When Kathy Hochul announced her endorsement of Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor, the more moderate governor stressed that while she had distinct policy differences with him, the two had areas of common interest, including a desire to enact new child-care laws in the state.

On Thursday, they set their burgeoning relationship in action as Hochul revealed her administration’s plans to invest in the expansion of universal child care statewide, vowing to partner with Mamdani to fully fund the first two years of the city’s implementation of free child care for 2-year-olds.

Hochul and Mamdani were joined by child-care advocates and other local elected officials at the Flatbush YMCA, declaring a new beginning for New York families as they laid out a multiyear road map intended to expand universal child care throughout the state.

“I’m here to say the era of empty promises ends with the two of us right here, right now,” Hochul said, calling Mamdani an........

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