To the Editor,
I am writing as a Rockland County resident deeply troubled by the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of an infant at an unlicensed daycare.
First and foremost, this is a heartbreaking loss, and my thoughts are with the child’s family. No words can lessen such a tragedy. At the same time, the seriousness of this incident demands transparency and accountability, and there are significant unanswered questions that deserve public attention.
Public reporting to date has emphasized that the homeowner was issued approximately $42,000 in fines related to housing violations. What remains unclear is whether the daycare operator or staff were cited, fined, or charged for operating an illegal daycare or for their actions during the emergency itself.
According to multiple reports, approximately 20 minutes elapsed before 911 was called. During that time, daycare staff allegedly contacted parents and removed or concealed the presence of other children. If accurate, this suggests that no emergency medical assistance was provided to the infant during a critical window and that no lifesaving measures were attempted by the daycare staff. In any childcare setting—licensed or otherwise—such a delay raises profound concerns regarding negligence and duty of care.
What is especially troubling is the broader context. In prior incidents involving illegal daycare operations in Rockland County, authorities publicly announced enforcement actions, issued fines, and pursued criminal charges directly against operators. In this case, however, public focus has centered almost entirely on the homeowner, who, based on current reporting, is not alleged to have caused the child’s death.
As a member of the Jewish community, it is difficult to ignore the perception that enforcement and public scrutiny once again appear to fall disproportionately on Jewish homeowners, while those more directly involved face little visible accountability. Whether intentional or not, this pattern contributes to a growing sense of unequal treatment within the community.
This is not an attempt to avoid responsibility or deflect blame. It is a call for consistency, transparency, and equal enforcement under the law—especially when a child’s life has been lost. The public deserves clarity regarding who is being investigated, what actions are being taken, and why.
Without clear answers, trust erodes—not only in institutions, but in the fairness of the system itself.
Sincerely,
A Rockland County Resident
The views expressed in this letter do not necessarily represent those of Monsey Scoop. Have an opinion you’d like to share? Send it to us for review.
Im sure if a child died at even a police perso run daycare they would face scrutiny as well. Stop trying the religion card. If kids around rockland were getting hit by cars there would be a focus on whats going on too.
Kids around Rockland are getting hit by cars and no one seems to care. I say it all the time, welcome to the new Lakewood.