Dismiss Jess Dannhauser: How New York’s ACS Permits Abuse in the Name of Equity

Jess Dannhauser, the head of New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services, is prioritizing “racial justice” over the well-being of children — and there are dire consequences for it.

He attempted to refute this during a City Council hearing on Thursday after a damning exposé by the Post revealed his agency’s role in facilitating appalling cases of abuse.

Dannhauser has implemented policies that pose a severe threat to the very children he is supposed to protect.

This month, an anonymous whistleblower from ACS exposed the disturbing realities of Dannhauser’s cherished Collaborative Assessment, Response, Engagement & Support (CARES) program, which is anything but effective.

The whistleblower indicated that prior to CARES, every report of abuse or mistreatment was thoroughly investigated by trained professionals.

Now, according to the whistleblower, a bureaucrat merely reads a report and assesses if the child is at low or high risk.

In cases deemed “low risk,” the ACS sends a staff member to offer suggestions and referrals but lacks any authority to enforce them, allowing parents to control the process.

This holds true even when parents or guardians are the alleged aggressors or active substance abusers.

It’s a surreal situation.

A staggering 70% of ACS cases are funneled into this ineffective system.

All of this is justified in the name of enhancing “racial equity,” as investigations disproportionately target minority families.

Indeed, this agency, which has allowed tragic incidents such as the death of 10-year-old special-needs child Brian Santiago, who died from starvation following his mother’s overdose, claims to prioritize equity.

Brian had previously been removed from his mother by ACS, only to be returned despite ongoing allegations of neglect and substance abuse.

Even when ACS identifies child abuse, the influence of Dannhauser-style ideology has infiltrated the court system as well.

Consider the shocking decision made by Judge Erik Pitchal to return the clearly abused Ella Vitalis to her abusive parents.

Merely days later, the 1-year-old was dead.

We will address the alarming trend of progressive policies leading to the deaths of children at another time.

What is most critical now is to remove Dannhauser and similar individuals from positions of influence, or these tragedies will persist incessantly.

Fire him, Mr. Mayor. Now.