Responding to rising living costs while trying to get some much-needed political attention, mayoral candidate Zellnor Myrie is making the quest for affordable childcare a marquee item in his campaign.

Myrie toured an after-school program run by the nonprofit Community Youth Care Service at two schools — PS176 and PS147Q — in Cambria Heights, Queens on Thursday.

“You don’t want them to deteriorate into kids watching TV all afternoon or something like that traditionally, because it’s hard to have respect for after-school programs,” Cheryl Caddle, executive director of Community Youth Care Services, said.

For nearly two decades, Caddle has run a special program from the time school ends until 6 p.m. Her agenda may include dance, cosmetology or aviation simulation.

One class, called “Dollars and Cents,” educates kids on household budgeting — a topic their parents are all too familiar with.

“You really have to give some thought about who is going to support after school, this particular service, to keep it consistent quality every day,” Caddle said.

Myrie says he wants it to be a no-brainer for parents to raise city kids. If he ran City Hall, all after-school programming citywide would be free. He says he can do it for $400 million.

“If you are a working parent in this city, you will have relief so you can continue to put food on the table. But we also know this is a public safety tool, between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m., our kids are getting involved in things we don’t want them to — after-school [programs] keeps them in a safe place,” Myrie said in an interview with NY1.

“We want them to be able to raise their family here. We’re gonna get tax revenue when people make the decision to stay, have their dollars applied locally, supporting our local businesses. So this is an investment first and foremost and that’s the case I’m going to be making to New Yorkers,” he added.

Now, options depend on neighborhood, available space and out-of-pocket costs.

At PS176Q, most parents can afford to pay for their kids’ fees. But a couple blocks away, the financial picture changes for families at PS147Q, where Caddle says nonprofit and government grants pick up the slack.

“A lot of teachers don’t even want to work after-school or you don’t have enough money to pay them, so until we figure out who is actually going to provide that resource to have a quality program, I’d rather just stay with my two,” she said.

A State Comptroller report ranks New York second nationwide for the most expensive place to raise kids — averaging over $14,000 annually.

It could be higher, especially in the five boroughs. Other issues, like staffing, are constant obstacles.

“Every dollar the city invests in after-school, we get back many times over,” Myrie said.

But some factors are out of his control. The Trump administration has threatened local and state funding, which could hurt future budgeting. Some families have left the city since the pandemic, citing high costs of living and lack of housing.

“This federal administration has demonstrated that they do not care about the city, that they want to attack vulnerable New Yorkers and so I’m gonna have to huddle with the governor, with the leaders, with the legislators and my colleagues in the City Council to determine how best we can continue to invest in our children’s future,” Myrie said.