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Office of Council Member Pierina Sanchez
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Feliz Dominici Family, Council Member Sanchez, Elected Officials, Community Stakeholders Host Street Co-Naming and Vigil Mass in Memory of Nicholas Feliz Dominici
New York City, NY- September 15th, 2024 – Today, the Feliz Dominci family, Council Member Pierina Sanchez, and others hosted a street co-naming and vigil mass to honor the life of Nicholas Feliz Dominici, a one-year-old who passed away due to exposure to fentanyl at his local daycare on September 15, 2023.
In a display of solidarity and remembrance, the Feliz Dominici Family, Council Member Sanchez, and local elected officials and community stakeholders gathered to honor the memory of Nicholas Otoniel Feliz Dominici through a co-naming ceremony and a memorial mass. The event was marked by the presence of prominent community leaders, including Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Borough President Vanessa Gibson, State Senators Gustavo Rivera and Robert Jackson, State Assembly Members George Alvarez and Yudelka Tapia, and the Consul General of the Dominican Republic.
“A toddler should be safe at daycare. Yet, on September 15, Nicholas, a vibrant toddler, lost his life after fentanyl exposure at his Kingsbridge daycare. This tragedy has shaken our community and spurred action to address gaps in government oversight that failed to protect him. As a mother, I feel the pain of Nicholas’ parents, Otoniel Feliz and Zoila Dominici, who entrusted their child to licensed care but were let down by our systems. In the past year, we’ve worked to move local, state, and federal measures to improve childcare safety and accountability. While nothing can ever replace Nicholas, we honor his memory today, recommitting ourselves to ensuring that all children are safe in our community. His life will not be forgotten, and this street renaming marks our collective commitment to continue fighting to prevent such tragedies from happening again,” said NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez.
“The heartbreaking loss of Nicholas Feliz Dominici is a tragedy that no family should ever endure. Today, as we honor his memory, we stand with his family and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that our children and communities are protected. In Congress, I have fought to secure $1.18 million in federal funding for the West Bronx Gun Violence Reduction Partnership, aimed at preventing violence and safeguarding the most vulnerable in our neighborhoods. This investment will help address the root causes of crime through prevention, intervention, and enforcement, creating a safer environment for all. As we work to honor Nicholas’ legacy, we are united in our dedication to building a future where no parent has to face such unimaginable pain. Together, we are committed to ensuring our children grow up in a community that nurtures and protects them,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat.
“A year ago, the Dominici family experienced an unimaginable loss that was felt across our borough,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Today, we honor the memory of Nicolas Dominici, a young life who was taken too soon from us. This street co-naming stands as a testament to his life and the profound loss felt by his family and our community. We will never forget this tragedy and the strength of the Dominici family for turning their pain into purpose and into a mission to protect others.”
“Nicholas’ tragic passing is a profound loss for his family and our entire community. No family should ever have to endure such unimaginable pain, and no child should ever be placed in harm’s way in a place meant to nurture and protect them. This tragedy has opened our eyes to the serious gaps in safety and accountability at daycare centers,” said Assembly Member George Alvarez.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family on this day. Our children mean the world to us, and I am hoping that this heartfelt memory of Nicholas Feliz Dominici will bring hope and inspiration to our collective vision of a community that is safe for my children and your children,” said Chad Royer, 2nd Vice Chair of Bronx Community Board 7.
The street co-naming took place at the intersection of Kingsbridge Road and Kinsgbridge Terrace, where Council Member Sanchez, alongside family members and community stakeholders, unveiled the new street sign dedicated to Nicholas Otoniel Feliz Dominici. During the ceremony, Council Member Sanchez highlighted the critical importance of legislative efforts to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Since the passing of Nicholas Feliz Dominici, area elected officials have introduced several key legislative measures and budgetary initiatives to enhance safety and oversight at daycare facilities and reduce drug violence.
In the New York City Council, the following bills have been introduced:
- Intro 1041 (Sanchez): An outreach campaign to inform parents of their rights in daycare settings
- Intro 1042 (Sanchez): A requirement for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to report on training for childcare inspectors
- Intro 1043 (Sanchez): A requirement for DOHMH to create an outreach campaign to notify public health sanitarians and teaching staff of childcare programs of overdose prevention and reversal training available to them
- Resolution 563 (Sanchez): A resolution calling on the State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign State Senator Gustavo Rivera’s S.7815A and Assembly Member George Alvarez’s A.8966A,
- Int. 0804-2024 (Abreu): A requirement to establish a childcare opioid antagonist program
In the state legislature, the following bills have been introduced:
- S.7815A (Rivera) and A.8966A (Alvarez): to develop training for childcare facility inspectors on controlled substances, educate childcare providers on overdose prevention, and increase transparency for parents with children in home-based day care centers
In Congress, US Representative Adriano Espaillat has led the charge in advocating for funding through the federal appropriations process for $1,184,000 for the West Bronx Gun Violence Reduction Partnership. The West Bronx Gun Violence Reduction Partnership aims to curb violent crime, in micro hot spots within NY’s 13th Congressional District. Through prevention, intervention, and enforcement strategies, the project targets youth at risk of perpetrating or falling victim to violence. Investing taxpayer funds in evidence-based intervention for violent crime in the 46th Precinct is crucial. Targeting prevention, intervention, and enforcement, it addresses root causes, fostering community safety. Collaboration maximizes impact, leveraging shared resources and expertise. Infrastructure upgrades enhance law enforcement capacity and community engagement. By investing in proven initiatives, funds address public safety and offer hope for safer communities. The funds, which are expected to be granted this Spring 2025, would flow through State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance, Byrne Justice Grants, Department of Justice – Office of Justice Programs to the New York Police Department.
In addition, Council Member Sanchez will invite area elected officials, community-based organizations, community leaders, and the offices of the Mayor and Governor to West Bronx-focused community safety convenings this fall, focused on increased investments for community safety resources and interventions in the West Bronx.
Finally, the Bronx District Attorney and federal prosecutors’ criminal proceedings in this case are ongoing, with federal prosecutors and Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announcing two Bronx men have pled guilty to narcotics-related charges linked to this case just this summer.
Following the street co-naming, the community gathered at Our Lady of Angels Church in the Bronx for a moving memorial mass that was closed to press cameras. The service, led by Deacon Wilson Martinez, provided an opportunity for collective mourning and reflection on Nicholas Otoniel Feliz Dominici’s short life and powerful legacy.
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