Cuomo Takes Credit for NYC Universal Pre-K Program, Sparking Controversy

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo recently asserted that he was instrumental in the establishment of New York City’s universal pre-K program, a significant early childhood education initiative often attributed to former Mayor Bill de Blasio. This claim emerged during Cuomo’s appearance on WNYC, where he responded to inquiries about De Blasio’s role in the program’s implementation, which began in September 2014.

Cuomo, who is positioning himself as an independent candidate in the forthcoming November mayoral election, emphasized that the initiative was a product of state involvement, stating that he played a pivotal role in its creation. He contended that while De Blasio is credited as the proponent of the program, it was the state, under his governance, that provided the necessary support and funding to make the program viable.

The universal pre-K program, designed to offer free full-day child care for every four-year-old in the city, was indeed launched in the early days of De Blasio’s administration. Nevertheless, it received significant financial backing from the state budget, indicating a collaborative effort between the city and state governments. De Blasio has consistently maintained that his administration played a crucial role in advocating for this funding and that state support was contingent upon persistent lobbying from city officials.

A spokesperson for Cuomo clarified his remarks, noting that he was referencing a smaller pre-K pilot program initiated in 2013, prior to De Blasio’s tenure as mayor. This clarification included a criticism of De Blasio’s initial push for a state-level tax increase to fund the program. Cuomo asserted that he was capable of delivering pre-K slots across both the city and the entire state with existing resources, in contrast to De Blasio’s tax increase proposal.

In response to Cuomo’s comments, defenders of De Blasio have accused him of distorting historical facts. Council Finance Committee Chairman Justin Brannan expressed frustration over Cuomo’s revisionism, while Ana Maria Archila from the New York Working Families Party characterized Cuomo’s assertions as fabricated.

The ongoing conflict regarding the origins of the pre-K program surfaces at a pivotal moment in New York City politics. With the November election approaching, candidates such as Zohran Mamdani, the leading Democratic contender, are advocating for broader childcare access, while also proposing tax increases on affluent residents to finance these initiatives. Cuomo and others have criticized Mamdani’s proposals as unfeasible, indicating a continuation of the contentious discussions surrounding education funding and taxation in New York.

This debate underscores a larger narrative about educational policy and fiscal responsibility in the city, positioning Cuomo’s claims and campaigning strategy within the framework of New York’s political landscape as it prepares for a critical electoral decision.