Sidewalk Shed Rules, Military Member Mourned, Protests At Gracie Mansion, 2K & 3K Expansions, Bronx Landlord Judgement: Mayor Mamdani

MAYOR MAMDANI LAUNCHES NEW EFFORTS TO TAKE SIDEWALK SHEDS DOWN, REQUIRE FEWER UNNECESSARY SHEDS 

NYCHA making $650 million in façade repairs and taking sheds down at 40 developments across NYC 

New DOB rules will require sheds less frequently and keep open space uncovered

NEW YORK – Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced a series of programs to take longstanding sheds down, especially at NYCHA campuses, and reduce the amount of sheds required moving forward. The Department of Buildings (DOB) is advancing reforms to reduce the amount of shed coverage that is required over open space further away from buildings and to require façade inspections less frequently, especially at lower-risk buildings, potentially reducing the number of sheds that are installed.   

Mayor Mamdani announced the programs alongside Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg, DOB Commissioner Ahmed Tigani and elected officials at Highbridge Gardens in the Bronx, where NYCHA is removing sheds that have been up for five years due to unsafe façade conditions, which have finally been addressed. Highbridge Gardens is one of 40 developments across New York City where NYCHA is using $650 million in state and federal funding to make long-needed façade repairs. Approximately $400 million in repairs have been completed and sheds have been removed at over 200 buildings to date.  

“In the greatest city in the world, we should not accept darkened sidewalks and covered walkways as a fact of life. Our administration’s investments in shed removal and regulations to shed placement will deliver a more livable city by not just repairing NYCHA’s buildings but ensuring all New Yorkers can enjoy light and fresh air when they step outside,” said Mayor Mamdani.  

“Sheds may seem small, but they are a big imposition on New Yorkers’ quality of life. With these reforms — thanks to work by civil servants at DOB and NYCHA, the City Council, and state and federal partners — we will make real progress to take sheds down,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. “New Yorkers should be able to enjoy natural light and unobstructed public space, and that’s what we’ll deliver.”  

“The removal of shedding at Highbridge Gardens signifies safer conditions, clearer walkways, and meaningful quality of life improvements for NYCHA residents,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “We appreciate the Mamdani Administration’s support and look forward to working alongside the Department of Buildings to remove unnecessary shedding while we continue the critical facade repairs necessary to take down required sheds. With more than 200 buildings already completed through $400 million in State and Federal funding, we are making real progress in ensuring residents are experiencing a safer, more inviting atmosphere around their buildings and on their campuses.”  

“The removal of these sidewalk sheds is a great day for the residents of Highbridge Houses, and serves as another concrete example of the city’s commitment to safely remove sheds citywide,” said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “Efforts led by the Buildings Department have already led to a 17% decline in sidewalk sheds citywide, and thanks to this package of proposed agency rules for facade inspections and permit oversight we are primed to build on this progress.”  

Based on a study done in coordination with engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti, DOB will reform Local Law 11 façade inspection regulations to change the length of time between required inspections. These updates will extend the timeline for inspections an extra year, from five to six years, and will create an abbreviated filing program for lower-risk, well-maintained buildings that can lower hands-on inspection requirements to every 12 years – instead of the current requirement of every five years.   

DOB is also implementing new regulations that now require sheds associated with unsafe building facades to extend only a maximum of 40 feet away from buildings. The previous requirement unnecessarily mandated that sheds cover walkways and sidewalks that were much further from buildings, up to half of the height of the building. This change, a result of Local Law 47, passed by the City Council in 2025, means that sheds will cover less open space on “campuses” like NYCHA properties, multi-building developments and universities, allowing for more open space to remain uncovered for neighbors to enjoy.  

Finally, DOB is proposing a new agency rule to implement Local Law 48 that will enhance enforcement and oversight of sidewalk sheds. The new rule will include penalties for keeping sheds up for longer than 180 days, compelling building owners to more quickly begin needed façade repairs and provide DOB and the public with regular status updates every 90 days. These new enforcement and oversight procedures will be put into effect this summer. New Yorkers will be able to comment on these proposed rules in the coming weeks prior to implementation of the final rules. 

JOINT STATEMENT FROM MAYOR ZOHRAN KWAME MAMDANI AND POLICE COMMISSIONER JESSICA S. TISCH 

NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch released a joint statement on the passing of Police Officer Sorffly Davius. 

TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR MAMDANI HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE AT GRACIE MANSION WITH NYPD COMMISSIONER JESSICA S. TISCH

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani: Good morning. On Saturday, a protest was held outside Gracie Mansion, where I live with my wife, Rama. Neither of us were home at the time. This was a vile protest rooted in white supremacy entitled, “Stop the Islamic takeover of New York City.” I’m the first Muslim mayor of our city. Anti-Muslim bigotry is nothing new to me, nor is it anything new for the 1 million or so Muslim New Yorkers who know this city as our home. While I found this protest appalling, I will not waver in my belief that it should be allowed to happen. Ours is a free society where the right to peaceful protest is sacred. It does not belong only to those we agree with. It belongs to everyone. I will defend that right every day that I am mayor, even when those protesting say things that I abhor.

Let me also be clear about something else. New York City will never tolerate violence, whether from protests or counter protests. Many of the counter protesters met this display of bigotry peacefully, with a vision of a city that is welcoming to all. But a few did not. Two men, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, traveled from Pennsylvania and attempted to bring violence to New York City. They are suspected of coming here to commit an act of terrorism. There is a video of these two individuals throwing two devices towards the protest. The Police Department has determined that these were improvised explosive devices made to injure, maim or worse. Thanks to the swift and decisive actions of NYPD officers at the scene, both men were immediately taken into custody, and the devices they brought taken off of our streets.

I want to commend the officers who were on site. They faced a chaotic situation that very quickly could have become far more dangerous. NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards and Sergeant Luis Navarro ran towards the danger so that others could run to safety. They are here with us now, and I want to thank them today publicly, as I did yesterday, privately, and to thank the dozens of other officers who responded without hesitation. That is courage, that is selflessness, and I am deeply grateful to both of them and to every member of the NYPD who works every single day to keep New Yorkers safe.

As the NYPD continued their investigation yesterday, they found a third suspicious device in a vehicle on East End, between 81st and 82nd Street. Out of an abundance of caution, they conducted a number of limited evacuations of nearby buildings before removing the device from the area. Once the device was removed, those evacuated were allowed to return to their homes. I am grateful for their continued work to keep New Yorkers safe. Let me say this plainly. Anyone who comes to New York City to bring violence to our streets will be held accountable in accordance with the law. As this case continues to develop, I will remain in close contact and communication with our police commissioner. I want to say thank you once again to everyone who acted on Saturday to protect their fellow New Yorkers and to uphold the values of this city.

Now I would like to invite Police Commissioner to say a few words.

Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch: Thank you, mayor. Good morning, everyone. First, I will tell you that we are not at liberty to discuss many aspects of the ongoing investigation at this time, due to the pending prosecution. The suspects here, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, are going to be prosecuted in federal court here in Manhattan, and a complaint will set forth criminal charges and the factual allegations supporting those charges. After that complaint is made public, which I expect to occur later today, I will be able to say much more about the investigation and what we have learned in this case. But it is crucial that we respect that process and not get ahead of it. That being said, I can confirm this morning that this is being investigated as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism.

I can also provide some additional information, building on my remarks from Saturday evening. At that time, we were beginning to conduct preliminary analysis of two devices that were ignited and deployed earlier that day. One in a cross walk on East End Avenue and East 87th Street, and the other on the west side of East End Avenue, between East 86th and East 87th streets. That testing was performed by the NYPD bomb squad and FBI Special Agent bomb technicians in consultation with an FBI chemist. Preliminary test results determined that these were not hoax devices nor smoke bombs. They were improvised explosive devices that could have caused serious injury or death. Part of our initial investigation was to determine what energetic substance, if any, was used in the two devices. And our analysis showed that one of the devices deployed by the subjects contained the substance triacetone triperoxide, known as TATP.

Now, TATP is a dangerous and highly volatile homemade explosive that has been used in IED attacks around the world. Our bomb squad then rendered safe both devices. And as of now, explosive evidence samples are being sent to an FBI lab for further testing. Our investigation also led our detectives to a vehicle that was tied to the suspects, and yesterday afternoon, patrol officers found that car — a black 2010 Honda with New Jersey plates on East End Avenue between East 81st Street and East 82nd Street. Using a robot, the NYPD bomb squad was able to find another possible suspicious device and materials inside the car consistent with the first two explosive devices, and the area was immediately frozen and cleared. A limited evacuation of certain floors and certain nearby buildings was conducted while the officers secured the vehicle and removed this third device, which was transported to Rodman’s neck for further testing.

This third device tested negative for explosive material. Once the scene was secure and deemed safe, residents were allowed to return to their homes. Now we have been in a heightened state of alert in New York City since the start of hostilities in Iran, and we remain in that posture. Today, we will continue to deploy additional counterterrorism resources throughout New York City, including heavy weapons teams, canine units, aviation and more. The NYPD is vigilant and determined in our unceasing efforts to ensure the safety of this city and the security of its eight and a half million residents. We also cannot lose sight of how serious the situation was. The last time that an IED targeting people was deployed in New York City was in 2017 when Akayed Ullah detonated a device strapped to his torso in the pedestrian underpass connecting the Port Authority bus terminal and the Times Square subway station. No one other than the attacker was injured in that incident, and once again, we were fortunate that the devices used this weekend did not cause the kind of harm that they were certainly capable of causing.

But luck is never a strategy. Devices like these have the potential to cause devastating harm, which is why the NYPD does thorough counterterrorism investigations and treats every incident of this kind with the highest level of urgency and care, and it is why we remain vigilant. The safety and security of the entire city ultimately rests on the judgment and the courage of the men and women of the NYPD and on Saturday, we saw that in its truest form. When those devices were ignited in the middle of a crowded protest, officers did not step back. They stepped forward. With me today are two of those officers, Assistant Chief Aaron Edwards and Sergeant Luis Navarro, who ran toward a lit IED without hesitation and without regard for their own safety. Acting as police officers do on instinct and training to protect people they did not know and would likely never meet.

Moments like that remind us [of] what policing truly requires. Because behind every counter terrorism operation, every bomb squad response, every emergency call that sends officers running towards danger, there are human beings who make the decision to step forward when others are running away. Chief Edwards has been a uniform officer for nearly 23 years. He is, as of December, our newly minted borough chief in Manhattan, North. Chief Edwards joined this department after witnessing the heroism of NYPD officers on September 11, and on Saturday, we saw that same spirit carried forward in the way that he responded.

Sergeant Navarro has spent the past 11 years serving the city. He grew up between Puerto Rico and New York, eventually settling in Washington Heights in the Bronx, and joined the NYPD after a close friend encouraged him to take the exam. On Saturday, he and Chief Edwards responded with a calm judgment and professionalism that situations like this demand. Together, they represent the dozens of cops who are safeguarding that protest Saturday afternoon and the nearly 35,000 members of this department who stand watch over New York City every day. Our entire city owes all of them a debt of gratitude. And although I’ve said it to them many times already, I will never tire of it. Thank you for your service. We’ll now take some questions.

Question: I know you can’t really go into so much detail at this point. But you know, given that you are saying, this is an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism or being investigated. Can you just give us any sense as to what information you may have to indicate that this is possibly ISIS inspired? Also, the commissioner mentioned the heightened state of alert related to the war in Iran, any indication at this point that there’s a connection? And then just also, do you know why they wanted to come to New York and this protest in particular?

Mayor Mamdani: So, I’ll pass this over to our commissioner to answer some of the specifics.

Police Commissioner Tisch: So, Jake, at this time, we do not have any information that connects this investigation to what’s going on overseas in Iran. As to the other questions that you posed, I don’t want to say anything that could introduce prejudice into the prosecution or do anything that will make the prosecutor’s jobs more difficult. What I can say is that the complaint I expect will be unsealed later this afternoon, and once that happens, I will be at greater liberty to discuss and answer the questions that you pose.

Question: Mayor, you said you were not home at the time of this incident. Can you tell us where you were, how you learned about this incident, and what went into your thought process about why you didn’t speak about this publicly, either on Saturday, when the commissioner did, or on Sunday.

Mayor Mamdani: So, we had known that this was a protest that was scheduled for over a week, and I had known that there were precautions being taken, and I’m incredibly appreciative of the work that the NYPD both did in advance, as well as the work that we’ve spoken about having happened on the day and since then. My wife and I were at the New York City Sign Museum in Brooklyn at the time. We continued to be kept up to date as to what was going on, both in the midst of the protest, in the aftermath of the protest. And we also wanted to ensure that we were able to address New Yorkers directly and clearly with all the facts as we had them, especially given how fast-moving this has been, [we] wanted to ensure that we had all that together.

Question: [I’m] wondering if, prior to the protest, there was any credible threats online from these individuals, anything that you could see from their social media presence, anything like that leading up to it, that you’d know that they’d be traveling from Pennsylvania to attend this.

Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner, Intelligence and Counterterrorism, Police Department: Again, preliminary investigation, and you’re going to learn a lot more as the complaint is unsealed, but nothing at this time that would have suggested that.

Question: Has the team finished going through the devices of the two men associated and also, is there anything known about a possible third individual who is with them?

Deputy Commissioner Weiner: Those devices are currently being investigated, so that process is ongoing, and we have no information about a possible third individual with them at this time. 

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR ZOHRAN KWAME MAMDANI ON ONE-HOUSE BUDGET RESOLUTIONS

NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani released the following statement in response to the One-House Budget Resolutions: 

“The legislature and I agree: we cannot bridge this budget deficit on the backs of working-class New Yorkers. I’m grateful that the Assembly and Senate One-House Budgets recognize the scale of the fiscal crisis facing New York City. I want to thank Speaker Heastie, Leader Stewart-Cousins and the Assembly and Senate Democratic conferences for having taken meaningful steps toward closing the deficit we inherited, including by asking more from the wealthiest New Yorkers and by creating a fairer balance in the city’s fiscal relationship with the state.

“I’m also grateful to the legislature for extending the fare free bus pilot program in both One-Houses; as one in five New Yorkers struggle to pay for public transportation, it is essential we take bold action and build a transit system all New Yorkers can afford.

“The State’s support has also been integral to advancing universal child care, and I deeply appreciate Governor Hochul and the State legislature’s partnership to that end. However, we would not have been able to launch 2-K or begin to fix the issues plaguing 3-K without mayoral control. Mayoral control is key to delivering our affordability agenda, and I look forward to continuing to work with leaders in Albany to secure its extension.

“New York City is the economic engine of our state — restoring our city’s fiscal health is an investment in the state’s economic wellbeing. I am encouraged and heartened by the relationship that we have built with Governor Hochul and the State legislature, and I look forward to continuing to review their proposals and build upon the work we have done together throughout this budget process.” 

MAYOR MAMDANI ANNOUNCES MAJOR 3-K EXPANSION, ADDING MORE THAN 1,000 NEW SEATS   

New seats in 56 ZIP codes will make 3-K truly universal  

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced on Staten Island a major expansion of 3-K across all five boroughs. The City will add more than 1,000 new seats in 56 ZIP codes – moving New York closer to making 3-K truly universal for the first time.   

Beginning this September, families in five ZIP codes in the Bronx, six on Staten Island, eight in Brooklyn, 16 in Manhattan and 21 in Queens will see expanded 3-K access, delivering on the Mamdani Administration’s commitment to fix and strengthen the program.   

“For too long, families were promised universal 3-K but offered seats miles away — forcing them to pay out of pocket for child care or leave the city,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Today we’re making a new commitment: government can deliver real relief from the affordability crisis. By making 3-K truly universal, we’re building a city where every New Yorker can afford to raise a family.”  

“Expanding access to 3-K means giving more of our youngest New Yorkers the strong start they deserve,” said New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “Adding seats in communities where demand is growing helps more families access high-quality early childhood education that supports children’s learning, development and long-term success. This expansion reflects our commitment to meeting families where they are and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive from the very beginning.”  

The Mamdani Administration will add 3-K seats in more than half of the City’s 32 school districts this fall, including:  

Bronx (Districts 8 & 11):   

• 10461 — Westchester Square, Pelham Bay, Morris Park  

• 10462 — Parkchester, Morris Park, Pelham Parkway, Little Yemen  

• 10465 — Country Club, Edgewater Park, Throgs Neck  

• 10469 — Eastchester  

• 10475 — Co-op City  

Staten Island (District 31):   

• 10302 — Port Richmond  

• 10306 — New Dorp, Bay Terrace, Richmond, Lighthouse Hill, Midland Beach, New Dorp Beach, Oakwood  

• 10307 — Tottenville  

• 10308 — Great Kills  

• 10309 — Charleston, Prince’s Bay, Pleasant Plains, Rossville, Woodrow  

• 10312 — Rossville, Eltingville, Woodrow, Arden Heights, Annadale, Aspen Knolls, Village Greens, Eltingville, Prince’s Bay    

Brooklyn (Districts 13, 14, 15, 20 & 21)  

• 11201 — DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Vinegar Hill  

• 11214 — Bath Beach, Gravesend, Bensonhurst  

• 11217 — Boerum Hill, Park Slope, Prospect Heights  

• 11218 — Kensington, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park  

• 11222 — Greenpoint  

• 11229 — Sheepshead Bay, Homecrest, Madison, Midwood, Gerritsen Beach  

• 11234 — Bergen Beach, Georgetown, Canarsie, Flatlands, Marine Park, Mill Basin  

• 11238 — Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Clinton Hill  

Manhattan (Districts 2, 3 & 6):  

• 10003 — Gramercy, Bowery, Ukrainian Village, NoHo, East Village, Union Square  

• 10010 — Gramercy, Flatiron, Kips Bay  

• 10011 — Chelsea, West Village  

• 10012 — Greenwich Village, SoHo  

• 10014 — Greenwich Village, West Village  

• 10017 — Midtown East  

• 10018 — Midtown West  

• 10021 — Upper East Side, Lenox Hill  

• 10022 — Midtown East  

• 10024 — Upper West Side  

• 10025 — Upper West Side, Manhattan Valley, Morningside Heights  

• 10036 — Midtown West, Hell’s Kitchen  

• 10040 — Inwood, Fort George, Washington Heights  

• 10044 — Roosevelt Island  

• 10065 — Lenox Hill, Upper East Side  

• 10128 — Upper East Side, Yorkville  

Queens (Districts 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 & 30):   

• 11004 — Glen Oaks, Floral Park  

• 11105 — Ditmars-Steinway, Astoria  

• 11109 — Long Island City  

• 11356 — College Point  

• 11363 — Little Neck, Douglaston  

• 11365 — Fresh Meadows, Auburndale, Utopia  

• 11368 — Corona, Willets Point  

• 11370 — Jackson Heights, Astoria Heights, East Elmhurst  

• 11372 — Jackson Heights  

• 11375 — Forest Hills  

• 11378 — Maspeth  

• 11379 — Middle Village  

• 11385 — Ridgewood, Glendale  

• 11418 — Richmond Hill  

• 11420 — Ozone Park  

• 11423 — Hollis  

• 11426 — Bellerose, Bellerose Manor  

• 11432 — Jamaica  

• 11433 — Jamaica  

• 11436 — Jamaica, Ozone Park  

• 11691 — Far Rockaway, Edgemere, Bayswater  

These 56 ZIP codes were selected based on historical enrollment patterns, early application data and potential provider capacity.  

Families who have already applied to 3-K do not need to take any action at this time. As new programs are confirmed and added to MySchools, NYC Public Schools will notify families in those communities. Families may update their applications to include newly available programs until April 24, 2026.  

First announced on the eighth day of the Administration in partnership with Governor Kathy Hochul, the expansion is part of the Mamdani Administration’s aggressive push to deliver universal child care. Building on the City’s recent Request for Information (RFI), which is bringing new providers into the City’s child care network for the first time in five years, both new and existing providers will open additional 3-K seats in these 56 ZIP codes.   

As the City expands 3-K options, increasing services and program availability for children with disabilities where there is unmet need will be a priority.  

Today’s announcement follows the City’s recent launch of the four areas of the city that will receive the first 2,000 2-K seats. That program will grow to 12,000 across all five boroughs next year and reach full universality within the next four years.   

“The expansion of 3-K is a significant step toward easing the childcare burden on working families and supporting our youngest learners during their most critical years of development,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “As our city continues to face an affordability crisis, investments like today’s announcement help ensure that families do not have to choose between work and caring for their loved ones. I want to thank Mayor Zohran Mamdani for prioritizing early childhood education, and I am excited to see this initiative grow throughout our city.”  

“For Manhattan families, access to reliable child care can make the difference between being able to stay in the workforce or being forced to make impossible choices. Expanding 3-K seats throughout our borough will help more young Manhattanites get a strong start while giving parents the support they need. I thank Mayor Mamdani and Chancellor Samuels for continuing the push to make 3-K truly universal across New York City,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal.  

“Free 3-K is an essential service for New Yorkers, providing young ones with the foundation for success throughout their academic careers,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Thanks to Mayor Mamdani’s leadership, this major expansion of 3-K will ensure every family has access to a 3-K center close to home, and I’m thrilled to see new seats added in every corner of our borough. Yet another huge step in the march toward universal childcare!”  

“For four years, I fought tooth and nail just to make sure we weren’t losing seats, so to see this administration committing to 3-K expansion into every borough is nothing short of a breath of fresh air. This is what we’ve been working toward: a program that is truly universal, that meets families where they are, in every zip code, in every community across this city. Today, that promise gets even closer to becoming a reality,” said Chair Jennifer Gutiérrez, Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education.  

“This is a city for all of us and every child deserves a world class education. Your zip code should never decide your fate in life and now, with the expansion of 3-K across 56 zip codes, we are setting every student up for success. Investing in the youngest New Yorkers now yields positive outcomes for years to come. I greatly look forward to working with the administration to expand opportunity wherever possible,” said Council Member Eric Dinowitz, Chair of the Education Committee.  

“NYC’s 3-K for All has saved parents more than $20,000 a year and helped make New York City a place where working- and middle-class families can afford to raise their children. But when the previous administration began making cuts, the promise of universal 3-K was put at risk, leaving thousands of families out in the cold. In 2023, parents and would-be parents got organized, refusing to accept the status quo. Now, thanks to the Governor’s commitment to properly fund 3-K and the Mayor’s dedication to truly universal child care, all 3-year-olds across New York City will have access to the 3-K they were promised with quality care that, critically, are available nearby home,” said Rebecca Bailin, executive director of New Yorkers United for Child Care.  

“We are a family of four with a six year old daughter and a six month old baby boy. When our daughter went to 3-K, we saw how much early learning can help children. She became more confident and learned skills that helped her get ready for school. Right now, my husband is the only one working, and even though he works very hard, rising costs for groceries, rent, and everyday needs make it difficult to keep up. Access to early child care would allow me to work and help support our household while knowing our children are in a safe and caring environment. For our family, child care is more than just someone to watch our kids. It helps them learn and grow and gives us a chance to build a more stable future,” said Silvia, a La Colmena Staten Island mother.   

ICYMI: BIG WEEK FOR OUR SMALLEST NEW YORKERS – LAUNCH OF 2-K & EXPANSION OF 3-K  

Administration announced 2,000 free 2-K seats and expansion of 3-K to 56 zip codes

NEW YORK — Over the past week, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani visited classrooms and child care centers across all five boroughs to mark major progress toward universal child care for New York City families. In the past week alone, Mayor Mamdani announced more than 1,000 new 3-K seats in neighborhoods with high demand and launched 2,000 free 2-K seats in four communities across the city.  

Last week, Mayor Mamdani joined Governor Kathy Hochul to announce the four communities selected to receive the City’s first 2,000 2-K seats. Yesterday, Mayor Mamdani joined preschoolers on Staten Island to celebrate the expansion of 3-K, which will add more than 1,000 seats across 56 ZIP codes where additional capacity is needed – more than half of New York City’s school districts.   

Both announcements deliver on the commitment Mayor Mamdani made just eight days into his administration, when he and Governor Hochul announced a historic investment in child care: $73 million to fund the first year of 2-K and $100 million to fix the broken 3-K system.  

To keep New Yorkers informed, the Mayor visited child care centers in each of the initial 2-K communities, joined Gov. Hochul for a visit to a shelter-based child care center, released a video explainer on the 3-K expansion across social media, held two press conferences and appeared on several news outlets.   

Emmy Liss, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Child Care, also spoke with EducationWeek and Fox5 about the new initiatives. 

MAYOR MAMDANI ANNOUNCES HISTORIC $2.1M COURT JUDGMENT AGAINST BRONX LANDLORD, REQUIRING REPAIRS AND FINANCIAL PENALTIES

First-of-its-Kind Judgment Requires Maximum Civil Penalty and Repairs within One Month at 919 Prospect Avenue