New York City has paid $99.3 million over five years to rent and maintain 28 buildings intended for preschool classrooms, many of which remain unused. The expenditure stems from former Mayor Bill de Blasio's push for universal preschool programs. Officials and residents have criticized the spending as incompetent planning amid shortages elsewhere.
A report revealed that the city allocated $99.3 million for rent and utilities on these 28 sites, acquired during de Blasio's administration as part of the '3-K For All' initiative for 3-year-olds. A former Department of Education official described the situation as incompetence rather than corruption, noting that classrooms were secured in areas without verified demand, while other neighborhoods face long waitlists for pre-K seats. One prominent example is a site on Union Turnpike in Queens, which has cost $10.8 million and features unused facilities including classrooms, a kitchen, and a playground, according to nearby business owner Larry Mottola, who called the waste bothersome after four years of payments. The official questioned the initial site selection, asking why locations without apparent need were chosen initially. Former Mayor de Blasio defended his tenure, stating that his administration filled seats through parent outreach, and blamed successor Eric Adams for ending those efforts and stepping back on early childhood education. Adams countered that he inherited thousands of empty seats and prioritized stabilizing providers and boosting enrollment over further expansion. Current Mayor Zohran Mamdani plans to open seven of the vacant sites this fall. The New York City Department of Education affirmed ongoing investments, including new pre-K centers and activations in high-need communities to improve access.
