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
- New MPS Superintendent Cutting Central Office Jobs - Corrinne Hess - May 8th, 2025
- 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
Read more about Lead Crisis here
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Apr 11th, 2025 by Common Council President Jose PerezStatement of Common Council President José G. Pérez April 11, 2025
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.