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
- Evers Budget Has Green Goals - Danielle Kaeding - Feb 18th, 2021
- New Program for Lead-Poisoned Children - Matt Martinez - Dec 26th, 2020
- EPA Requires Lead Testing for Schools, Day Cares - Danielle Kaeding - Dec 22nd, 2020
- Lead Testing Down During Pandemic - Edgar Mendez - Nov 6th, 2020
- Op Ed: Lead Poisoning and a Listening Session - Carol Diggelman and Ann Batiza - Oct 27th, 2020
- SafeHomes initiative expands lead abatement efforts for a lead-free Milwaukee - Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic - Oct 27th, 2020
- Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Efforts Expand in Wisconsin - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Oct 26th, 2020
- Green Bay Replaces Every Lead Pipe - Megan Hart - Oct 7th, 2020
- EPA Unveils New Lead Regulations - Danielle Kaeding - Oct 2nd, 2020
- Op Ed: More Water Infrastructure Funding Needed - Radhika Fox and Kevin Shafer - Jul 26th, 2020
Read more about Lead Crisis here
Mentioned in This Press Release
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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