Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani: Good morning, Boerum Hill. It is a joy to be gathered here to celebrate the opening of 274 Atlantic Avenue, a child care center to serve every family who calls School District 15 home. Despite this being a ribbon cutting, we know that scissors and toddlers are not the greatest combination, which is why we have just held what some historians are saying may be the first ever ribbon running in New York City history. Now, today has been a long time coming, and before we begin this event, I really just want to first and foremost say thank you to the parents and the advocates in this community who have ensured that this was not only possible, but that we were able to deliver this.
So, if we could have a round of applause for everyone who's been a part of that. To that end, I also really want to recognize the efforts of Council Member Lincoln Restler, who seems to maybe have a personal interest in this, but who has been a steadfast champion. And to be here alongside our school's chancellor, Kamar Samuels, as well as our executive director of the Mayor's Office of Child Care, Emmy Liss, all of this together is what makes today such a special thing. And I also want to recognize we have representatives here from the Office of Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon as well.
Now, universal Pre-K and 3-K were incredible achievements for our city, and yet we also know that the system as it was, was an imperfect one. It was one where families were still struggling to find options closer to home. And we saw that too often there were working parents across the city who were being forced to pick between free child care that was being offered to them many, many miles away, or spending $20,000 per child per year for an option closer to home. And I think about parents who live in District 15, frankly, who've waited so long for a child care seat, only to be offered one in Astoria, only to be offered one more than an hour away by train.
And universal child care means meeting parents wherever they are, no matter where they live, no matter how much money they earn. And so one of the things that was most exciting about day eight of our administration when we stood alongside Governor Hochul to announce $1.2 billion to invest in the pathway to universal child care was not simply that it would unlock the city's ability to deliver free child care for two-year-olds for the first time in New York City history but that we would also be able to meet the demand of parents for free child care for three-year-olds. And so, today is part of that announcement we made, where we are adding 1,000 additional seats across the city to universal 3-K. Tough audience. Now, this part of District 15 is home to two NYCHA developments, Gowanus Houses and Wyckoff Gardens. And Downtown Brooklyn has seen a much-needed growth of affordable and mixed-income housing over recent years. And yet the cost of child care has stayed far higher than what low- to middle-income parents can afford.
Now, we are standing here at a center where the city had signed a lease in 2021, a center that was ready for children in 2023, and yet it was left vacant by the prior administration for three years. Now, I know that has been a point of pain and frustration, frankly, for parents who were struggling to make ends meet, struggling to find affordable child care close to home, only to have to walk past the shuttered doors of a center that could have provided that exact thing for them.
Now, that is going to change this fall as we open the center to provide 63 3-K and Pre-K seats right here at this very site. Now, we made the announcement that we were adding 1,000 seats in total thus far. We have announced last week that we are going to open what were seven vacant DOE-run sites. We are going to transform them into ones that will provide 240 seats. Today, as part of this announcement, it is bringing to life 450 seats across the city entirely. That brings, to date, this 3-K expansion to about 700 seats, part of that total expansion that will end up yielding more than 1,000.
Now, this is just the beginning of our efforts. We are looking to do everything that we can to bring more seats online so that it can serve every single family across the five boroughs because we are tired of politics that condescend to parents and ask why there are not more children being brought up in the city without having to answer the question of how we will make it more affordable to actually do so. Today is one step towards that, and it's such a pleasure to be doing so alongside so many incredible leaders here in New York City. And with that, I'm going to pass it over to our school chancellor, Chancellor Samuels.
Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels, New York City Public Schools: Good morning. When I say three, you say K. Three?
Crowd: K!
Chancellor Samuels: Awesome. No, look, you know, it's three and a half months on the job, and, you know, as the leader of the Tweed building, I have to say I think I found the most efficient way to cut through red tape this morning. I ran down the hall with a bunch of three-year-olds, and we went through tape. It was very, very easy. I want to take them back to Tweed with me. I have a lot of red tape to cut through.
So, let's just say, you know, at NYC Public Schools, we are committed to giving our children the best possible start to their academic journey. In our early childhood programs, your youngest, our cutest learners, are truly students exploring language, art, even geometry and civics all through play. I want for our city's children what every parent wants, a safe, trusted program that offers high-quality early childhood education. I know how valuable access to these programs is for our busy working families, which is why I am so proud that we [were] able to add seven new programs to my schools last week. This investment in New York's cutest will open the door for nearly 500 three- and four-year-olds to attend 3-K and Pre-K in their own neighborhoods.
Mayor Mamdani: And now, Council Member Lincoln Restler with a special guest.
Council Member Lincoln Restler: Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor and Chancellor Samuels. Elliot and I are very excited to be here, aren't we, Elliot? You know, when Emmy was in a different job over four years ago, she helped to identify sites all across the city that could help achieve universal 3-K. And I came in as a Council Member in January of 2022, and this site was under construction. And I was calling the SCA literally every month to say, "When is this site going to open up"? Right, Elliot? And finally, in September of 2022, construction was completed, and then the site sat vacant. And after DOE hearing, after DOE hearing, I would ask questions. I would push the multiple chancellors and all their senior teams about what the heck was going on at this vacant 3-K site [and] this vacant Pre-K site in our community. And nothing. Just nothing. Until this guy was elected.
And now, all across the city, Mayor Mamdani and the team at the DOE, especially - I want to shout out Deputy Chancellor Hawkins - let's give someone a big round of applause who's been a great partner on this, are opening these vacant early childhood sites. The city spent $10.6 million to renovate this building. We've been paying a monthly lease at this building for the last four years, and there's been no kids getting educated. This past year, there were over 1,600 applications for 3-K seats in District 15, but only 1,500 seats. We didn't actually have enough seats to meet demand, and we had empty sites like this one sitting vacant.
It's disgraceful what had happened over the last four years and the failure to actually achieve universal 3-K. With the resources that Mayor Mamdani has helped secure from Albany, we're adding the seats that we need in the communities that don't have enough capacity. We are actually achieving the promise of universal 3-K. It should have happened four years ago. There's no reason that we've had to suffer from this delay. It's been devastating for working families, right, Elliot?
But we finally have the child care that we need in this community, and as the mayor noted, for families in Gowanus Houses, for families in Wyckoff Gardens [and] for families across the diversity of District 15, which stretches to Sunset Park and Red Hook, families are going to finally have 3-K seats in their community, and that is a game changer, because the number one demographic of people who are leaving New York are families with young children who just can't afford it. You know, I'm lucky to have the best nanny in the world. You know, Marjorie's amazing. Everybody should have the same high-quality child care, and with this new 3-K and Pre-K Center at 274 Atlantic, our community's going to finally have the excellent, free, high-quality child care that we all deserve. So, thanks to you all who helped make this happen. And hopefully one day, this guy will be coming here.
Question: So, I wanted to ask, you mentioned the two NYCHA developments that are in the neighborhood. Are families from those houses going to be prioritized with these seats, and is this going to be opening this fall?
Mayor Mamdani: This is going to be opening this fall. As you can hear, there's a lot of excitement about that, and this is going to be for families across this district. And also, just to once again underline, today we're announcing not just this district, but also Districts 11, 15, 22, 24, 25. We're speaking about districts across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens. And as the chancellor made clear, we're going to be reaching out to families that are eligible for this application so that they know. Because as you may be aware of the fact, many families have already applied for these seats, and we're letting them know that there's a way for them to also add this into consideration. And we're also going to be letting know those residents at NYCHA houses in the same district.
Council Member Restler: One of the big changes that we saw during the Adams administration was that they essentially eliminated early childhood outreach. So that is a huge change that's happened since the mayor has come into office. We're actually showing up and engaging families who need to know about 3K and Pre-K. So that means that the team at the DOE is showing up at Wyckoff Gardens and showing up at Gowanus Houses, showing up in the places in our community where we need to get the word out to ensure that they're applying and taking advantage of the new capacity in our community.
Question: Okay. Applications for 2K closed a couple months ago. Can you tell us what you know about the numbers when they'll be released and what they're saying about demand?
Mayor Mamdani: So, it was for 3K. 2K will be coming up this summer, and we'll be excited to share more details on that as we get closer to it. For 3K and Pre-K, we're seeing estimates that are lining up with where we were last year, and we're seeing still the cleaning out of those individualized applications to ensure that we have the up-to-date statistics for each of the sets. We'll be sure to keep you updated as we have more on that.
Question: Yeah, I guess just following up on that, what do you make of if the numbers are kind of the same as last year, despite a big push in putting out [inaudible] parents? How do you make sense of that? Did the push not work?
Mayor Mamdani: I think we have to also understand that, as the Council Member said, we were inheriting an outreach team that had been really disbanded, frankly, without trying to dance around it. We're seeing years of a lack of outreach to parents across the city, and so we always knew that in this first year, it would be the first step in continued outreach that would need to be maintained over many years. Because what we want to ensure is that every single person in this city knows. We're proud of the efforts that we had, and we do see them as successful, especially given that we're going to be expanding the number of seats right now, announcing an expansion. 2K will also be coming out with an application portal, and we'll see those numbers continue to reflect that. Thank you so much.
Question: As you know, mayors are blamed for everything. And you are now being blamed for the Mets' 11-game losing streak, claiming that you put a curse on them when you hugged Mr. Met. So, I wonder how you feel about being blamed for the Mets' failure to perform. And also, if there's anything you can do to relieve the curse that has now been put on the team.
Mayor Mamdani: I'll first say that there's a lot of baseball left to be played. And I am still keeping the faith, as I know that many Mets fans are across the city, though I will accept being addressed as Mayor Mambino for the day.
Question: So, is there anything that you can do to help them? I mean, can you wave a magic wand and say, the curse is gone?
Mayor Mamdani: You know, I will keep my fingers crossed, as every Mets fan does. And I think that this is part and parcel of what it means to be the mayor. You take it in stride.
Question: Well, I was wondering, maybe you would put a Mets cap on for like a day, a week, you know, like just to - I wear my Mets hat from time to time, and I'm going to send all the best wishes to the team.
Question: Mayor, as much as I'd love to commiserate with you about the Knicks, a serious question for you. There have been a number of high-profile meetings at the intersection of the Brooklyn incident where a man appears on video to be roughed up by police. Do you have an update on that situation, any actions you're taking out of your office or the commissioner's office, and a reaction to just in the PBA filing a lawsuit against the city alleging that officers' disciplinary records were made public unlawfully, including identifying information?
Mayor Mamdani: So, we'll follow up on that lawsuit. On your first question, however, I will share that after watching that video, I spoke with my police commissioner and decided the NYPD needed to take immediate and decisive steps to ensure accountability and to address the serious concerns that were raised by the incident last week in a Cobble Hill liquor store. That includes a 90-day top-to-bottom review of the Narcotics Section, stronger oversight through audits, and a comprehensive review of training, of equipment, of operational practices - that includes stricter oversight of body-worn camera requirements during arrests. Now what we all saw in that video was deeply disturbing and unacceptable.
The two officers involved, along with a supervising agent, have had their responsibilities changed. They are on modified duty, and the entire team that was part of that operation has been disbanded. That is the captain, the several additional members of the team having been reassigned as part of those accountability measures, and all of this is part and parcel of the commitment that I made in light of a number of constituents in the neighborhood sharing that it wasn't simply this incident that troubled them, but that this incident was part of a larger number of concerns that had been shared around these operations, and so we take that very seriously.
Question: Can you say a little bit more about what these reviews of the various teams will entail? Who will be leading those reviews, is that left to Commissioner Tisch or someone she's appointed? Can you give us a little more about what you mean?
Mayor Mamdani: So, this all falls within the purview of Commissioner Tisch. The two of us are very much aligned on the necessity of a broader review as opposed to just an incident-based review, and when you look at that incident, you see a number of practices that are troubling. Part of the reason that we are speaking about the importance of stricter body-worn camera requirements is that we saw the absence of that in that incident. Part of the reason that we're talking about a review that goes beyond just those two officers is that constituents have come forward and said that they have been troubled by the actions and the ways in which the city has pursued these kinds of practices, and so we're talking about a 90-day review that is going to be comprehensive, that is focused on the Narcotics unit, and that looks at a variety of policies, big and small, that have been driving much of that work over these last few weeks and months.
Question: Yesterday, [the] previous mayor's [inaudible] commission met for the first time. The legal representative, Randy Mastro, of the commission mentioned that he hasn't gotten any assurances that it'll stay alive. Is your goal to kill that commission? Then I wanted to ask you, the school's calendar for this upcoming year just came out, and the school year doesn't start until September 10th, which is really late, and for many parents, that means an extra week of having to pay for summer camp, rejiggering their vacation plans. I mean, what's your message to parents that now feel like the calendar is - their children are starting later and later and later, and your agenda's about affordability, but this is going to cost them more money?
Mayor Mamdani: The calendar is something that comes as a result of negotiations between New York City Public School System and UFT, our partners in labor, and that is something that we've just released. We take very seriously the responsibility we have to parents across the city. Part of the reason that we are so excited about sharing, for example, the opening of this child care center is that we are looking at the ways in which the city can make it easier for parents to raise a child in this city. And also, what we shared with regard to 2K is that when it comes to younger children in our school system, we are speaking about a full day coverage of those same kids. Now, to your first question, what I will say is that we are reviewing all of the options that we have when it comes to this previously set up charter review commission.
Question: What are those options?
Mayor Mamdani: More and more are being presented by the day, I'll tell you.
Question: The first, I know last night on the WNYC live stream, you did talk about the MSG potential [inaudible], but I wanted to ask you about an article that was in Wired last week that talks about the surveillance, which had been reported before, but in details, particularly that according to a lawsuit and their sources, the surveillance goes beyond Madison Square Garden into the street and around the area. So, I wanted to know your take on that kind of mass surveillance, especially as they were surveilling a trans woman in and around the arena. My second question is if you have any updates on the street takeover in Maspeth? There were about a hundred cars reported doing circles, like a movie, kind of a ring of fire there. Would you have any update on that, if there's been any arrests?
Mayor Mamdani: So, what I'll say is that this is a point of immense concern. I'll start with your first question and then I'll go into your second one. It's deeply troubling, these reports of the extensive nature of surveillance. I haven't read that article as yet, but that is something that we will look into, especially the point that you've made about it continuing beyond simply Madison Square Garden itself, and we'll get back to you on that.
When it comes to the second point, this is something that we are very much aware of and are concerned by. This is unacceptable for drivers to be acting in this manner. I know that there have been a number of concerns that have been raised. It's something that our police commissioner is very much aware of and working on, to not only hold individuals accountable, but also to ask ourselves the questions of how do we ensure that this isn't something that is becoming normal in our city.
Question: Any updates on any arrests, or any lead, or any update you could share?
Mayor Mamdani: At this time, it continues to be the focus of an active investigation.
Question: As you're aware, the 30th Street Shelter Plan is now the target of a lawsuit. Can you repeat for us, you know, your reasons for wanting to relocate and what your response is to the lawsuit?
Mayor Mamdani: Absolutely. The conditions at the 30th Street Bellevue Intake Shelter have been unacceptable for years. We received expert guidance that vacating that site was an urgent and immediate need, as opposed to a suggestion to consider in the years to come. And so, as a result of that, we made the decision to take an action in the best interest of safety and to vacate. And that is why we have taken it as an urgent obligation to transfer shelter intake to 8 East 3rd Street. And that is not just to follow the values of our administration, but also to follow the laws in our city.
Question: On Saturday, you showed up at a rally for Lindsey Boylan. I'm wondering whether - do you think that - was the reason that you chose her over, say, Carl Wilson, mostly about loyalty, and that she helped you to campaign? Are you worried at all about damaging your relationship with the LGBTQ community? Some people think that that seat should go to a member of their community.
Mayor Mamdani: The decision to endorse Lindsey is one that comes more from having seen her bravery and her courage in standing up over the years. I first got to know Lindsey when she made the decision to come forward and hold then-Governor Cuomo accountable. And she did so without a question of what this would mean for her professional career or her political career, but simply with a question of what is the right thing to do. And part of the reason that I stand here before you speaking about a new era in New York City politics is because of the courage of women like Lindsey, who stepped forward time and time again. And we need more of that courage in elected politics. And so, I'm incredibly excited to endorse her. And I'm incredibly excited by the coalition that she's built around her. And early voting is happening right now. Election Day is, I think, on the 28th. Early voting will continue through the 26th. And it's something that I'm glad to join my name to [support her].
Question: A couple of things. Firstly, Council Member Abreu planned to open the ferry terminal at 125th Street, principally during the World Cup and afterwards. So, I'd like to get your thoughts on that. And then, secondly, you've spoken a lot about wanting to make the World Cup affordable. I wonder - reflecting on last week, the decision by [New] Jersey Transit continued ridiculously high ticket prices - if you'll now admit that this tournament is not affordable for New York?
Mayor Mamdani: So, I have long shared my concerns about the lack of affordability when it comes to this tournament. And I've shared those concerns ever since the first ticket prices were put forward. I shared those concerns when FIFA made the decision to allow a resale market that FIFA would operate itself. And I shared those concerns when FIFA decided for the first time in history to employ dynamic pricing. And we're seeing those concerns amplified as even those who were able to afford those tickets have now found that in many cases, those tickets are not where they thought they would be in the stadium. And I think that what we're seeing is further and further evidence of the fact that so many of the working-class people that were at the heart of the birth of this game are now being priced out of it.
Now, as the mayor of our city, I am looking at every option that we have to make the experience of the tournament as a whole one that brings everyone into it. I say that as someone who's a soccer obsessive myself, also someone who went to a World Cup in 2010. And some of my fondest memories were not crying in the stadium after Luis Suárez violated the laws of the game, but when I was out playing beach soccer in Durban as part of a fan fest, when I was, you know, across so much of South Africa enjoying the World Cup with so many other fans, whether or not we had tickets to the game. And so, we're asking ourselves these questions of what can we do in New York City to ensure that that continues to be a reality for those who will come here. And to your point, I really appreciate Council Member Abreu's, his idea, his suggestion, his recommendation. It's one that we're considering right now because we're looking to exhaust every potential avenue to ensure that we are tackling these kinds of not just ticket costs, but also transit costs.
Question: When will you announce fan fest and related events?
Mayor Mamdani: Those will be coming soon. We are close to around 50 days until the World Cup. And so those are some of the announcements that we're going to be making over the next few weeks and months.
