There are moments in politics when priorities become painfully clear.
New York City is staring down a $5.4 billion two-year budget gap. Property taxes may soon rise on more than 3 million homeowners and at least 100,000 commercial buildings. Families are already struggling with skyrocketing costs.
And what are Democratic leaders focused on?
Offering taxpayer-funded childcare to illegal immigrants.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recorded a video in Spanish encouraging residents to enroll in free 3-K and Pre-K — “regardless of their immigration status.”
The pair walked viewers through the enrollment process ahead of the February 27 deadline. Mamdani even joked on X, “My Spanish is… no bueno. But the fight for universal childcare? Muy bueno.”
Childcare in the city costs the average New Yorker at least $26,000 per child per year. And according to Ocasio-Cortez, “If your child is turning three or four years old in 2026, you can enroll them in free 3-K or Pre-K in New York City. But you must apply by February 27, which is the deadline. Any New York City parent, regardless of your occupation, income, or immigration status, is eligible to sign their child up.”
She added, “You can call this number … and receive translation in more than 200 languages. Because no family should be shut out from our programs just because of the language they speak.”
The numbers matter here. A November 2025 report estimates nearly 600,000 illegal immigrants reside in New York City. During the Biden administration, there were more than 8 million illegal immigrant encounters nationwide, with an estimated 1.7 million not resulting in deportation. The city has already spent close to $8 billion to shelter almost 250,000 illegal immigrants over three years.
Now, with revenue falling short, Mamdani has warned: “Faced with no other choice, the city would have to exercise the only revenue lever fully within our own control. We would have to raise property taxes. We would also be forced to raid our reserves.”
So here’s the unavoidable question: If the city cannot afford to provide relief to every taxpaying American family first, how can it afford to expand benefits to those here illegally?
“He ran on telling us he’s going to make everything affordable,” said Valentina Gojcaj of SPONY. “How is he going to make everything affordable, when he’d raise property taxes almost 10%?”
At a time of fiscal strain, voters are left wondering who their leaders are prioritizing — and who is left footing the bill.