Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. said: “I am pleased to see Ozone Park and the surrounding communities of southern Queens selected as one of the first neighborhoods to participate in New York City’s new free child care initiative for two-year-olds. This already funded pilot program represents an important investment in working families and early childhood development.

Child care costs have become a major challenge for many parents and programs like this help ensure that families have access to safe, high-quality care while they work and provide for their households. Beginning this fall, families in Ozone Park and nearby neighborhoods will have access to these new opportunities as part of the initial rollout of the city’s funded 2-K program, which will provide free seats for two-year-olds and expand in the coming years. 

I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and all the partners involved in bringing this program to local communities and I look forward to credibly expand the program throughout my district. Early education and child care are essential to helping children start school ready to learn while also strengthening the economic stability of families.”