Boy’s fall to death tragic on many levels

The death of the 2-year-old boy, resulting from his third-story window fall, is a tragedy on several counts. In my view his mother should not have been arrested.

A single mom, she left her 12-year-old to supervise him and the other siblings while she drove an Uber in an effort to earn enough money to support them. Under DCF guidelines, it’s up to parents to decide if their children can safely be left at home.

Did she have a choice? I’m guessing not. Was her landlord following guidelines to provide secure screens in the windows? Perhaps.

Undoubtedly Ms. Frank is one of Connecticut’s poorest citizens. Alas, there are too many single parents in Connecticut struggling to provide decent housing, food and health care for their children in this, one of the wealthiest states in the wealthiest country in the world. Free child-care? Not an option for her. Safe, affordable housing? In very short supply.

We can do more and we must do more to support our thousands of families who live well below the federal poverty line.

Connecticut has over 10,000 households who earn multiples of $1 million per year. It won’t hurt their lifestyles one bit to pay a fractional share more in income taxes. Legislation to require communities to build affordable housing — to do their fair share to support those who aren’t as fortunate as so many of us — is reasonable and essential. As is free child-care for those who cannot afford it.

The boy’s mother must feel awful — agonizing over her decision to have left the children in order to support them. And yet … what choice did she have? Arresting her is not the answer. “Stepping up to the plate” as a community to help those among us in need of kindness is something we can do. Let’s do it. The time is now.

Courtney B Bourns, West Hartford