Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) — New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse filed a lawsuit, in July of 2023, against Syracuse landlord Todd Hobbs claiming over 20 of his properties violated state lead laws. The suit also claimed that 11 children fell ill due to lead exposure.
Per a press release released by the Attorney General’s office last week, the case was settled, requiring Hobbs to pay $175,000.
Families for Lead Freedom Now was an organization that the state government used to help with the settlement. Their co-chair, Oceanna Fair said where this money is going.
“The [Attorney General’s] office has secured $5,000 for each child that has been affected in the home by lead paint, and although that is a small amount, it does help with things like when [the child] needs to go see special doctors,” said Fair.
Some of these doctors include neurologists, speech pathologists and even physical therapists. Fair also told me that just one sugar packet amount of lead dust, which is found in lead paint, is enough to cause dangerous levels of lead in over 100 ten-by-ten rooms.
However children are even more susceptible to lead. Mary Jean Brown, an adjunct professor of social sciences at Harvard University, explained to me that children can absorb more lead.
“A 2-year-old will absorb about 50% of the lead he or she swallows, but by the time children are 6, it approaches the adult absorption rate of about 10%,” said Brown.
Families living with children under the age of 7, people living in old homes and pregnant women are eligible to apply for a free lead inspection in their home today at (315) 435-3271.
