For Immediate Release	Contact:	Michael Simonsen
March 20, 2002		619-236-6616 619-884-7335 Cell

Frye And Inzunza Announce The Creation Of The Lead Safe Neighborhoods Program

Action will make lead poisoning a public nuisance under the Municipal Code so the City Attorney can take immediate corrective action when a child has tested positively for lead.

San Diego, California - Councilmember Donna Frye and Councilmember Ralph Inzunza today announced the creation of a Citywide Lead Safe Neighborhoods Program and the formation of a Lead Poisoning Prevention Citizen's Advisory Committee.

A key component of the Citywide Lead Safe Neighborhoods Program is the creation of the Lead Poisoning Prevention Citizen's Advisory Committee that will assist the City's Environmental Services Department and Neighborhood Code Compliance Department in creating an effective lead poisoning prevention program.

Councilmembers Frye and Inzunza will serve as Co-Chairs of the Committee which will include experts in affordable housing, child care, property owners, apartment associations, tenant organizations, real estate, medical providers, community health centers, painting contractors, and building trades.

The Lead Poisoning Prevention Citizen's Advisory Committee will be charged with developing a new ordinance specific to lead hazards, providing recommendations on what an effective lead program for the City should be, providing consultation and assistance to the City with respect to the implementation of the lead program, and help enhance lead education and outreach to all San Diego communities.

The county has been averaging around 40 to 50 child lead poisoning cases per year," stated Councilmember Frye. "The children of San Diego deserve to live in a lead free environment. Under this program, the City Attorney can take immediate corrective action when a child has tested positively for lead." Councilmember Frye made creating a citywide Lead Prevention Program one of her top ten goals immediately after taking office in June 2001.

"According to Councilmember Inzunza, "Our pilot program has indicated that we need to act quickly. A proactive approach to lead hazard control is imminent." Inzunza has funded the Sherman Heights Lead Hazard Control Mini-Pilot, which finds cost-effective ways to make housing lead-safe.

"The City's Environmental Services Department has been working closely with the Council Offices and other City departments on the development of the Lead Safe Neighborhood's Program," said Richard L. Hays, director of Environmental Services Department. "Our experts are prepared to implement this program and work to ensure all San Diego neighborhoods are safe."

The Linda Vista Community Lead Outreach Program will develop a lead hazard education and reduction pilot project in an area of Linda Vista. Linda Vista was chosen because of the high concentrations of pre-1978 buildings and the existence of a proactive Neighborhood Code Compliance code enforcement program funded by Councilmember Frye through Community Development Block Grant funds.

"It is essential that we identify the high risk housing, provide education on lead hazards in the target area and guarantee that these hazards are eliminated," Frye Stated. "I'm proud to be able to provide this service to the constituents of Linda Vista." Councilmember Frye represents the Sixth Council District, which includes the communities of Linda Vista, Clairemont, Serra Mesa, Mission Valley and Kearny Mesa.

"Since 1994, Environmental Health Coalition has conducted two community home inspections that identified San Diego neighborhoods at high risk for lead poisoning, including Sherman Heights and Linda Vista," said Leticia Ayala, coordinator of EHC's Lead Poisoning Prevention Project. "EHC applauds the City's willingness to join our efforts in taking action to prevent children from being lead poisoned."

The County of San Diego is the lead agency in performing case management for the child lead poisoning cases in a single or multi-family residence. But the County has no housing authority in the City of San Diego. Currently, the City of San Diego does not perform any enforcement for lead hazards found in the home. Because California state law and the San Diego Municipal Code define lead hazards indirectly as a nuisance, Councilmembers Frye and Inzunza will ask the City Council to add Section 54.0701 to the Municipal Code to provide the City with an interim enforcement tool only to be used for child poisoning cases.

"In young children, exposure to lead hazards can cause serious health problems, such as nervous system and kidney damage, decreased muscle and bone growth, and learning disabilities," City Attorney Casey Gwinn stated. "The ordinance will give prosecutors a stronger tool to hold responsible persons accountable."

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