here's the problem with affordability, and I'll use your example of childcare. It's too expensive for sure, but why is that? Well, if we start with the concept that, at least for now, in order to keep afloat, the childcare company has to have a means to have revenues either meet or exceed its costs. And costs are substantial. In addition to the normal rents, heat, a/c, general maintenance, internet for example, they are also saddled with a bunch of laws/regulations on child'/teacher ratios, significant insurance bills and constantly increasing wage/benefit packages.
Now, if the government wants to provide all this for no charge to the customer it's likely that the number of parents looking to put their child in childcare will increase (free yields unlimited demand) and the money has to come from somewhere. We saw in NY that people are more than willing to have free childcare as long as they're not paying for it - tax the rich.
Personally, I think this will be a great experiment in NYC. Low rents, cheap groceries, free childcare, free bus transportation, what's not to like. Add in free healthcare and we're almost to Utopia. I'm not one of those that thinks the rich will leave and move to Florida. In fact I heard results from a poll that reflected that more middle to upper middle class folks would be the ones to leave. Hochel has said she won't support higher taxes on the rich but that she would support Mamdani's platform, so something would have to give financially. New York state is already projected to run future deficits so adding more expenses to the budget and staying within balanced budget requirements will take exceptional management.
Anyway, it's going to be interesting