Common Council approves full lead hazard review for city-owned properties
News release from Alderman Jose G. Perez and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II
The Common Council today approved a resolution requiring the Department of City Development to prepare a comprehensive plan to review all lead health hazards in occupied city-owned properties.
The legislation (File #180119), created by primary sponsors Alderman José G. Pérez and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, directs the Department of City Development to create the plan within 30 days. The plan must include a review of all potential lead hazards, including water pipes, paint, and soil, in occupied city-owned buildings.
“Lead exposure is a serious issue plaguing our city and putting children at risk,” said Alderman Pérez. “Developing a plan to review every city-owned property, specifically homes with young children, can guide us to the best form of action to eliminate this health hazard.”
“With this comprehensive plan in place, we can now take action steps to provide safer homes for our city’s residents,” Alderman Stamper said. “The quick turn-around with this plan will help us to address the real issue, removing lead from occupied city-owned homes.”
The measure aims to reduce health risks, including attention disorders and slow development, within homes that are often lived in by pregnant women and young children, who are most vulnerable to risks of lead poisoning.
Added as co-sponsors to the legislation today were Alderman Jim Bohl, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, and Alderman Nik Kovac.
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
- City Hall: Milwaukee Sees 250% Surge in Lead Lateral Replacements, But It Needs More - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 20th, 2025
- City of Milwaukee Health Department and MPS Provide Updates on Lead Safety Efforts - City of Milwaukee Health Department - Mar 19th, 2025
- MPS Closing Three More Schools Due To Lead Hazards - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 13th, 2025
- MPS Will Reopen School Shuttered Because of Lead Dust - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 12th, 2025
- Trowbridge Street School Won’t Reopen Monday, to Allow More Time for Deep Cleaning of Lead Dust - Milwaukee Public Schools - Mar 7th, 2025
- Health Department Will Investigate 10 More Schools For Lead Issues - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 7th, 2025
- MKE County: County Expands Lead Abatement For Low-Income Homes - Graham Kilmer - Mar 1st, 2025
- Health Department Shutters MPS School Over Lead Concerns - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 28th, 2025
- Health Department May Shut Down Some Milwaukee Schools With High Lead Levels - Evan Casey - Feb 24th, 2025
- Alderwoman Coggs introduces file to discuss MPS lead exposure issues - Ald. Milele Coggs - Feb 20th, 2025
Read more about Lead Crisis here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Common Council President Jose Perez
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Since the vast majority of children’s exposure to lead is paint related, and since most of these exposures are in rental properties that have been deteriorating for years, the idea of concentrating on City-owned housing (mostly built after the years of lead paint) will be fairly meaningless. Do not let the property owners of low-income rental housing get off this hook, and increase spending on inspections and follow through.