A HAVEN FOR KIDS - AND A DRUG DEALER

Elizabeth Daniels' day-care house in Hempstead has a cheerful playroom full
of toys and games. Inspirational messages, such as "Why God Loves Boys" and
"Why God Loves Girls," hang on many of the walls. Daniels talks with
enthusiasm about how the children learn as well as play; about her passion
for her religion, and how she sees child care as an extension of it.

After 15 years as a provider, she has no complaints from parents in her
file.

"I love children," she says. "I've always been a children person, always
been a Christian person ... Parents know they can come here and feel
comfortable." Her son the convicted crack dealer has a room upstairs and a
key to the front door.

"He's fine with the kids," Daniels says. "He loves kids." Steven Daniels,
31, has been in the Nassau County jail nine times and served time in state
prison. Every time, he's given his address as the house where his mother
does day care. He lists his occupation as "odd jobs." His cars, including a
12-cylinder BMW 750iL, have been registered there. He's registered to vote
there.

Hempstead police say Steven Daniels is one of the village's best-known
crack dealers. He has convictions dating back 12 years for selling crack,
possessing crack, criminal mischief, possession of a weapon and bail
jumping in New York State, plus a conviction in North Carolina for
possessing cocaine with intent to sell.

Court documents describe him making street sales, running from cops while
throwing away crack, fighting with cops, wearing brass knuckles, slashing a
man with a knife.

Does he live at the day-care house? Yes and no, his mother says. She says
he uses his room when he wants and treats the day-care children
respectfully, but he doesn't "live here." However, she adds, "It's his
home." The state requires providers to disclose everyone "living in your
home." Steven Daniels does not appear on the forms his mother has filed
with the state.

Any attempt to change the way New York addresses the issue of criminals
living in day-care homes would have to include defining what living in a
day-care home means.

But as Steven Daniels' situation helps to illustrate, the question of where
someone lives can be a semantic and legal thicket.

Vermont is one state that has solved that problem with a simple phrase:
Those who have committed any of a list of disqualifying crimes "may not
operate, reside at, be employed at or be present at" a day-care home.

Elizabeth Daniels says Steven "just got off on the wrong track, not from
his home teaching but from out there." She gestured toward the street. "He
has never brought it in here." When he comes in the front door, she says,
"he gives me nothing but respect. He knows the house rules." His mother
says she's firm about that.