Valdivia’s TLC appointment comes after she was also under consideration to become Mamdani’s deputy mayor for operations or Department of Transportation commissioner, according to

New York City parents may soon have access to free child care for their 2-year-olds, under a plan unveiled Thursday by Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani — a major boon for the city’s mayor on one of his signature campaign promises just days into his new job.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani says a plan unveiled Thursday to take the first steps toward universal childcare for kids under five shows New Yorkers that "democracy can actually deliver for them."

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who catapulted to national attention during the 2025 race for New York City mayor, said at his inauguration on Thursday that the start of his administration would mark a new beginning for the city and for people who had become disillusioned with politics.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an order to end solitary confinement on Rikers Island, mandating a plan for compliance with local laws. The move signals a potential shift towards substantive jail reforms.

The city has over eight million residents and only around 1,000 public bathrooms. The new mayor said he was committed to creating more, though he did not say when they would be available.

The mayor-elect’s past call to defund the city’s police department continue to be a vulnerability. His decision to retain Jessica Tisch, the city’s current police commissioner, has eased some concerns about a radical shakeup at the top of the nation’s largest police force.