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Policymakers seek answers in ‘freak’ opioid death of 1-year-old at Bronx day care
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 16, 2023
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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 16, 2023
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Policymakers and investigators are searching for answers in the death of a 1-year-old boy who was exposed to opioids at a childcare center in the Bronx where drug packaging equipment was found.
According to the NYPD, three other young children are still in the hospital.
“Are we doing enough surprise inspections? What is our training looking like?” asked Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, who represents the area, in an interview. “Who had access to the apartment and what are our protocols to making sure that folks know what the rules are?"
Police say they have two people in custody and are questioning them in connection with the incident. The NYPD said police responded to the Divino Niño center in the ground floor apartment at 2707 Morris Ave in Kingsbridge Heights on Friday afternoon.
“NYPD executed a search warrant at this day care center where we discovered a kilo press,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny. “This is an item that is commonly used by drug dealers when packaging large quantities of drugs.”
Three children were found unresponsive and administered Narcan. A fourth child, who was picked up earlier that day, was later taken to the hospital by his mother after he was acting lethargic and unresponsive, according to police.
According to public records, the childcare center is operated by Grei Mendez De Ventura. It first opened in May and was not issued any violations when it was last inspected on Sept. 6. Phone calls to the center went unanswered.
“They didn't have much of a track record to go on,” Sanchez said. “But the families that were here, they thought that their children were safe.”
According to industry experts, all childcare providers must undergo background checks, even those who don’t directly care for children.
“If it's a family childcare home, everyone who lives there needs to pass background checks,” said Gregory Brender, chief policy and innovation officer at the Day Care Council of New York. “It includes both criminal background checks and any indications around anything that would be considered a threat to the health or safety of children.”
Brender said childcare providers report rigorous inspections and that the principal issue in childcare is finding qualified staff who are willing to work for low pay.
“There are definitely neighborhoods in the city that are considered childcare deserts where the capacity is not meeting demand,” Brender said.
While Sanchez said that open drug use on the streets has become more common in Kingsbridge Heights since the pandemic, she called the incident at Divino Niño a “freak situation.”
“It’s creeping into a day care center, it's just devastating,” she said. “Police play a role, but they're certainly not the only ones who have a role, or who even have the most direct role in keeping our children safe.”
Tagged
public safety
bronx
the bronx
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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