Queens Judge Ronald Richter to Head ACS

Queens Family Court Judge Ronald Richter was recently appointed to be the new commissioner for the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Bloomberg made the announcement July 27 at City Hall after ACS Commissioner John Mattingly announced he will step down in September.
“Whenever someone leaves our administration, it’s our goal to find someone who can do the job even better,” Bloomberg said. “Given Ron Richter’s extensive experience and abilities, we are highly confident we have found that person.”
Mattingly’s seven years at the helm of the ACS leading the organization may unfortunately be most remembered by the tragic death of Marchella Pierce – the 4-year-old girl who died last year weighing only 18 pounds. However, Bloomberg did acknowledge the job Mattingly did, one which included hiring Richter as the Deputy Commissioner six years ago.
“Together they instituted major reforms that made the agency far more effective,” the mayor added. “Now Ron will build on that progress and help us do even more to protect our city’s most vulnerable children.”
“I am honored that Mayor Bloomberg has asked me to lead New York City’s administration for Children’s Services,” Richter, 46, said in a press release. “Building on the significant progress made by Commissioner Mattingly, I will work tirelessly to protect the City’s vulnerable children while ensuring that troubled families are supported.”
“Leveraging my experience in Family Court and the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, I am committed to advancing the mission of ACS to protect our young people, to find loving homes for them in foster care, to deliver services that help youth in our juvenile justice system, and to provide high quality child care to the working families of New York,” he said.