Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Children's Services Commissioner Mattingly Resigns
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 27, 2011
Modified Jul 27, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 27, 2011
Modified Jul 27, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday, Administration for Children's Services Commissioner John Mattingly turned in his resignation. While there have been numerous high-profile cases of children dying while their families were under ACS scrutiny, sources tell the Daily News that he was not pushed. Mayor Bloomberg said, "New York City has been extraordinarily lucky to have a nationally-renowned expert, John Mattingly, ably and tirelessly leading our Administration for Children's Services. When John came to us and said he wanted to return to his foundation work in Baltimore and have more time for his family, I asked him to reconsider."
Mattingly's tenure included the horrifying deaths of Nixzmary Brown, the child who died after her stepfather beat and tortured her—ultimately to death—while her mother did nothing to stop it, and the more recent death of Marchella Pierce, a four-year-old who was only 18 pounds. Pierce's death led the Brooklyn DA's office to charge two ACS workers with homicide. However, Mattingly did hire hundreds more case workers in an attempt to lessen workers' burdens.
Leaders of watchdog and advocacy groups were upset about Mattingly's departure. Children's Rights executive director Marcia Robinson Lowry said, "There are far too few child welfare commissioners anywhere in this country that share his courage, strength, integrity and tenacity. He aimed high and while he may not have hit every goal he set, his aim was dead on," while the Center for NYC Affairs' Andrew White said, "I honestly think this agency is so much more professional and the leadership is so much more focused on problem solving than a decade ago," and made note of the big budget cuts Mattingly's had to deal with, "It would take a toll on anybody to do that job. It's a brutal job." But the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform's director Richard Wexler said, "I think he was so personally affected by the horror-story cases that he lost sight of the fact that the majority of the cases are not horror cases."
Mattingly will return to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which is a private child welfare charitable foundation. It's also believed his wife might have some medical issues.
Tagged
ACS
administration for children's service
john mattingly
marchella pierce
nixzmary brown
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases
Two people who were found soaking wet and smelling of sewage say they went underground to look for jewelry, according to police and a criminal complaint.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 7:49 p.m. ET
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.
By
Charles Lane
News
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime
By
Carol Chen
Inside the Midtown Bus Terminal rebuild: Decks over Lincoln Tunnel approach, a new park
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Black couple seeking Queens apartment sues over racist text from broker
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .