Karen Carson: Thank you so much for coming on our show. We are so honored. Mayor Mamdani with us.
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani: It's such a pleasure to be here.
Carson: Well, thanks for being here. And we just want to say we're really excited about your 2K program. As a mom of two, I wish I this was around when they were little.
Mayor Mamdani: Yes, we are very, very excited. It's gonna be transformative for thousands of families across New York City, truly. And that all starts with this 2K jingle, and we're so excited to be working with all of you on that.
Carson: So, tell us more about this 2K program and how it's going to be great for New York.
Mayor Mamdani: Absolutely. So, you know, we know that we're living in the most expensive city in the United States of America. And after housing, it's childcare costs that are the most difficult for New Yorkers to deal with. And we've heard from parents that it's frankly considered a good deal in our city when they spend $20,000 a year on a single child's childcare.
And so, what we're gonna be delivering for the first time in New York City history is free childcare for two-year-olds.
Johnny Mingione: Now, mayor, we did create this jingle for your 2K program. But my real question is, would you come back on our remix and spit a rap verse for us?
Mayor Mamdani: You know what, I'd have to consider it.
Carson: You know we'd write you a really good part.
Mayor Mamdani: You know, as a rapper, I have to be rapping my own lyrics. I can't keep a ghost writer over there.
Carson: We're so excited to show you the video we created for the 2K program here in New York City.
Mayor Mamdani: I'm very excited to hear it.
Mingione: Honestly Mayor Mamdani, we are so excited to show you this. We've been working really hard. We're not sure if we're gonna be disqualified, but we're going to play it anyway.
Mayor Mamdani: I'm very excited to see what you guys came up with.
[Jingle plays.]
Jingle: I like ice cream, I like blocks. In my art class, wear a smock. I like getting on the bus. My bus driver's name is Russ. ♪ Got a brother and a sister and my mommy's got to work ♪ ♪ Can't afford a babysitter cause her boss is such a jerk ♪ ♪ If you hearin' what I'm sayin' dance along to this beat ♪ ♪ Cause your child's gonna get a free 2K seat ♪ ♪ You heard some great teams like Shaggy and Scooby ♪ ♪ But sit your butts down it's the mayor and Cardi B ♪
[End of jingle.]
Mayor Mamdani: I think it's a blast. I have to be that bit of a killjoy on two specific things, which is that-
Carson: Oh god. Okay.
Anthony Malerba: Here comes the disqualification.
Carson: That's right. It's NEW 102.7, we're here with Mayor Mamdani, and we're already in trouble with him.
Mayor Mamdani: I just gotta be honest with you for all of the listeners. We can't use existing music just for the licensing of it all. So, the remix is incredible. I think you guys did a great job. And the only other thing I'd say is we're asking everyone to include the word myschools.nyc in their jingle. But if it wasn't for those two things, I would be talking to some finalists right now.
Carson: Well, then, Mr. Mayor, how long do we have to turn this around? The deadline's coming up, isn't it?
Mayor Mamdani: You got until May 1st, which is this Friday. We've had more than 100 New Yorkers submit their submissions, including ones as kickass as this one. And we're excited to see what everyone submits by the end of the week.
Carson: I think we can do this. And re-do it.
Mayor Mamdani: You guys got a few days. You got until May 1. That's more than enough time for a couple of New Yorkers to come up with a jam.
Carson: Alright, the challenge has been given, so we'll do our best.
[Crosstalk.]
Carson: And we would like to thank Mayor Mamdani for talking to us this morning. So, we have some homework to do boys.
[Crosstalk.]
Mayor Mamdani: Thank you, guys. Real pleasure. All the best.
