Executive Summary
New York families deserve affordable, high-quality child care that is safe, financially sustainable, and accountable to taxpayers. While recent proposals by Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani aim to expand access through a rapid move toward “universal” child care for 2-year-olds, their plan raises serious concerns about safety, cost, fraud exposure, and long-term sustainability.
This white paper presents a smarter alternative: a targeted, fiscally responsible, safety-first child-care model designed by a career accountant with deep experience in compliance, risk management, and public finance.
Our approach prioritizes:
- Child safety
- Fiscal discipline
- Fraud prevention
- Workforce stability
- Measurable outcomes
Rather than rushing into an expensive, one-size-fits-all entitlement, we propose a phased, accountable system that helps families while protecting children and taxpayers alike.
The Problem: A Rushed Expansion with Serious Risks
1. Safety Concerns for Young Children
Two-year-olds require:
- Higher staff-to-child ratios
- Specialized training
- Secure sleep, eating, and play spaces
- Constant supervision
New York’s own health code mandates strict limits for toddler care, meaning many existing facilities are not equipped to safely serve this age group without major upgrades.
Recent tragedies at child-care sites — including a Bronx daycare where fentanyl was stored under nap mats, killing one child, and another incident where a toddler drowned in an unsecured pool — demonstrate the consequences of inadequate oversight.
Expanding care without first strengthening safety infrastructure puts children at unacceptable risk.
2. Heavy Reliance on Home-Based Providers
The Hochul–Mamdani plan depends heavily on home-based child care to meet demand. While these providers play an important role, many operate in residential settings not designed for large-scale toddler care.
Without robust inspections, consistent training standards, and real-time monitoring, this model risks turning child care into glorified babysitting rather than safe early childhood education.
3. Escalating Costs Without Long-Term Funding
Universal programs rarely shrink. Once families rely on “free” care, budgets grow year after year.
New York is already spending billions on child-care subsidies, and full universal expansion could add billions more annually — with no permanent funding mechanism clearly identified.
This creates future pressure for:
- Higher taxes
- Budget cuts elsewhere
- Reduced service quality
4. Fraud Risk in Large, Decentralized Systems
Programs that involve:
- Large sums of money
- Many providers
- Limited real-time oversight
…are vulnerable to abuse.
Without digital attendance verification, frequent inspections, and transparent audits, fraud such as ghost enrollments and inflated billing becomes far more likely.
A Better Approach: Safe, Affordable, Accountable
Our alternative child-care plan is built on five core principles:
1. Cap Family Costs, Not Government Spending
Instead of promising unlimited “free” care for all, we will:
- Guarantee affordability through income-based subsidies
- Cap reimbursements at regionally adjusted market rates
- Prioritize working and middle-class families
This ensures families get relief without creating an open-ended entitlement.
2. Build Safety Infrastructure First
Before expanding enrollment, we will invest in:
- Facility upgrades
- Toddler-appropriate classrooms
- Safe sleep and eating areas
- Security and access controls
- Enhanced safety inspections
Children’s lives must come before political timelines.
3. Pay for Quality, Not Just Quantity
Provider reimbursement will be tied to:
- Verified attendance
- Proper staff-to-child ratios
- Staff training certifications
- Safety compliance
Funding will reward excellence, not just enrollment numbers.
4. Real-Time Fraud Prevention
Our plan establishes a Child Care Integrity Office responsible for:
- Digital attendance tracking
- Random site inspections
- Financial audits
- Public reporting
- Whistleblower protections
Taxpayer dollars deserve the same oversight standards used in professional accounting.
5. Pilot, Measure, Then Expand
We will begin with targeted pilots in high-need areas and publish quarterly performance reports tracking:
- Cost per child
- Safety compliance
- Staff retention
- Waitlist reduction
- Parent satisfaction
Only programs that meet benchmarks will expand.
Why This Plan Works
This approach delivers results without recklessness.
Fiscal Responsibility
Our model:
- Targets spending where it helps most
- Prevents waste and abuse
- Avoids long-term budget traps
- Protects future taxpayers
Affordable child care should not mean financial chaos.
Conclusion: Leadership Means Protecting What Matters Most
Child care is not just a social program.
It is a safety system, a workforce issue, and a financial responsibility.
New York does not need rushed headlines or risky expansions.
It needs leadership grounded in data, discipline, and common sense.
This plan puts:
- Children first
- Families first
- Taxpayers first
And politics last.