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
- $43 Million Later, MPS Says Classrooms Are Safe From Lead Dust - Corrinne Hess - Dec 18th, 2025
- MPS Buildings Cleared of Lead-Paint Risks after 10-Plus Months of Work - Milwaukee Public Schools - Dec 17th, 2025
- Wisconsin Moves to Require Lead Service Lines Replaced By 2037 - Danielle Kaeding - Dec 11th, 2025
- Gov. Evers, DNR Announce More Than $159 Million to Ensure Clean, Safe Drinking Water for Wisconsinites in 29 Municipalities - Gov. Tony Evers - Dec 10th, 2025
- EPA Announces $3 Billion in New Funding for States to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Nov 25th, 2025
- Wisconsin Communities Get $282 Million for Drinking Water Projects - Danielle Kaeding - Nov 19th, 2025
- MKE County: County Launches Lead Abatement Program - Graham Kilmer - Nov 9th, 2025
- Milwaukee County Launches Lead Remediation Program to Reduce Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Homes in Suburban Communities - David Crowley - Nov 5th, 2025
- Wisconsin Improves Child Lead Testing Rates, Urges Continued Testing and At-Home Prevention - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Oct 21st, 2025
- City Hall: Milwaukee Must Replace 100 Lead Laterals Per Week To Meet 2025 Goal - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 1st, 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