HEADS MUST ROLL (killing of Nixzmary--fourth child to die in two months)

Memo to Mayor Mike: When a city agency fails so badly in its mission that a helpless 7-year-old winds up dead, it's hardly a time to be cutting slack for those responsible.

Four days after the brutal killing of little Nixzmary Brown, Hizzoner should be serving up heads on a platter. And a perfect neck to start with might be that of John Mattingly, who runs the Administration for Children's Services, the agency that failed the girl.

But not Mayor Mike. He's spent the past few days making excuses. Filibustering. Passing the buck. Yesterday, he actually praised Mattingly as a "nationally recognized expert" in his field. "Until I see something contrary," Hizzoner said, "I think he's probably doing a good job."

If not, he'd surely know that a little girl in Brooklyn just died at the hands of her parents, while — under Mattingly's watch — ACS dithered and dallied.

He'd know that there were numerous points when the agency — which exists expressly to intervene and prevent such tragedies — could have acted. And he'd know that Nixzmary was the fourth such child to die in just the past two months, despite numerous red flags being waved at ACS.

Doesn't he see any problem at all here? And isn't anyone in particular at fault? Or does the mayor still believe that everyone failed the girl, "the city, the country, the world," as he said Thursday?

If the press and Mr. Bloomberg so desired we could have two such cases a month on the front pages of the tabloids. If John Mattingly's head should roll as the Post screams, what of Nicholas Scopetta? How many children died in ACS care or under ACS investigation during Giuliani's term in office?

PRESS RELEASEState child fatality reports show continuing failure of child welfare agency to learn from mistakes and of state to require changes.

From Gotham Gazette during Giuliani time no, not the Daily News, not The New York Post, not any big media, because teflon was in effect>

See past monthly updates for Children.
by Caroline HowardGuest Reporter
Children's Services
The agency whose job it is to keep the city's children safe, the Administration for Children's Services, is now a permanent agency, thanks to a charter proposal that the voters passed in November, after a six-year separation from the Human Resources Administration. But Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, widely hailed as the mastermind behind the agency's reinvention, is stepping down and his replacement has yet to be announced. At the same time, as if to mock all their best intentions, tragically, at least six children under the age of seven have died recently, allegedly at the hands of their abusive parents.The list is a heartbreaking reminder of the agency's grave responsibility: Inez Bennett, 7, found dead in her family's Bronx apartment with a smashed jaw and hot water burns, cuts and bruises covering her body; Signifagance Oliver, 4, drowned in the bathtub by her mother in an exorcism ritual; Sylena Herrnkind, 3, beaten to death by her mother in the Staten Island home she shared with four siblings; Sidney Achan, 2, who died from multiple skull fractures and brain injuries; and Kyron Hamilton, 15 months, beaten to death by his mother who said the baby was bothering her while she watched television. A Brooklyn man was charged with second-degree murder in the death of De Andrew Monroe, the 15-month-old son of his girlfriend. According to police, the baby was shaken to death because he would not stop crying.
If the Administration for Children's Services is......

You won't remember any uproar in the press at that time because there was none.

Administrations for Child Services are way too flexible with how the cases are reviewed. People who are being accused of child abuse should not be given notice that a social worker is coming to visit, that in turn gives the abuser time to brainwash the kid into lying, or threatening the child if he or she speaks of abuse when the social worker exits the premises the child will pay severely. I am a product of an abusive step parent. I lived through the social worker interviews, I was told if you say anything your brother’s ands sister will get hurt that you. Way to often a child fears for their siblings, or the other parent in which is not involved in the abusing. There has to be a better way to prevent this from occurring and better ways for children to feel comfortable around people such as ACS workers. Abuse changes at a rapid pace; they should be trained to look at different aspects of the child’s life.

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