How New York City’s Lenient Child Protection Laws Let Promise Cotton Down
“They accomplished nothing.” That’s how Sabrina Coleson characterized the failure of the Administration of Children’s Services regarding Promise Cotton.
The 4-year-old girl from the Bronx was discovered on Friday in her family’s apartment after living for two weeks alongside the remains of her deceased brother, 8-year-old Nazir Millien, and her mother, Lisa Cotton.
Coleson noted that ACS had visited the doorsteps of neighbors like her just the day prior to the gruesome discovery — yet took no action.
Residents in the building had been voicing their concerns for weeks about a pungent stench reminiscent of “death,” as reported by The Post.
Police had also responded to an anonymous 911 call, yet despite being informed by neighbors of their worries, stating that the mother hadn’t been seen in weeks, officers chose not to forcibly enter the apartment.
Over 60 years have gone by since 28-year-old Kitty Genovese was brutally murdered outside her home in Kew Gardens.
This case became notorious when The New York Times reported that 38 neighbors heard her screams but failed to help her or notify the authorities.
In the years following, it was revealed that the initial report was significantly exaggerated, and many did in fact try to assist Genovese.
Despite their aloof reputation, it’s important to recognize that New Yorkers are generally compassionate individuals who care for their communities—especially their vulnerable children. When we observe issues, we do speak up.
However, our advocacy is futile if our public officials do not act.
In this situation, as is becoming all too common, there seems to be a lack of urgency regarding children’s safety.
Lisa Cotton’s past included a lengthy record of child mistreatment. In 2021, she was reportedly arrested for child abandonment after being caught swinging Promise in a stroller while setting a wig on fire.
She had an ongoing case for child neglect, and police were recently called when she threatened to kill herself and Nazir—who required a feeding tube—while on the roof of their apartment building.
This history should have indicated to both ACS and the NYPD the urgent necessity of investigating the neighbors’ concerns, especially given the risk to Cotton’s children.
It stands to reason that Cotton’s earlier arrest for child abandonment, along with the roof incident, were known to the NYPD and should have influenced their response.
ACS’s approach appears to treat child neglect as a minor issue—not nearly as severe as child abuse—and assumes that material assistance like housing vouchers or food stamps suffices when neglect occurs.
However, the majority of child maltreatment fatalities in this country stem from neglect, which often involves mental health issues or substance abuse.
Neighbors reported that Cotton had experienced “episodes”; her father suggested she might be bipolar.
This is reminiscent of Erin Merdy, who drowned her three children in Coney Island in 2022, despite her mental health struggles being known to authorities.
Young children cannot reach out to neighbors or call for help when the heat is turned off or they are left unfed—let alone communicate if their parents are experiencing psychological distress and considering violent actions.
This situation is even more dire for children with disabilities, like Nazir, who are disproportionately affected by child maltreatment fatalities.
A parent struggling with mental health or substance issues may suddenly become neglectful toward a child in need of basic care.
Just last year, 10-year-old Brian Santiago and his mother, Charlene, were discovered dead in their Bronx apartment after neighbors reported a putrid odor. Brian, who was wheelchair-bound and required a feeding tube, likely perished after his mother died.
Charlene had been under ACS scrutiny, and Brian had previously been removed from her custody—but despite her history of drug problems and mental health issues, he was eventually returned to her care.
Despite this, ACS has continued to funnel more cases into its CARES program, which aims to encourage families to seek their own solutions and access resources rather than conducting formal investigations when concerns arise.
In 2015, the criteria for ACS investigations included factors like “Caretaker Abuses Drugs or Alcohol and Child under 7” and “Caretaker Mentally Ill/Developmentally Disabled and Child under 7” — but both were removed in 2019.
The majority of New Yorkers are perceptive enough to recognize that these factors pose significant risks to children.
It’s high time our governmental agencies acknowledged this as well.
Naomi Schaefer Riley is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
