With a broad coalition of support, the signees are seeking an additional $900 million in the state budget.
City & State – By Sahalie Donaldson | March 26, 2025 04:00 AM ET
ith tens of thousands of New York City families currently at risk of losing access to free or discounted child care over the next fiscal year due to a looming budget gap, just about every city elected official signed a letter urging state leaders to move quickly to fund the vital voucher program.
Including New York City Council Members Althea Stevens and Lincoln Restler, who organized the letter, 47 of the current 49 sitting City Council members signed on, as did the Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx borough presidents, city Comptroller Brad Lander and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
The letter, sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins Wednesday morning, comes roughly a week before the impending April 1 state budget deadline – meaning time is short to secure the funding needed to fill the Child Care Assistance Program’s upcoming budget shortfall. The letter was shared exclusively with City & State ahead of its release.
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