De Blasio Begins Inquiry Into Malnourished Girl's Death

Carlotta Brett-Pierce, and Bill de Blasio

Slumlord-hater and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has begun an official inquiry into the death of Marchella Pierce, the 4-year-old malnourished girl who was found dead last week, and whether the city could have prevented her death.

In a letter to John Mattingly, head of the city's Administration for Children's Services, de Blasio suggests that the decision to cut back preventive services may have contributed to the Pierce's death. "The heartbreaking circumstances surrounding Marchella Pierce's death raise troubling questions about ACS's policies and practices and the possibility of systemic problems that could leave an untold number of children at risk," he wrote. The ACS has accused nonprofit organization Child Development Support Corporation (CDSC) of not adequately monitoring the case.

According to de Blasio, the city's number of active preventive cases fell by more than 2,000 families between April and July; that translates to more than 5,000 fewer children receiving preventive services. During this time, ACS ended its contract with CDSC. De Blasio wants ACS tto go back and review all those cases to determine whether they were closed properly. Yesterday, a Kings County grand jury voted to indict the girl's mother, Carlotta Brett-Pierce, on second-degree assault charges, with more charges possibly to come.

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By Ben Yakas in News on September 10, 2010 5:14 PM

Comments [rss]

nccpr

The questions De Blasio raises in his letter are legitimate, and he is absolutely right to be concerned about the cuts to preventive services.

What is galling, however, is the hypocrisy.

At the heart of almost every problem now plaguing ACS is the 50 percent increase in the number of children torn from their homes after Nixzmary Brown died in January, 2006. Though that huge increase was supposed to make children safer, it didn’t. Every safety indicator has gotten worse. There have been no “gains” at ACS since Nixzmary died; there have been only losses. For details see this post to my organization’s child welfare blog: http://bit.ly/aHF4S6

This surge in removals does enormous harm to the children needlessly taken. It also steals time from finding children in real danger – which explains why all the safety indicators have gotten worse.

And it wastes money. As we noted in the Wall Street Journal story about De Blasio’s “investigation,” if New York City still were taking away fewer than 5,000 children every year, instead of more than 7,000, there could be far more money available to save preventive services.

The increase in children torn from their families is a result of caseworkers terrified of facing the wrath of press and politicians if the next tragedy is on their caseload. One of those politicians is Bill De Blasio. At the time Nixzmary Brown died, De Blasio chaired the City Council’s General Welfare Committee. He never missed an opportunity to fan the flames of hysteria. He shares responsibility for the surge in needless removals of children and all the consequences. So if Bill De Blasio really wants to know what’s gone wrong, he can start by looking in the mirror.

Richard Wexler

Executive Director

National Coalition for Child Protection Reform

http://www.nccpr.org

FelixtheCat Christine Quinns

flaming the hysteria and being a hypocrite is one of his endearing quality which he shares with most of the other city council members who only made matters worst. This all happened under Slush Fund Queen Quin

John L

Shouldn't Cuomo be looking into this?

Has anyone seen or heard from our Governor-elect?

JenChungsBaby

Well now that Lurch is on the case this will all be resolved in no time, certainly.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

ah, what ever happened to term limits??? The corrupt charter commission grandfather all current city council members to 3 terms and term limits wont' be enacted fully till 2021. another do nothing public advocate.

youngpro

wow, a toddler is dead and you instead choose to attack politics. always classy, arent you?

FelixtheCat Christine Quinns

STFU bytch. you aren't my wife. Stop fucking scolding me, you FUGLY Bitter whore.

youngpro

wow, a toddler is dead and you instead choose to attack politics. always classy, arent you?

wow, a toddler is dead and you instead choose to attack politics. always classy, arent you?

wow, a toddler is dead and you instead choose to attack politics. always classy, arent you?

wow, a toddler is dead and you instead choose to attack politics. always classy, arent you?

wow, a toddler is dead and you instead choose to attack politics. always classy, arent you?

wow, a toddler is dead and you instead choose to attack politics. always classy, arent you?

wow, a toddler is dead and you instead choose to attack politics. always classy, arent you?

wow, a toddler is dead and you instead choose to attack politics. always classy, arent you?

wow, a toddler is dead and you instead choose to attack politics. always classy, arent you?

wow, a toddler is dead and you instead choose to attack politics. always classy, arent you?

wow, a toddler is dead and you instead choose to attack politics. always classy, arent you?