New York City Mayor Eric Adams is gutting one of the nation’s leading early childhood education programs. This means that organizations that relied on the city for funding early childhood education programs are resorting to credit, sponsors, and generous donors to do the city’s job.
The Pre-K program provides families with free child care and education that would normally cost $16,000 per year. The city owes over $400 million to the program. And the mayor plans to cut $570 million from the city’s budget over the next two years.
Adams has a history of prioritizing the N.Y.P.D. In 2022, budget cuts to essential city agencies fell across the board except for the police. Their budget received no cuts whatsoever; the same is true this year.
Parents and workers in various organizations are frustrated over the budgetary decisions. Adam’s administration has made it clear with their checkbook that the police state is more important than educating children.
Our education, housing, health, and anything that can significantly benefit society is always prioritized last by our government in favor of policing our everyday lives. We can’t rely on the government for these services outright. We must protest, demand participatory budgeting meetings, and build our own structures together.