Dear Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul, and members of the State and City Legislature:

New York families are paying more for child care than for rent - collectively, we're spending $14 billion a year out of our own pockets. It's pushing families out of the state, forcing parents out of the workforce, and holding our economy back.

It doesn't have to be this way.

We're calling on you to deliver truly free, universal child care for every child in New York, ages 0 to 5. That means child care that is:

• Free for every family

• Universal, not means-tested 

• Full-day

• In every neighborhood

• Easy to apply

Parents organized and fought for the historic investments in this year's budget. Now we need you to finish the job - with long-term funding, fair pay for providers, and a commitment to making universal child care permanent.

New York families are counting on you.