The state Senate Independent Democratic Conference last Thursday released an eye-opening investigative report on city day care facilities, revealing “the worst and most persistent violators” of health codes in the five boroughs.
Sens. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx and Westchester) and Diane Savino (D-Staten Island and Brooklyn) cited “The Hidden Dangers in Day Care: A Follow-Up Inquiry into the Safety, Standards and Quality of Day Care in New York City” as they called for a letter-grading system, similar to the restaurant A, B, C’s, “to communicate clearly to parents” a facility’s health and safety record.
The 18-page report is the third installment of the “Hidden Dangers…” series that was started by the IDC in May 2013. The latest edition, according to the IDC, “demonstrates the urgent need for both increased transparency and institutional improvement among New York City’s licensed day cares.”
“Hidden Dangers…” found that a total 18,102 violations were issued to 2,271 group day care centers throughout the city between 2013 and 2015. Since 2013, city group day care facilities have accumulated an average of nearly eight violations per provider. The worst offenders were in Brooklyn, where day care providers averaged 11 violations each, and a total of 9,565 violations in two and a half years.
No Queens-based day care facility is featured on the report’s Top Violators: 2013-2015 and Top Violators: Persistent, Chronic Violators lists.
Common violations throughout the city included a failure to designate a qualified education director to oversee the program, a failure to provide adequate hand wash stations, and obstructed and impassable hallways, among other offenses.
The IDC report and the senators’ call for letter-based ratings come four months after an infant died on his first day at a SoHo day care center.
“Unbeknownst to the loving parents, the day care was unlicensed and over-capacity,” Klein and Savino noted. “The owner incorrectly performed CPR and, as it turned out, she, nor anyone else on her staff, was actually trained in lifesaving procedures.”
By Michael V. Cusenza michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
