West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
SUPPORT THE RAG

Search the site

No Result
View All Result
Get WSR FREE in your inbox
SUPPORT THE RAG

PARENTS SAY UWS DAY CARE IS INFESTED WITH RODENTS; CITY CITES ‘CRITICAL VIOLATIONS’

February 2, 2016 | 10:19 AM
in NEWS, SCHOOLS
3

GR Day Care 2
Goddard Riverside Day Care Center. Photo by Joy Bergmann.

By Joy Bergmann

A recent inspection by the City Health Department backs up some of the growing complaints from parents at Goddard Riverside Day Care Center at 114 West 91st Street. There’s a serious rodent infestation, with mouse feces on cots and toys, and administrators haven’t done enough to combat it, they say.

On January 25, inspectors found two “Critical Violations” requiring correction within two weeks:

  • Child care service not free of pests or maintains pest harborage
  • Child care service failed to take any and all necessary action to eliminate potential hazards

Two “General Violations” cited were:

  • Floors/walls ceilings were observed not maintained; in disrepair or covered in a toxic finish
  • Child care service failed to take appropriate action to keep facility free of pests or conditions conducive to pests; fails to maintain extermination service log

“It’s horrible,” says Ann Bascom whose four-year old son is one of 60 preschoolers attending the program. “The school needs to be closed to properly clean it and fix all the holes.”

School officials say they’re trying. “All of the issues have been corrected or are on their way to being corrected,” says Trish Anderton, Director of Public Relations for Goddard Riverside Community Center. “We take this very seriously and are committed to being a safe and enjoyable place for children to be.”

Another parent, Shanghel Meighan, has been photographing conditions and says workers dressed in safety gear and masks have been doing repairs and using foams while children are present, “They’re still jeopardizing these kids by having this done while children are on premises.” Meighan took the photos below of workers in masks, and a hole in the floor that they filled with foam.

MaskedWorkers

pipeHole-before

PileHoleAfterFoam

Phillippa Bowden says the prevalence of mouse droppings has aggravated the asthma of her four-year old son, who started the program in October. “This is the most he’s ever been sick,” she says.

The facility has a poor track record with DOH; 100% of its annual inspections over the past three years yielded violations requiring immediate correction (Public Health Hazards), according to the Health Department’s web site. By comparison, the citywide average is 38%. In August 2014, the center was temporarily closed for an array of violations, including failing to conduct employee background checks and failing to “provide constant and competent supervision for children within its care.”

To see the inspection reports, go to this site and type in 2061 for the permit number.

WSR approached two mothers departing the building Monday afternoon. Neither had heard anything about a rodent infestation but one mother noted a teacher had been urging kids to keep things in bins to prevent “gnawing.”

Kenna Kolaitos, a parent whose daughter attends another Goddard Riverside day care center at a separate location, blamed the day care’s administration, who she says have not listened to parents. “Many parents feel intimidated by the system,” she says. The school has changed directors multiple times in the past year, said Meighan.

“It’s a whole mess, but the teachers are wonderful,” she said.

Share this article:
SUPPORT THE RAG
guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

3 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
N. Nelly
N. Nelly
9 years ago

I looked up violations for daycares when we tried to find one for our child.

It isnt unusual to find even good daycares have some violations. The city can be very nitpicky about some things we might think are silly.

But this is pretty insane.

0
Reply
Evelyn
Evelyn
9 years ago

The center was never close for failing to conduct employee background checks. Everyone in that center had they background checked. Get your facts straight.

0
Reply
West Sider
Author
West Sider
9 years ago
Reply to  Evelyn

Please check the inspection report from August 29, 2014. It says the program was closed. Violations included a lack of background checks.

0
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

FOOD

Here’s the UWS Dish: Covacha’s Flautas

June 23, 2025 | 8:11 AM
Here Is How Upper West Siders Voted in the 2024 Presidential Election: Data
NEWS

Monday Bulletin: Yacht Crash on Hudson River Injures Dozens; Teen Hit by Lightning in Central Park Speaks Out; Former Columbia Student Released by ICE; Tuesday’s UWS Primary Details

June 23, 2025 | 8:04 AM
Previous Post

STREET SAFETY ADVOCATES RALLY BUSINESSES AHEAD OF BIG AMSTERDAM AVENUE REDESIGN VOTE TUESDAY NIGHT

Next Post

SIX FIREFIGHTERS INJURED IN MAJOR RESTAURANT FIRE ON 100TH STREET

this week's events image
Next Post
SIX FIREFIGHTERS INJURED IN MAJOR RESTAURANT FIRE ON 100TH STREET

SIX FIREFIGHTERS INJURED IN MAJOR RESTAURANT FIRE ON 100TH STREET

POLICE BLOTTER: THE BASTARDS HIT ARTIE’S!

POLICE BLOTTER: THE BASTARDS HIT ARTIE'S!

BOARD APPROVES AMSTERDAM AVENUE REDESIGN AFTER WILD MEETING; ‘SHOW US YOUR ZIP CODE!’

BOARD APPROVES AMSTERDAM AVENUE REDESIGN AFTER WILD MEETING; 'SHOW US YOUR ZIP CODE!'

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • NEWSLETTER
  • WSR MERCH!
  • ADVERTISE
  • EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TOP NEWS
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT US
  • WSR SHOP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.