b is at the center of a new City Hall push after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared alongside award-winning rapper Cardi B in a video released Friday to announce when 2-K applications will open. The program is set to start in the fall and will provide 2, 000 free child care seats for 2-year-olds, with enrollment running from June 2 through June 26. The announcement also introduced a citywide jingle competition designed to get families talking—and applying—on time.
What was announced, and when families can apply
The mayor’s office set a clear window for families seeking the free 2-K seats: applications open June 2 and close June 26, with offers released in August. The 2-K program is described as beginning in the fall.
Mamdani and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled the program in March. The state will fully fund the program for the first two years. The first round of seats cost $73 million, and the state is prepared to spend up to $425 million next year.
B inside the jingle contest: deadlines, judging, and how the winner is picked
b returns again as the mayor launches a competition inviting New Yorkers to submit original 15 to 30-second jingles encouraging families to apply for 2-K. Submissions must be received by April 17.
A panel of judges will review the submissions, and Cardi B will be included on that panel. After the panel’s review, New Yorkers will vote to choose a winner. The winning jingle will become the city’s official 2-K theme and will be played on the radio.
Immediate reactions from City Hall, Cardi B, and city schools leadership
In the video released Friday, Cardi B, a Bronx native, underscored why she views the program as essential for families: “Sometimes us women, we can’t really go forward because we don’t have nobody to help us take care of our kids, ” she said.
, Mayor Zohran Mamdani framed the initiative as part of keeping families in the city while easing the burden of care. “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 said. “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. ”
City schools leadership also weighed in. “The launch of 2-K marks an important milestone for early childhood education in New York City, ” said Kamar Samuels, Schools Chancellor,. Samuels added that expanding access for two-year-olds supports early development and families “during an important stage of their child’s development, ” calling it “an important step” toward a stronger birth-to-five system.
Quick context on the rollout
The program’s rollout includes five districts. The plan being promoted is for 2, 000 children to receive seats in the initial launch.
What’s next in the timeline
The next immediate milestone is April 17, the deadline for jingle submissions, followed by a judging process that includes Cardi B and then a public vote for the winner. After that, the focus turns to the application window opening June 2 and closing June 26, with offers expected in August.
As families prepare for the fall start, b remains the headline: the city is pairing a firm application schedule with a public-facing contest meant to drive awareness and participation as the first 2-K seats roll out.
