended full-day “free pre-teen care for all” across the state, with the cost falling on taxpayers to the tune of $13 billion annually, according to information obtained by The Post.
Brooklyn State Senator Jabari Brisport shared during a recent NYC DSA “Tax the Rich” meeting that the desired universal childcare initiative aims to surpass the scope of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s campaign promise by catering to children from six weeks up to 12 years of age.
Mamdani’s plan proposes free universal childcare for children aged six weeks to 5 years.
Brisport estimated that implementing this ambitious plan would cost between $8 billion and $13 billion each year, which is significantly higher than the $4.5 billion Governor Kathy Hochul has allocated for free statewide childcare in the next fiscal year.
Currently, the city offers free childcare and preschool from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for 3- and 4-year-olds through its 3-K and pre-K programs. However, Brisport emphasized that the DSA is advocating for a “truly universal system” that aligns with standard business hours, providing greater support for working parents.
“It needs to be a full day,” he stated. “It shouldn’t end midway through the day while you’re still working and, at the very least, should include $1.2 billion to begin improving wages for childcare workers.”
Brisport did not say where the massive sum would come from.
Critics like Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens) said the DSA must be confusing cash-strapped New Yorkers for an ATM machine.
“Our taxpayers are already burdened enough as it is, and now the DSA wants to basically double the deficit, so they can start their extracurricular indoctrination of the next generation straight from the womb until junior high school,â she said.
âThis is ridiculous. Money doesnât grow on trees, and New York City’s taxpayers should not have to shoulder this additional cost, so our children can be fed left-wing propaganda alongside their bottles every morning.”
Mamdani wants the state to tax millionaires and corporations to fund his universal childcare plan and other lefty pet projects, but Hochul has opposed the idea and, instead, proposed tapping into existing revenue.
Hizzoner has been vague on specifics but said his plan was inspired by Quebecâs.
The Canadian province offers parents low-cost childcare at $9.35 a day for kids from birth through 12 years old, including home-based and after-school care.
Both the moderate Dem governor and socialist Mamdani earlier this month announced the state would put up $73 million to fund NYCâs first 2,000 free preschool seats for 2-year olds beginning this fall. Thatâs $36,500 per seat â or 41% above the average yearly cost of private childcare in the city.
The state plans to kick in another $425 million in fall 2027 to fund another 12,000 2-K seats.
Doug Kellogg, state projects director of the conservative Americans for Tax Reform, said Brisportâs revelation about the DSAâs true goals for free childcare âshould make it clear New York is a five-alarm catastropheâ with âsocialists driving policy.â
âOnly a socialist could push to spend $8 billion-plus on top of the billions Gov. Hochul has already proposed for childcare expansion,â he said. “And that is piled on [top of] New Yorkâs highest-in-the-nation, per-pupil spending for first- through sixth-graders.
âThis is duplicative, wasteful, offensive, and unaffordable for taxpayers. It is radical socialist ideas like this that are fueling the slew of tax hikes proposed in Albany, on everything from crypto and gold to helicopter rides.â
The Mayor’s Office and the Governor’s Office did not return messages.
