Overview
- The city announced Monday an on-site child care pilot at the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building that will serve about 40 children ages 6 weeks to 3 years, with applications opening April 30 and selection notices in June.
- The center will run year-round from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., limit eligibility to full-time Department of Citywide Administrative Services staff and all full-time employees who work at 1 Centre Street, and target a fall opening after a $10 million renovation.
- City Hall plans about $2.3 million in annual operating funds in the executive budget, while right-leaning outlets estimated a per-child cost near $57,500 and criticized the limited access for non-city workers.
- To help families find care, the administration launched a citywide parent survey open through April 13 and unveiled a searchable map of more than 10,000 programs that lists hours, whether sites are year-round, and links to inspection reports.
- The pilot accompanies a fall rollout of 2,000 free seats for 2-year-olds with two years of state funding and recent additions to 3-K, which city officials say could ease average child care costs of roughly $20,000 per year.