Falling through the Cracks: Lead Poisoning Prevention Must be a Priority for Syracuse

Syracuse, NY —

Today, Syracuse community and non-profit organizations, Families for Lead Freedom Now and Legal Services of Central New York, in partnership with Earthjustice, released “Falling through the Cracks,” a report, which along with first-hand accounts, reviews data on lead-related code enforcement from the first few years under Syracuse’s 2020 lead ordinance. Syracuse has one of the highest rates of childhood lead poisoning in the country, as the housing stock historically contains lead paint and lead is present in drinking water service pipes. The report shows that several key enforcement gaps are leaving too many Syracuse residents without full protection from lead poisoning. In particular, the failure of many landlords to register their properties means those homes are not getting preemptive lead inspections that should be happening under the 2020 law.

Based on analysis of lead violation data from the county health department and city code enforcement, the report recommends various solutions including improved registry enforcement and inspections, greater tenant protections against retaliation, and transparency with community outreach.

The 2020 Ordinance requires lead inspections to be conducted regularly, as a condition of receiving and renewing certificates required for rental property owners (Certificate of Compliance or a Rental Registry Certificate). If inspection reveals peeling paint or other lead hazards, the City must issue a violation, and landlords must correct the violation before a Certificate of Compliance or Rental Registry Certificate can be approved. The preventative design of the city lead ordinance is crucial to reducing childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse. But the design only works if it is being followed and enforced. The data examined in the report identified key enforcement gaps including widespread failure of landlords to register properties, meaning the properties will not get inspected under the 2020 ordinance, and certain properties that have repeated lead violations showing failure to properly remediate hazards.

Due to its aging and often improperly maintained housing stock, children of color residing in neighborhoods with high levels of poverty are impacted the most. According to official testing results, 9% of Syracuse children tested in 2023 had elevated blood lead levels (above 5 mcg/dL). In 2021, over 11.6% of Black children in Onondaga County had EBLLs compared to 2.0% of white children.

Lead-based paint in residential buildings is the most common exposure pathway for childhood lead poisoning, as children under six years old tend to ingest lead paint that has chipped away from walls and breathe or swallow residual dust from floors and windows. Drinking water can also be a source of exposure to lead.

The State of New York is currently in the process of developing regulations to enact a system similar to Syracuse’s 2020 ordinance statewide. The New York State Lead Rental Registry Program has identified 25 communities of concern with the highest number of childhood lead poisoning in the state, some of which are in Syracuse. The final regulations are expected to go into effect in November 2025.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this research , as well as the lived experiences of Syracuse community members affected by exposure to lead paint, the City and County should take the measures recommended here to strengthen the effectiveness of the city’s recent lead ordinance and better ensure families are protected from lead poisoning. Each recommendation is elaborated in the report.

• Ensure all landlords apply for rental registry certificates so they get regular inspections.
• Work with the Onondaga Department of Health to identify and follow up with repeat offenders.
• Enforce more serious penalties against landlords who don’t act to fix lead paint hazards, fail to register their properties, or are repeat offenders.
• Do full interior and exterior inspections for rental registry certificates and renewals as required by the lead law before kids are harmed. If access to the property is blocked, the city must continue to seek administrative warrants to access the property for inspections.
• Pay close attention to vacant properties.
• Regularly review the data to identify what is and isn’t working under the 2020 lead law.
• Better inform the public of their rights as tenants and stop reporting parents to Child Protective Services for their landlord’s responsibilities.
• The Department of Health should test for lead in water as well as paint, and the City should prioritize inspecting properties with confirmed lead service water lines.

Any level of lead is deemed harmful for human health, prevention is key for protecting future generations from lead poisoning. City action with community engagement can serve well for lead poisoning prevention.

Lead Health Impacts

Lead is a poisonous heavy metal and its buildup in the body can cause serious health problems for any person. Young children and pregnant people are especially vulnerable to lead. Early exposure to lead can cause developmental delays, such as speech impediments and learning disabilities. It also affects a child’s ability to focus and may result in behavioral changes like irritability or hyperactivity. Any of these symptoms can cause a lifetime of issues that hinder a child’s healthy transition into adulthood.

“I am thankful to Earthjustice for supporting Syracuse families. This report’s thorough research echoes what families have been expressing: we are being let down by the entities that promise to protect our children. City and county governments are often failing to protect us and enforce existing regulations. Today it’s my child, tomorrow it could be yours. These are all our children. The report also highlights that we could have already taken steps to create a better future. Let’s work together to make that future a reality. This report should serve as a guide and a call to action for all our public officials, especially those who aim to fulfill their leadership promises in government.” – Oceanna Fair, Board Chair, Families for Lead Freedom Now, Inc.

“We are pleased to partner with Earthjustice and local community members on this in-depth examination of the Syracuse lead crisis and government responses to it. The crisis of childhood lead poisoning has persisted for far too long. And action we take now, as this report shows, will have positive effects on the long-term health of our entire region. With this data, we know the road to travel and where to start. Let this report be a wake-up call for our public servants, and an invitation to purposeful action in the coming months for all of us who care deeply about the well-being of this generation of children, and the ones to come.” – Paul Ciavarri, Community Development Organizer, Legal Services of Central New York, Inc.

“Laws are only as good as their enforcement, and our report clearly shows that enforcement is the problem with Syracuse’s lead paint ordinance. Lead poisoning is preventable, and Syracuse officials must demonstrate the political will to solve this crisis.” – Marissa Lieberman-Klein, Associate Attorney, Earthjustice