Council set to act on Health Department crisis
Joint statement from the Milwaukee Common Council
Today members of the Common Council learned that officers of the Milwaukee Health Department failed to ensure adequate notification of thousands of families whose children tested positive for elevated lead levels in their blood. This is an egregious public health failure that was in direct noncompliance with procedures put forth by Common Council resolution.
We will move forward to hold the executive branch accountable for this very serious failure and we will investigate in depth to determine what processes, procedures, or other matters, if any, have been ignored, not complied with, or have been mishandled by the Health Department. The protection of our children must remain our highest priority. Our review of this matter will be handled with a seriousness appropriate to a failure of this magnitude.
This marks a new day in the Common Council’s dealings with this administration with regard to policy, in general, and with appointments, in particular. We will exercise a new level of scrutiny and we will demand a new level of accountability.
Our fact-finding and review efforts into these matters will begin during a special Steering and Rules Committee meeting open to all Council members at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.
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
- Baldwin, Reed Demand Written Answers from RFK, Jr. on Firings of Childhood Lead Poisoning Experts at CDC - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Jun 11th, 2025
- MPS’s LaFollette School Cleared of Lead Risks After Stabilization Work - Milwaukee Public Schools - Jun 11th, 2025
- Sen. Baldwin Hears From Parents About MPS Lead Crisis, Chides RFK Jr. - Evan Casey - Jun 9th, 2025
- Reps. Margaret Arney and Darrin Madison Urge Joint Finance Committee to Reinstate Essential Lead Abatement Funding - State Rep. Margaret Arney - Jun 5th, 2025
- Gov. Evers, DHS Continue Administration’s Efforts to Combat Lead Poisoning Statewide with Permanent Rule - Gov. Tony Evers - May 27th, 2025
- RFK Jr. Claims ‘Team’ Is In Milwaukee Helping With Lead Crisis, Health Department Can’t Find Them - Nick Rommel - May 22nd, 2025
- MPS Announces Starms Early Childhood Center Is Cleared of Lead Dangers - Milwaukee Public Schools - May 21st, 2025
- Milwaukee Has Removed 10,000 Lead Laterals - Graham Kilmer - May 13th, 2025
- 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
Read more about Lead Crisis here
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