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.
More about the Lead Crisis
- Wisconsin Communities Act to Prevent Lead Poisoning - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Aug 17th, 2022
- DNR Releases Annual Drinking Water Report - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Aug 1st, 2022
- Lead Enforcement Ordinance brings consequences for landlords’ inaction - Ald. Jose Perez - Jul 28th, 2022
- City Hall: New Penalties For Landlords Who Don’t Fix Lead Hazards - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 26th, 2022
- Congresswoman Gwen Moore Secures Key Investments and Vital Resources for Milwaukee in House-passed FY 2023 Omnibus Funding Package - U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - Jul 20th, 2022
- Biden’s Infrastructure Czar Visits City, Touts Lead Lateral Funding - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 13th, 2022
- $2 Million Grant Will Train Minorities, Help Replace Lead Laterals - Jeramey Jannene - May 31st, 2022
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Foreclosed Home Will House Those Displaced By Lead Abatement - Jeramey Jannene - Apr 12th, 2022
- City Hall: Lead Program Investigation Closed Without Criminal Charges - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 24th, 2022
- Following DA Decision Not to Charge, DOJ Releases Files from Investigation into MHD Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program - Wisconsin Department of Justice - Mar 24th, 2022
Read more about Lead Crisis here
Mentioned in This Press Release
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Dec 19th, 2018 by Ald. Terry WitkowskiNews release from Alderman Terry L. Witkowski
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