Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb has sounded the alarm about the city's stagnant progress in combating childhood lead poisonings, according to the city's recent announcement. The data, he says, is undeniable, revealing no significant change in the rate of children with elevated blood lead levels since 2019. In response, Bibb is advocating for a shift in strategy toward more robust risk assessment and reduction.
"The data in this report from CDPH is clear." according to the City of Cleveland. The percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels has not dramatically changed since 2019 when we began focusing on lead-safe certification. It’s time for us to urgently reevaluate this program with a focus on preventing poisonings, Mayor Bibb stated in a release provided by the city of Cl. With this call for action, the city's team has been instructed to work with the City Council and the Lead Safe Coalition to retool current ordinances and operations.
Focusing on the Lead-Safe Certificate program, which has labeled a rental unit as “lead safe” for two years, senior advisor Emily Collins highlighted the transient nature of short-term measures like cleaning and painting. "Our programs must offer families assurances that a property is lead safe. Following a lead hazard control plan from a certified risk assessor is the only way to systematically reduce the risk of harmful lead exposure in homes built before 1978,” according to the City of Cleveland, Collins clarified. Cleveland's officials have unearthed that specific properties were slapped with a Lead Hazard Control Order following a case of lead poisoning, sometimes shortly after receiving a Lead-Safe Certificate.
Under the direction of Cleveland's Director of Building and Housing, Sally Martin O’Toole, the focus will now shift to enforcing permanent solutions through increased code enforcement initiatives, particularly in demographic hot spots with apparent lead hazards. O’Toole stated via the City of Cleveland, "This will be an iterative process, and my team will work closely with landlords to meet them where they are, clarify what is required and work with them on a plan to ensure their units are truly lead safe." The city will also draw on partners' expertise within the lead inspection and abatement arena to ensure cohesive action.
Complementing this effort, the city's Department of Community Development is ramping up its abatement efforts, specifically addressing neighborhoods where lead poisoning is most prevalent. The strategy includes a strong replacement program for windows and doors, known to be significant contributors to lead dust and subsequent poisonings. Pointing to Cleveland's past success in reducing lead poisoning from 2005 to 2018 but acknowledging the persistent issue, Dr. Dave Margolius, Cleveland's Director of Public Health, reinforces the need for shared commitment, according to the City of Cleveland, "For us to make this a problem of the past, we have to work together with our partners to dedicate the resources to get the lead out once and for all."
