Brickbat: Bad Santa

Home security video revealed a babysitter funded by the New York City Administration for Children’s Services abusing three young boys in her care. The video shows La’keysha Jackson beating the boys—brothers aged 2, 4, and 6 years—nearly 60 times with belts and hangers, throwing the youngest, and using a Halloween mask and a Santa Claus costume to scare them, prompting the family to demand answers. The New York Post reports Jackson has been fired and the police are investigating but no arrest has yet been made. Jackson was apparently the family’s second city-funded sitter; the first was fired after she was found to be drinking and smoking at the playground while watching the kids.