Oct. 24 – Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenter Anastazia Vanisko
What happened: The committee advanced legislation that re-allocates $17 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds for lead-safety initiatives. The full amount was previously allocated to the Mt. Sinai Health Foundation for use by the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition. Here is how the $17 million will now be distributed: $3 million will go to Community Development, $1 million will go to the Department of Law to increase prosecution against lead-hazard violations, and Mt. Sinai will get the remaining $13 million for the coalition. The Development, Planning and Sustainability Committee contentiously debated the legislation on Oct. 8. Full council passed the legislation on Oct. 24.
Terms to know:
Deepest end of the system: Director of Community Development Alyssa Hernandez said the department will use the $3 million for lead abatement at the “deepest end of the system.” “These are homes that have been identified as lead risks. These are where children are actively being poisoned in, had been poisoned in,” she said.
Are you a Cleveland landlord or tenant curious about lead safety? The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition is hosting a virtual session for landlords on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. It is also hosting a virtual session for tenants on Nov. 3 at 11 a.m.