The Crown Heights assemblywoman arrested Saturday night for allegedly beating her 12-year-old son with a broom handle has sponsored an array of bills aimed at protecting children in the past two years.
Since taking office in May 2015, Assemblywoman Diana Richardson (D-Brooklyn) introduced a bill last February that would require teachers to complete training in reporting suspected child abuse every two years.
In May, she floated another measure calling on the city Administration for Children’s Services to submit annual reports on children served by its programs to the governor.
Others include proposals that would keep foster care information confidential in instances of abuse, create an early childhood division within the state’s children’s services agency and study the relationship between children’s services and the corrections system.
Richardson, a single mother whose son went to the 71st Precinct on Friday night to report her, admitted to hitting him after he pushed her, sources said.
He told cops his mom had “beat him with a broomstick” and injured his arm, police sources said.
The two had been arguing over an essay he refused to write about improving his grades.
Richardson is chairwoman of the Assembly’s subcommittee on foster care and also serves on its children and families committee. She didn’t return a call seeking comment.
“ACS is troubled by this news alleging the maltreatment of a child in Brooklyn yesterday,” said an agency spokesman. “As NYPD investigates, ACS is prepared to review if it receives a report from the state.”
For complaints of suspected child abuse to be investigated by ACS, they must first be processed through the state child abuse hotline and then referred to the city, according to a source familiar with the bureaucracies of both governments.
The spokesman declined to say Sunday whether there had been any prior reports of domestic abuse against Richardson.
Neighbors expressed shock over the allegations.
“They have a great relationship. I always see them together,” said Brendan Wilson, Richardson’s neighbor. “Any time she has to do any organizing, he is always with her, talking to people, handing out fliers. He’s really involved in her campaigning.”
Another was outraged that Richardson would beat her own son.
“She shouldn’t be doing that. Not with a broomstick,” the woman said. “There ought to be other ways. But then kids today, you never know with them.”
Before being elected to the Assembly, Richardson worked as government relations director for Boys Town New York, a youth services organization that her website describes as “dedicated to changing the way America cares for children and families.”