Mayor Joins Forces with Cardi B for Childcare Initiative

Recently, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has partnered with rapper Cardi B to launch a childcare program. This collaboration was officially announced by the mayor’s office on Friday.

Cardi B will play a role in evaluating short songs for a jingle contest aimed at promoting Mamdani’s initiative, known as the 2-k program. According to a press release, the selected jingle will encourage families to take part in this program, further explained by the duo in a promotional video.

It’s worth noting that Cardi B faced backlash in 2019 following her admission of drugging and robbing men during her past as a stripper. She later defended her actions in a social media post, stating, “Whether or not they were poor choices at the time, I did what I had to do to survive.” She acknowledged her imperfections and the less-than-ideal circumstances from which she came.

In a resurfaced Instagram Live session, Cardi B talked about her experiences in the past, explicitly mentioning that she would drug men and take their belongings to make ends meet.

During the video, Cardi B began by lauding Mamdani, showing enthusiasm for his youthful approach. “Can you believe that?! We have a 34-year-old mayor! I feel like I’m a kid, and you’re, like, running New York!” she exclaimed.

Mamdani engaged Cardi in conversation about the importance of free childcare. “Cardi, what do you think of free childcare?” he asked. She responded, emphasizing that such support is crucial, particularly for women who struggle to progress due to childcare responsibilities.

Staying focused on promoting the initiative, Mamdani elaborated on the details of the program. He shared that they would be offering 2,000 seats for free childcare starting this fall, with availability in the Bronx as well.

He excitedly mentioned an upcoming jingle competition, asking Cardi to help judge the entries. Cardi was clear in stating that, while she supports the project, she won’t be using her own funds. “The mayor’s going to help you! And I’m gonna judge, and he’s going to give because he’s the one with the funds!” she exclaimed, wrapping up their conversation.