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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
January 10, 2008
Contact: John Collins
212.669.4193; 917.496.4587
Release #: 002-2008
PA Gotbaum, CM de Blasio: New Documents Challenge ACS’ Motives for Closing of Bronx Day Care Center
–Public Advocate calls for moratorium on closures; CM de Blasio plans Council hearings–
MANHATTAN – New documents raise serious questions about the Administration for Children’s Services’ (ACS) motives for closing a Bronx Day Care center and forcing over 250 children to find new care, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and Council Member Bill de Blasio said today. While ACS has cited repairs and their high cost as reasons for closing Lucille Murray Day Care Center, Gotbaum presented public and private documents, including recent city inspections and even the building’s 1995 Scope of Work, which appear to undermine ACS’ claims.
ACS Commissioner John Mattingly released a statement last week, explaining that the city was closing Lucille Murray partly because the building required “extensive physical upgrade at a very high cost to the City.” ACS even cited a cost of $650,000 to repair the facility’s roof.
Yet, inspections by the City Department of Buildings and Department of Health completed as recently as October of 2007 gave the entire building a passing grade. Moreover, the city’s scope of work, the initial inspection that would have documented any problems with the building, fails to mention any major, costly repairs. ACS recently backed away from its $650,000 figure.
Gotbaum and de Blasio called for an immediate moratorium Lucille Murray’s closing – scheduled for this Friday – and demanded a specific accounting of why ACS is shutting the center’s doors. They are also planning a Council hearing to investigate the motives behind this and other day care center closings. Last week, in response to ACS’ claims that mismanagement of the center was another reason for its closure, Gotbaum urged ACS to follow its own policy and appoint an interim sponsor.
Public Advocate Gotbaum said, “Every reason ACS has given these families has been misleading or just plain wrong. Why are they being secretive? Closing this center will force 250 children to find alternate care, and create headaches for working parents. ACS needs to be held accountable and be honest about why they are closing this facility.”
ACS Rhetoric on Closure VERSUS Reality
Rhetoric: $650,000 for “extensive physical upgrade at a very high cost to the City”
Reality: ACS has abandoned the cost estimate. The scope of work fails to mention any major, costly repairs.
Rhetoric: Transfers and vouchers for “all of the children” at Lucille Murray
Reality: Many working parents and families still struggle to place children at other centers.
Rhetoric: “Poor physical condition of the site”
Reality: Multiple city agencies have inspected the building and certified its safety.
Council Member Bill de Blasio said, “A center like Lucille Murray, which provides childcare for nearly 200 children, should not be closed down unless we are certain that the center would pose a threat to the safety of these children or that repairs and renovations are too costly. We continue to have questions about whether ACS can demonstrate that with certainty.”
Lucille Murray will be the fourth day care center ACS has closed in Council District 17 in the Bronx, following Marcus Garvey, Mott Haven and Frank Whelan, for a total loss of over 400 child care slots.
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