Sen. Gounardes: Plan to Expand Child Care Access is an Enormous Win for New York Families

Andrew Gounardes

January 8, 2026

State Senator Andrew Gounardes speaking in the Senate chamber.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 8, 2025

New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes issued the following statement in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan to expand free child care in New York:

"As a parent, I know firsthand how challenging it is to access quality child care in New York. It's an enormous cost and an albatross that shapes every other financial decision families make. I hear it from other parents in my neighborhood, and from constituents across my district: the cost of child care is overwhelming and is pushing many families out of the state entirely. 

“That's why this announcement is such an enormous win. If we want New York to be a state of opportunity, we need to ensure opportunity is within reach. By taking this major step toward universal child care, we can make New York a place where parents can afford to put down roots and raise kids with the care and stability they deserve."

Press Contact:

Billy Richling

Communications Director

State Senator Andrew Gounardes

billy@senatorgounardes.nyc

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