More NYC families get top 3-K choices
New York City has extended 99,921 offers for 3-K and Pre-K for the upcoming school year, with more families receiving offers to one of their top choice programs and average travel distances decreasing across the five boroughs.
In January, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled the city’s first steps toward universal child care, announcing the launch of 2-K, expansion of Pre-K and an aggressive focus on expanding 3-K access so families could find care in their own neighborhoods.
Our young children are the future, and New York City’s future just got brighter.
Kamar
SamuelS Schools Chancellor
Those efforts, made possible by a more than $1.2 billion investment from the state to support early childhood care and education, have already resulted in more families receiving offers to their preferred 3-K program and fewer families ending up on waitlists, city officials said.
Across the five boroughs, families are traveling shorter distances, more children are receiving offers to their topchoice programs, and fewer parents are being forced to choose between unaffordable private care and leaving the city they love,” Mamdani said in a news release. “This is what government excellence looks like.”
Fewer families this year received placements at programs they did not rank on their applications. For those 3-K families, the average distance between home and program decreased by .85 miles, or roughly 17 city blocks. That distance is expected to decrease further as families express interest in the additional 3-K seats added, including more than 700 new seats announced yesterday that will be available through the waitlist process.
“Every child deserves a strong start, and every parent deserves to know their child has a safe, high-quality place to learn and grow,” Hochul said in the release. “More families are able to access the 3-K opportunities they want, and provides universal 3-K and Pre-K to 100,000 families across New York City, giving more parents access to affordable child care in their own communities and setting up the next generation for success.”
This year, the percentage of families receiving their top 3-K choice increased from 65 to 70 percent, while the percentage receiving one of their top three 3-K choices increased from 80 to 84 percent.
“Our young children are the future, and New York City’s future just got brighter,” Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said in the release. “Because of this collective effort we are putting nearly 100,000 children on a path to success close to home.”
While every family received a seat offer, the percentage of families receiving placements at programs not listed on their application decreased from 15 to 12 percent, helping ensure more families received offers they could realistically accept, city officials noted.
Last year, 720 families received 3-K offers outside their home borough, with most placements located more than three miles from home. This year, fewer than 200 families received out-of-borough offers, and all placements are within three miles from home.
Many of those families will also have an opportunity to receive a close-to-home placements through the waitlist process following the more than 700 newly available 3-K seats.
In April, the Mamdani joined New York City public school students to open seven previously vacant childcare sites, creating 240 new 3-K seats. That announcement followed the administration’s addition of more than 1,000 new 3-K seats across 56 zip codes, now more than 2,000, as well as the opening of a previously vacant childcare
center on the Upper East Side.
On May 18, Mamdani said that the city had doubled those efforts, adding 2,000 3-K seats across all five boroughs and confirming that the ninth new childcare center will open this fall in Columbia Waterfront.
Mamdani also announced that the primary model for 2-K programming will be full-day and full-year. This fall, the city will launch the first 2,000 free 2-K seats in the City’s history. Applications for 2-K enrollment open June 2.
— Jeffrey Bessen
Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
The city has extended 99,921 offers for 3-K and Pre-K for the upcoming school year. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani at the Garden School in Queens on May 19.
Martin Oliner steps into the town supervisor race
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
Former Village of Lawrence Mayor Martin Oliner has launched an independent bid for Town of Hempstead supervisor, positioning himself as a community-first alternative in a threeway race against incumbent John Ferretti and Democratic challenger Joe Scianablo.
Oliner, who officially registered his campaign on May 7, is now in a race against the clock to secure a spot on the November ballot. According to the Nassau County Board of Elections, independent candidates must submit at least 1,500 valid petition signatures by May 26 at 5 p.m. Running on a message centered on local control and opposition to overdevelopment, He has sharply criticized the current administration’s handling of a proposed residential complex in the Five Towns. Olin-
er claims the project — which has drawn community opposition — exemplifies broader issues within town leadership.
“The town board already voted unanimously against it,” he said. “The town’s own engineers say the project is unsafe. The community is overwhelmingly opposed. All the supervisor has to do is call one more vote — the outcome is guaranteed. He refuses.”
Oliner has framed the issue as part of what he describes as a disconnect between campaign rhetoric and governing decisions.
Beyond development concerns, Oliner said his campaign will focus on infrastructure and transparency, citing water quality and municipal spending as key issues.
MAR tIN OLINER,
“While [Ferretti] campaigns on protecting our suburbs, he is allowing developers to build even more than what’s being proposed elsewhere,” he said.
“We don’t have clean water, and nothing is being done about it,” he added. “He claims he cut taxes, but shifting reserve funds is not a tax cut.”
As part of his grassroots effort, Oliner has been making personal visits to residents’ homes to collect signatures — a strategy he says reflects his hands-on leadership style. His campaign has also circulated a public call for support, urging residents to provide contact information for petition visits.
If elected, Oliner said his
immediate priorities would include addressing water infrastructure issues and reevaluating zoning and development policies across the town’s 170-square-mile jurisdiction.
“This is about basic services — water, electricity, keeping costs down — and making sure government actually represents the people,” he said.
Supporters, including former Lawrence Deputy Mayor Paris Popack, have described Oliner as an independent voice free from political influence.
“He answers to no political machine and no special interests,” Popack wrote in a statement. “Only to the people he serves,”
Residents are permitted to sign only one candidate’s petition.
The Board of Elections will review submitted signatures for validity after the May 26 deadline.
Choral Society to perform a musical journey in June
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
The United Choral Society will present its annual spring concert on June 7 at the HewlettWoodmere Public Library, continuing a tradition that has made the volunteer ensemble a cultural mainstay in the Five Towns for more than 85 years.
Under the direction of conductor Sharon Pesenti, the performance will take place in Gold Hall, where the group has staged community concerts for more than 20 years. The program reflects the chorus’s wide-ranging repertoire, blending classical works with selections designed to resonate across generations.
Audiences can expect a musical journey spanning centuries, from baroque choral repertoire to a dramatic medley from “Les Misérables”, channeling the emotional intensity of the iconic production. The concert will also feature a patriotic salute in honor of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrating American history through music.
Pesenti said the program was intentionally designed to engage audiences on multiple levels.
“From the elegance of early choral works to the power and immediacy of “Les Misérables”, we’re taking listeners on a journey through four centuries of music,” she said. “Each piece challenges the singers in a different way, but together they create something cohesive and deeply expressive.”
She emphasized the dedication behind the performance.
“This is a volunteer chorus, but the level of commitment is extraordinary,” Pesenti added. “These singers give their time week after week because they believe in the music and in what we bring to the community.”
Founded more than eight decades ago, the United Choral Society is composed of volunteer singers from across the community — including professionals, students and retirees
— who come together to study and perform music for both personal enrichment and public enjoyment. Over the years, the group has supported scholarships, benefit concerts and community programs, while maintaining a commitment to artistic integrity.
The concert will also showcase emerging local talent, a hallmark of the society’s programming. Among the featured performers are local family members from Hewlett, including a bass singer and a soprano soloist, reflecting the ensemble’s strong ties to the community.
The Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library has long supported the group’s performances by providing rehearsal and concert space, including a Steinway grand piano. Library Director Michelle Young said the partnership reflects the institution’s commitment to arts and community engagement.
“We support the Society by holding their concerts year-round in Gold Hall, and by providing space for rehearsals as well,” Young wrote in an email. “It’s a wonderful example of how the library can serve as a home for the arts in our community.”
Young added that the performances align with the library’s long-term goals.
“Hosting the Choral Society meets key parts of our strategic plan of arts and cultural programming and community partnerships,” she wrote. “We are committed to creating opportunities for people to come together, collaborate and grow.”
She also noted the broader impact of the concerts. “In the time I’ve been director, these performances have shown me just how much talent exists right here locally,” Young wrote. “It’s especially meaningful to see students and seasoned performers sharing the stage.”
Pesenti said that a sense of connection is central to the chorus’s mission. With its blend of tradition, community spirit and musical ambition, the upcoming spring concert continues a legacy that organizers hope will inspire audiences and sustain the chorus for generations to come.
“This ensemble is a true community,” she said. “We’re not just performing for the audience, we’re performing with a shared purpose, honoring the past while continuing to grow artistically.”
Herald file photo
The United Choral Society will present its annual spring concert on June 7 at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library.
things to know About MentAl heAlth AwAreness Month
Breaking the silence on mental health
By ABIGAIL GRIECO
agrieco@liherald.com
May is recognized nationally as Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about mental health conditions, reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek support when they need it. First established in 1949, it has grown into a widespread effort involving schools, workplaces, healthcare providers and communities across the country. In recent years, conversations around mental health have become more open, highlighting how common anxiety, depression and other conditions are and how important it is to treat mental health with the same seriousness as physical health.
n
Mental health conditions are far more common than people realize
Mental health conditions affect millions of people each year in the United States. About one in five adults experiences a mental illness annually, ranging from anxiety and depression to more complex conditions like bipolar disorder. Many more people experience stress, grief or emotional challenges that may not meet clinical definitions but still significantly impact daily life. Despite how common these struggles are, stigma often keeps people from talking about them openly or seeking help. Mental Health Awareness Month helps normalize these conversations and reminds people that they are not alone. Mental health challenges are a part of the human experience — not a personal failure — and support is widely needed and shared.
n Early help and treatment are highly effective
Getting support early can make a major difference in managing mental health conditions. Treatments such as therapy, counseling and medication are effective for many people, especially when started early. Support can also come from school counselors, community programs or workplace resources. In recent years, telehealth has made it easier for people to access care from home, helping reduce barriers like transportation or scheduling. The month also emphasizes the importance of everyday coping strategies, such as exercise, sleep, mindfulness and social connection. While these do not replace clinical treatment when needed, they can support overall well-being and resilience. The key message is simple: no one has to wait until they are in crisis to seek help.
n Stigma still prevents many from speaking up
Stigma remains one of the biggest obstacles to mental health care. Many people still hesitate to talk about what they are experiencing because they fear being misunderstood, judged or labeled. This can delay treatment and make symptoms worse overtime. Simple actions — like listening without judgment, using respectful language and sharing accurate information — helps create a safer environment for discussion. Stigma reduction is not only about awareness but also about action, like supporting policies that improve access to care, encouraging mental health days in schools and workplaces and making resources visible and easy to find. Small, everyday efforts can help create a culture where mental health is treated with the same openness and care as physical health.
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Do I need to file a plan just to build a stone wall? Part 2.
Q.. I planned and started building a stack stone wall in my front yard, but I was stopped by a building inspector. He told me the wall was structural, and needed a professional plan to be approved before I could do the rest of the work. It’s just a landscape wall instead of a fence or hedges at my front sidewalk, so why should it matter? A lot of my neighbors have them, and he told me to file a complaint, and he would check the others out, but I don’t want to tell on my neighbors. What do you suggest?
A. Continuing my answer from the last column, which addressed the technical issues, the approval side is often more complicated, especially when we attach the stigma of living among neighbors in this condition we refer to as “civilization.”
You wondered why neighbors have gotten away with building their walls and fences without permits, and yet you are being called out for your venture into building without approvals they didn’t seem to need. You may also wonder why the inspector suggested you file a complaint so that there is cause to look into violations created by your neighbors the same kind of violation you feel singled out for. We, collectively, wonder why this happens. It is a regular occurrence to be taken to a potential customer’s door and pointed out violations others have, completely visible to all, which are either prohibited or require building permits and zoning variances. Things like extra-tall fences, pools, sheds, decks and porches extended into front yards even garages and “temporary” carports. I know that once I have to explain the rules and regulations, it isn’t convincing, and I may be dismissed, mainly because the neighbors are “getting away with it, so why should I have to spend all this money and time when they didn’t have to?”
You, like most, believe that if an inspector sees a violation, they will act. In many incorporated villages, that is the case. In the larger jurisdictions, however, that isn’t always the case. You are requested to file a complaint. People I have spoken to won’t do that, because that pits neighbor against neighbor, even if the authorities tell you that your complaint is confidential. The violator immediately becomes suspicious, and when I get called to meet and try to clear a violation, the first part of the conversation is spent by the owner pointing at the suspected neighbor’s property, and vindictive language follows.
I never really had a name for it until recently, when the phrase “The system is rigged” prevailed. Now I understand, as you should, too, that the way violations are handled actually creates stress among neighbors and goes against public safety, as more and more of us want to do uncertified, unsafe construction without approvals. Financially, those municipalities that double their fees for already-built work benefit from the violations they encourage. If public safety is most important, it’s overshadowed by administration. Good luck!
© 2026 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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And the Experts Agree
At Mount Sinai South Nassau, patient safety isn’t just a priority— it’s a standard, one we work on every day. And the experts agree.
We’ve earned national recognition for patient safety, including an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group and the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award.
That means better outcomes for our patients with lower risk of infections or hospital acquired conditions.
When it comes to your health, nothing matters more than knowing you’re in a place where patient safety matters most.
Learn more at mountsinai.org/southnassau