Gothamist: Tragic Life and Death of Child Prompts Questions About City's Children's Services

Dio

Thu, 09 Feb 2006 23:01:29 -0500

I've known these people, the Rodriguez family, from when they used to live in my building in Grand Street, Brooklyn. Miguel, was my best friend from 2nd grade till 10th grade HS, now im a JR. in college, so i don't know what has happen. But Miguel was always a nice and down to earth person, just like the rest of his family. But Cesar always scared me, because of the way he was already lving his life. So I do not dout, he could have done all of this. But to those readers, please don't take it out on the Rodriguez family, they are hard working Mexican immigrants, who came to this country searching for a better life. If Cesar did this is because of his own PHYSCONESS, but his family is 100% innocent.

unknown

Thu, 19 Jan 2006 16:20:46 -0500

They should take these 2 monsters give them a taste of hell. First by taking a insision razor and slicing there bodies and then poring salt all over there bodies in a hot desert. The male should be casterated and then shot with an m-16 across his face. They should then take the mother and put a 1200 degree sodering iron through her vaginal area and they should burn her alive. These people are evil and deserve the worst punishment that ever be declared in history!

rev pays

Sat, 14 Jan 2006 12:33:37 -0500

Now the Mayor AKA Mr. 85 million puts the blame on All of NYC. why? It appears the fault was on ACS. The teachers notified the school social worker, the social worker notified ACS, the school social worker even went to the child's house. Like Jack stated above, maybe if there was a new Westside stadium, this wouldn't of happened.

Jack

Sat, 14 Jan 2006 12:03:38 -0500

You know what would have saved Nixmary's life? A new westside stadium for the Jets! Wait, no a new Yankee stadium! Wait, no... THE OLYMPICS!!! Seriously, Bloomberg spends resources and kissing the asses of tourists when the people who live in this city are neglected. Looking over the details of the case, it's clear that everyone who could have said something did. But stupid ACS can't followup. Great job, ACS! Bloomberg get your priorities straight.

lemure

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:17:54 -0500

This case really frustrates me. ACS had so many opportunities to save this child's life and blew them all! As for these "so-called" parents, I can't begin to comprehend how they could be so evil.

rev pays

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 12:37:30 -0500

Exactly, the buck stops at his helm. The ACS formally known as child welfare. But who cares right? Bed stuy didn't vote for him. Another one who's sleeping well at night.

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 12:25:34 -0500

It's too bad that, after purchasing a second term as mayor, Bloomberg spent all his energy spewing venom over an "illegal strike" instead of helping little children like Nixzmary. But no, instead of helping Nixzmary, Bloomberg was too busy trying to prevent transit workers from helping themselves. Forshame!

Jeff

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 11:30:58 -0500

They need to professionalize ACS. New York State did this with the addiction treatment field about 15 years ago & the field is a much better place because of it. It would mean a substantial investment of time and money, reduced caseloads, and active disciplinary measures for ACS workers who fail to meet standards. The increased cost would be worth it. ACS needs to have something to lose if they're going to keep going. They need a selfish reason to start paying attention to this city's kids. If someone stands to lose licensure or certification from doing a bad job, maybe they'll do it better. Marc Parent said it best: People don't fall through cracks. They fall through fingers.

Tim N.

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 11:04:08 -0500

Much as I'd like to give Mayor Bloomberg credit for being a stand-up guy by saying that "we, as a city, failed this child" and not running behind excuses for his appointees (a la W.), I really have to say: No, Mike, you and your people failed this child, and miserably. The teachers who saw her malnourished, bruised, and filthy set off alarms. The neighbors who heard her screams and the sickening dull thuds on the floor and the walls set off alarms. The sad truth is alarms are useless when no one answers them. (See NY Times story today... how could ACS conclude that a warrant was not justified when they couldn't get in the house!) I can remember riding around the Bronx with my friend Vincent, who was a NYC high school teacher at the time, when the Steinberg case was just breaking. I was saying how horrified I was by it all, my friend just looked at me and said, very sadly, "Stuff like that happened every damn day." I looked out the car window at the rows and rows of apartment windows and wondered behind which window was a kid getting the hell beat out of them. You finally have some peace, small one.

smitty

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 10:20:10 -0500

Bizarrely, sometimes in cases of severe abuse in families with multiple children, only one child is singled out for the abuse while the others are treated more normally. If that child runs away or escapes the family, eventually another child will take the place of the child that has been abused.

Benjamin

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 09:49:03 -0500

I almost hope someone is investigated Miguel's kids as well just to make sure disciplining his kids in "different ways" like his brother was. Not guilty, my ass.