One of the largest obstacles to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s plan to expand free child care is its reliance on lawmakers in Albany and tax revenue from wealthy New Yorkers, though a new survey Tuesday indicated broad support for that approach.
Nearly two-thirds of New York voters support universal child care from infancy through pre-K, paid for by raising taxes on the wealthy, according to the poll from Siena University.
“While a small majority of Republicans opposes free universal child care, paid for by increasing taxes on those New Yorkers earning more than $1 million, it is supported by four in five Democrats, and independents support it two-to-one,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said.
“It is supported upstate and downstate, and other than Republicans and conservatives, it is supported by a majority — often an overwhelming majority — of every demographic group.”
Universal child care received the most support in New York City, 74-20, according to the poll, which was conducted between Dec. 8 to 12. But the plan was also met with majority backing in the suburbs, 58-34, and upstate, 60-31.
Eighty percent of Democrats supported child care, while the remainder were opposed, did not know or had no opinion.
Just over half of Republicans came out against it, while 41% said the plan — including the millionaire’s tax to fund it — had their approval. A majority support from independent voters, 58%, could also play a role in Gov. Hochul’s decision-making as she gears up for re-election.
Hochul has already said she plans to work with Mamdani on universal child care, but the pair remain at odds over how to fund its rollout, which is estimated to cost $6 billion in New York City alone. Hochul so far has ruled out increasing taxes on wealthy individuals.
Mamdani, meanwhile, has softened his stance on a millionaire’s tax, allowing that while he still supports it, his priorities are the initiatives he promised on the campaign trail and not the means by which they are funded.
“We can share the costs more effectively,” said Rebecca Bailin, executive director of New Yorkers United for Child Care. “We can have a system that works for everyone with enormous benefits for our economy. And so, I think this poll is just demonstrating what New Yorkers have already been feeling: That this crisis cannot be sustained, that we need a more equitable, fair system. And that’s what universal child care would do.”
“Hopefully this poll gives, certainly the mayor-elect, of course, but also the governor, the energy, the fuel to go into session and say, I have a mandate from the people, and I’m ready to fight for you and with you.”
