NYC Congressional Delegation Says They'll Help With Lead Dust Tests In Schools
In response to a WNYC investigation into lead-paint contamination in four public elementary schools, the twelve members of New York City's Congressional delegation sent a letter to Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza and the city's Health Commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, urging them to conduct lead-dust testing in public school buildings.
Representative Nydia Velázquez also encouraged city leaders to work with Congress on the issue. “Through the appropriations process, we could request some federal funding to tackle this issue,” Velázquez said. “We’ve got to be more proactive. We need to know the facts and based on those facts then determining what kind of legislative action we can take here in Congress.”
In a statement, the Mayor's office said it does not believe school buildings pose a risk of lead exposure to students. Click on the player above to hear WNYC's Christopher Werth discuss the impact of his reporting.
If you're a parent or a school principal or an active member of your school's PTA — anyone with information or questions about lead paint or dust in the public schools — we want to hear from you. Please contact us at lead@wnyc.org to participate in the conversation.
