Lead Enforcement Ordinance brings consequences for landlords’ inaction

I am grateful to my colleagues for their support in passing CCFN 190927 during today’s Common Council meeting. I am also proud that in the buildup to this ordinance’s passage, the Coalition on Lead Emergency assisted in providing valuable input that informed us on the community’s needs and concerns.

This ordinance moves us in the right direction as it increases penalties on landlords who do not remediate lead hazards, while also giving the health commissioner a greater ability to enforce punishments and prevent lead poisonings. For example, the Health Department may now secure a court-issued warrant to enter the premises and remove the nuisance, at no additional cost to the City. Additionally, this ordinance protects tenants from eviction or any form of retaliation from landlords in relation to lead-based issues in their place of residence.

Overall, the Lead Enforcement Ordinance provides new and improved measures to punish those who neglect lead nuisances, while also preventing them before they can occur, creating safer living spaces for children, families, and individuals across Milwaukee.

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.