A statement from Alderman Terry L. Witkowski following the March 22 special Public Safety and Health Committee meeting
March 22, 2019
Sometimes well-intentioned efforts can do harm. Efforts by FLAC presented at a hearing before the Public Safety and Health Committee this morning turned up little new information other than that the credibility of the organization’s data and facts were suspect and unsupported. The fact of the matter, as testified to by physicians from the Milwaukee Health Department, the State Department of Health Services, and Children’s Hospital, is that the greatest problem to be addressed in preventing childhood lead poisoning is lead paint and dust.
It was mentioned that some residents don’t want to allow the Health Department to do lead hazard evaluations in their homes, saying they heard lead in the water is really the problem. What may be a well-intentioned group is now causing problems to worsen. No one is saying that lead in water is healthy, but it is a far less significant problem than lead paint is in the city of Milwaukee.
In my opinion, if you are inciting people with false or inaccurate information, you are the problem. If you cry wolf, there had better be a wolf around. The statistics testified to by city and state public health officials show a positive trend in addressing childhood lead poisoning in Milwaukee.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Lead Crisis
- MTEA Statement on Lead Exposure in MPS Buildings - Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association - Apr 30th, 2025
- Statement from Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez on Lead Hazards in MPS Buildings - Sup. Juan Miguel Martinez - Apr 29th, 2025
- MPS Closing Two More Schools For Lead Hazards - Jeramey Jannene - Apr 28th, 2025
- Milwaukee Public Schools Enters New Phase of Lead Cleanup - Milwaukee Public Schools - Apr 28th, 2025
- What To Know and How To Keep Kids Safe From Lead Poisoning - Evan Casey - Apr 25th, 2025
- Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Senator Tammy Baldwin Urge HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to Reinstate Childhood Lead Poisoning Experts at CDC, Push for Approval of Milwaukee’s Request for Federal Assistance - U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - Apr 23rd, 2025
- MPS’s Fernwood School to Reopen Following Lead Remediation Work - Milwaukee Public Schools - Apr 22nd, 2025
- Milwaukee School Board May Sue Paint Companies Over Lead Crisis - Evan Casey - Apr 19th, 2025
- Trump Administration Axed Federal Employees Needed for MPS Lead Crisis - Jeramey Jannene - Apr 14th, 2025
- New MPS Superintendent Dumps Beleaguered Facilities Director - Jeramey Jannene - Apr 3rd, 2025
Read more about Lead Crisis here
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It’s encouraging to see someone who offers a breath of fresh air and objectivity rather than just blow hards who are causing more damage while arguing they are “here to help”
themselves apparently