Common Council Discuss New Lead Ordinance Common Council Discuss New Lead Ordinance

Anchor: THE SYRACUSE COMMON COUNCIL IS HOLDING A PUBLIC INPUT MEETING TONIGHT TO ADDRESS MEASURES TAKEN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF LEAD POISONING IN OUR COMMUNITY. REPORTER ALEXANDRA JENNERJAHN IS LIVE AT CITY HALL TO TELL US WHAT WE CAN EXPECT.

Jennerjahn: THANKS GUYS. I’M AT CITY HALL RIGHT NOW WHERE EARLIER TODAY I HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH SYRACUSE COMMON COUNCIL JOE DRISCOLL ABOUT THE NEW PROPOSED LEAD ORDINANCE. AND HE SAYS TONIGHT’S MEETING HAS TWO GOALS — TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ON WHAT ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS THIS LEGISLATION WILL HAVE ON SYRACUSE, AND TO GET FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS.

Driscoll: WITH THIS NEW LEGISLATION WE’LL BE GOING IN THE HOMES WHEN WE CHECK THEM AND CHECK THEM BEFORE THE CHILD GETS POISONED TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT BECOMES AN EXPOSURE ISSUE WHERE WE CAN’T RULE IT BACK.

Jennerjahn: DRISCOLL SAYS A BIG PROBLEM WITH LEAD IS THAT IT’S INVISIBLE, SO TO HELP FIND POTENTIAL ISSUES, THE CITY WILL BEGIN TAKING DUST SWIPES WHEN THEY CHECK HOMES.

Driscoll: YOU CAN RARELY SEE THAT THERE’S A CONTAMINENT IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT. AND WHEN THE CHILD GETS SICK, THEY DON’T REALLY DISPLAY ANY SIGNS OF THE SICKNESS. SO BY DOING THESE DUST SWIPES WE’RE ABLE TO DETECT SOMETHING THAT’S NOT VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE.

Jennerjahn: GETTING THIS LEGISLATURE PASSED IS IMPORTANT TO SYRACUSE RESIDENT OCEANNA FAIR WHOSE BROTHER AND NOW GRANDDAUGHTER HAVE BOTH BEEN AFFECTED BY LEAD POISONING, HER GRANDDAUGHTERS POISONING COMING FROM HER OWN HOME.

Fair: WHEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAME OUT, THEY DID TEST OUR SOIL, AND THE SOIL IS DEFINITELY CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD.

Jennerjahn: TO HELP OTHERS WHO MAY BE AFFECTED, FAIR WHO STARTED A LEAD REMOVAL ADVOCACY GROUP CALLED FAMILIES FOR LEAD FREEDOM NOW

Fair: WE TRY TO ADVOCATE FOR FAMILIES. HELPING THEM GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED, GETTING THEM POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Jennerjahn: FAIR SAYS SOMETIMES, PEOPLE JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT LEAD POISONING IS.

Fair: THEY GET TOLD THEIR CHILD HAS LEAD POISONING AND THEN NOBODY IS STOPPING TO SAY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.

Jennerjahn: FAIR SAYS SHE WILL BE ATTENDING TONIGHT’S MEETING AND HOPES TO ADDRESS CHANGES SHE BELIEVES NEEDS TO BE MADE TO THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY’S SAFETY.

Fair: CURRENTLY SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE WE REALIZE THERE MAY NEED TO BE CHANGES MADE TO THAT. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE CHANGES ARE MADE SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFE FOR EVERYONE.