Advocacy Goals 2022-2023

Appoint a Lead Czar to the Mayor's Cabinet. Karen Dettmer was appointed to be Mayor's Chief Strategist on Lead.

Expand Childhood Lead Testing--City to deploy a mobile testing van in 2023. Raise Civic awareness through in-store displays. Provide comments on proposed State of Ohio regulations on child testing.

Enforce Cleveland's Lead Safe Certificate Program -- Departments of Building and Housing, Public Health, and Law "got the message" from City Council members during budget hearings. New reforms of enforcement procedures.

Use Infrastructure funding to replace lead water lines in Cleveland -- CWD outlines plans to expand the Lead Pipe Replacement pilot program when Federal funds come available later this year. Monitoring City of Cleveland lead pipe replacement.

Lead Poisoned Houses--Fix'm Up or Tear them down (safely)--Cleveland Law Department has hired outside Counsel to pursue nuisance claims against poisoned houses.

Federal Lead Safe Housing for Kids Act. Endorsed McEachin's version of the LSHKA in collaboration with EarthJustice.

Open Meetings, Open Data. Bring the Lead Screening and Testing Commission and the Lead Safe Housing Action Board into the codified ordinances and appoint representatives as defined in the law. 

A message to candidates for State Office--Ohio has over twice the national rate of children with elevated blood lead. There's lots you can do to make a difference.

Expand Lead Safety Awareness at County Government and Suburban Municipalities.

• Advocate for adoption of a County agenda for lead safe housing and testing.

• Provide briefings on lead safety to suburban public officials.

Encourage Schools to become Partners in lead poisoning intervention and prevention.

• Advocate for a resumption of in-school testing.

• Request reports on lead fixtures and service lines.

Support Households to combat lead poisoning and lead hazards

• Provide DIY lead testing tools to at risk families.

• Establish financial support for relocation of families at risk.

• Identify legal services for at risk families.

• Create homesearch tools for families at risk.

Research emerging issues including Smokestack, AvGas, Brownfields development, and Highway renovation.

• Increase public awareness of lead risks from industrial or commercial sources outside the home.

Expand opportunities for civic engagement by activists and at risk families

• Volunteer training sessions.

• Civic engagement at tabling events: voter registration, petition signing.