Mayor Mamdani, rapper Cardi B team up to announce 2-K application start date, jingle competition

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had some assist from award-winning rapper Cardi B to announce when 2-K applications will open up.

The two spoke about the new program beginning within the fall that gives 2,000 free child care seats for 2-year-olds in a video launched Friday.

Cardi B, a Bronx native, emphasised how the free little one care program is essential.

“Sometimes us women, we can’t really go forward because we don’t have anyone to help us take care of our kids,” she mentioned.

Families can start making use of for this system on June 2. Applications will shut on June 26, with affords launched in August.

Mamdani and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled this system in March.

The state will totally fund this system for the primary two years. The first spherical of seats value $73 million, and the state is ready to spend up to $425 million subsequent yr.

Citywide jingle competition introduced

The mayor is launching a competition, inviting New Yorkers to submit unique 15 to 30-second jingles encouraging households to apply for 2-K.

A panel of judges, which can embody Cardi B, will assessment the submissions earlier than New Yorkers vote for a winner. The profitable jingle will grow to be the official 2-K theme for town and be performed on the radio.

“As Cardi B says: ‘I can get ’em both. I don’t wanna choose.’ With universal child care, New Yorkers won’t have to,” Mamdani mentioned in an announcement. “For too long, families have been forced to choose between affordable care and staying in the city they love. Now, they can have both—free care in the greatest city in the world.”

Submissions could be made on-line and have to be obtained by April 17.

Areas eligible without spending a dime 2-K

There are 5 districts included in this system’s rollout.

• Manhattan’s School District 6: Washington Heights, Inwood, Hamilton Heights, and elements of Manhattanville
• School District 10 within the Bronx: Fordham, Belmont, Norwood, Marble Hill, Morris Heights, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Van Cortlandt Village and Kingsbridge, and elements of Kingsbridge Heights, Bedford Park, Mount Hope, Claremont-Bathgate and East Tremont
• Brooklyn’s School Districts 18 and 23: Canarsie, Rugby-Remsen Village, Brownsville and Ocean Hill, and elements of East Flatbush-Farragut and Prospect Lefferts Garden-Wingate
• School District 27 in Queens: Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Howard Beach and Rockaways, and elements of Lindenwood and Springfield Gardens North