ALBANY – The state Office of Children and Family Services has found no illegality at a makeshift childcare center set up by Assembly Democrats near the state Capitol following a purportedly “thorough” probe.
“No illegal care was identified. This child care model does not require a license or registration under its current operations,” agency spokesman Solomon Syed told The Post on Friday.
But the office did not elaborate on key details of the probe into finding the facts of a so-called “drop-in center” that the powerful Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) approved to serve members of the Legislature at no cost.
The facility, first revealed by the Albany Times Union, was created from an unmarked conference room of the Legislative Office Building adjacent to the state Capitol, with legislative aides serving as caretakers.
“You have young women who are now members of the Assembly and for them to be able to come to work and care for their children, I think should be the thing that people should care about the most,” Heastie said on May 2.
“This issue over this, I think is nonsense,” Heastie added.
But the Times Union – which first reported the state probe and its results – observed for several days that the past operations of the facility included caring for multiple children for more than three hours per day.
That appears to be in violation of OCFS rules for unregistered daycare facilities.
Solomon did not directly answer from The Post about whether the agency reviewed video footage from a camera mounted on the front door of the childcare center – or whether the legislative staffers were interviewed.
A standard investigation “may include, but is not limited to, conducting site visit(s), observing the facilities, reviewing documents, and speaking with staff, parents, or other parties who may have relevant information regarding the program’s operation model,” Solomon said.
“OCFS cannot comment on the specific details of an investigation,” he added while citing agency rules.
While no evidence has emerged of dangerous conditions at the Assembly-approved childcare center, tragedy has followed the opening of unlicensed facilities elsewhere, including the 2015 death of a baby at a seemingly safe daycare in Soho.
Assembly Democrats have faced criticism in recent weeks for giving free childcare to legislators, who make $142,000 per year, but not staff members who work for them.
“I only found out about it after I overheard a few Democratic members talking about it,” Assemblyman Jarrett Gandolfo (R-Bayport), who has a 1-year-old son, told The Post in late April.
“We’re talking about an unregistered daycare being run by untrained legislative staffers. A few Democrats even carry bills to crack down on unregistered childcare facilities. It’s hypocritical.”
