Embedded Files
Andre, Darrick, Spencer and Mr. Lead were at the NEOBHC Minority Health Month event at 5th Christian on Saturday April 19th. Periodic thunderstorms couldn't scare away a dedicated bunch of information exhibitors' and guests who were sharing health tips and tests at this annual event.
photo by Lu
photo by Lu
Thursday April 17. Darrick and Spencer at the Scranton Castle Health Fair. Provided information about lead safety. Read more about CLASH's Lead Awareness Program.
CLASH does the Bunny Hop in Slavic Village on April 12, 2025. Andre, Darrick, Lila (guest appearance with the twins). We shared the sidewalk with Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer. Steady stream of children and families. Best guess was about 75. Andre and Darrick moved 4 bags of candy while working in front of the table. Darrick was promoting the children lead brochures supplied by EPA and the Ohio Department of Health (THANKS JohnB.) Mr. Lead was there! When parents expressed an interest in lead safety we guided them to the grown up table displays of literature. Seven signups!
On January 12, 2025, Molly provided lead safety information at the Early Childhood Resource Fair sponsored by Lee Road Library in Cleveland Heights. Despite a small turn out, there was interest from parents and other exhibitors. One mom who took some materials, she said that her husband's job was renovation. The other parents said their children had been tested for lead.
Progressive Action Council, November 22, 2024
Progressive Action Council, November 22, 2024
CLASH met with over 100 participants on Friday at Outhwaite omes gymnasium. About 1/2 were CMHA employees; the other half were reps from CMHA Local Advisory Councils. Andre and Darrick did a presentation on CLASH's campaign for lead safety in CMHA. We got some sign ups (from CMHA staff and resident leaders) and a commitment from Lillian Davis of Progressive Action Council to begin scheduling follow ups in the New Year. CMHA's CEO Jeffery Patterson came by the CLASH table, thanked us for being at the meeting.
Darrick, Andre and the guys at the table
Lead safe housing event at Cleveland Heights. Saturday, November 16th 2024 at the Community Center Rotunda was a goldilocks event. Busy enough that we never got bored, not so busy that we had plenty of time to answer questions and discuss options. Thanks to Zach Ravanelli for providing space for CLASH and thanks to Molly and Chantal for tabling this event. Busy enough that we forgot to take photos.
October 25, 2024 NEOBHC and EPA sponsor Faith and Leaders Luncheon. The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition held the annual Faith and Leaders Environmental Health Impacts Luncheon on Friday Oct 25th from 11AM-2:00PM in collaboration with the US Environmental Protection Agency. Andre and Molly also helped at the CLASH information table.
October 25, 2024 NEOBHC and EPA sponsor Faith and Leaders Luncheon. The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition held the annual Faith and Leaders Environmental Health Impacts Luncheon on Friday Oct 25th from 11AM-2:00PM in collaboration with the US Environmental Protection Agency. Andre and Molly also helped at the CLASH information table.
October 26, 2024 Lead Safe Resource Fair-West
October 26, 2024 Lead Safe Resource Fair-West
Almost as many exhibitors as participants, still CLASH's first west side resource fair was a success. Many of the exhibitors were "first timers" on the lead issues. CLASH hopes to be working with them in the future. Exhibitors also gained value from talking with one another. Each of the particpants who walked through the event had important stories to tell and questions to ask. Ward 11 has a high rate of immigrant/newcomer families who experience higher than average rates of lead exposure. Special Recognition to Brian Houlehan, Brooke Christy, Darrick Wade, and Molly Garfield for their help in preparation, setting up and taking down the tables and chairs, and keeping the exhibitors engaged. It was great to see Andre and his family moving through the room, visiting the exhibit tables.
Thanks to Case Western's undergraduate Latino Medical Student Association hosting ar flagship event, Sabores de Latinoamérica, which was held on September 28th from 1:00pm to 2:00pm at Thwing Center. About 75 students got a short presentation on community projects built around health activism. Six of the students picked up CLASH literature and signed up for CLASH Stay in Touch news. The students we talked to were already at the awareness level and looking for ways to start to engage with the off campus community. Chantal and Spencer say thanks!
CLASH volunteer Dr. Chantal Dothey
Tremont Arts and Culture on Saturday September 21st and Sunday September 22nd were a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Over 50 folks stopped for literature, questions and to sign up for Stay in Touch e-News. One positive sign is that lead safety awareness is growing. Several guests posed "stumper" questions about bio-remediation in soil and DIY home lead test kits. We shared what we knew and promised more research. How to deal with Lead Hazard Control Orders was a frequent question. This may be a sign that Cleveland's Department of Public Health is doing more enforcement of these lead abatement orders that are issued for properties where a child has been poisoned. Brian, Chantal, Molly, and Tonya all pitched in to help.
Saturday September 5, 2024-- Ward 11 Family Fun Day at West 117 and Lorain. Ward 11 Fun Day. Heavy overcast and wind with glimpses of sunlight weren't enough to keep the hearty families from Ward 11 Funday. Five sign ups, three book purchases, and plenty of conversation with hooded, fleeced and sometimes face painted guests. Thanks Councilman Kelly for making everyone feel welcome.
On Saturday, August 24th, CLASH volunteers held an information tent at the Harvard Cultural Festival at Harvard Community Service Center. CLASH will be there from 3 PM- 6 PM with Lead Safety Information, complimentary copies of "Mr. Lead is not your friend" for parents or guardians of a child under 12 years of age...and Voter Registration and Vote by Mail Applications.
Historic Greater Friendship Baptist Church hosted a Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday August 3, 2024. 10 AM - 2PM. CLASH volunteers were there to provide Lead safe information. Darrick was there to provide free copies of Mr. Lead is not your Friend for parents or guardians of children under age 10 and Jeff helped with voter registration and free samples of Narcan--a gift from his day job.
July 25, 2024. Ideastream. Lead safety advocates react to audit that found CMHA failed to report lead poisoning in children. "On Thursday's "Sound of Ideas," we're going to start by talking more about this report with our health reporter, Taylor Wizner, who has been covering these developments. We're also joined by two leaders with CLASH, which stands for Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing, which is an all-volunteer coalition of 10 community organizations in the region."
Wednesday, July 24th from 2PM-7PM. GET THE LEAD OUT OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS RENTAL PROPERTIES and Prevent Lead Poisoning at Cleveland Heights Community Center Rotunda, One Monticello Boulevard. Zach Ravanelli Cleveland Heights sponsor says "We plan on having several more of these, I will keep everyone posted. We expect more turnout as we continue to make our residents aware of our lead safe ordinance and the dangers lead based paint poses to our residents."
Wednesday, July 24th from 2PM-7PM. GET THE LEAD OUT OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS RENTAL PROPERTIES and Prevent Lead Poisoning at Cleveland Heights Community Center Rotunda, One Monticello Boulevard. Zach Ravanelli Cleveland Heights sponsor says "We plan on having several more of these, I will keep everyone posted. We expect more turnout as we continue to make our residents aware of our lead safe ordinance and the dangers lead based paint poses to our residents."
Molly reports: "The Cleveland Heights lead awareness event drew a small crowd, but it was a crowd of people who were serious about trying to address the lead issue. There were landlords, contractors and Realtors Two gentlemen came from the city of Shaker Heights in anticipation of their City possibly modeling their program after Cleveland Heights. Got some good information and made some contacts. We got invited to show up at a wellness event at City Hall in Cleveland Heights on Monday."
Molly reports: "The Cleveland Heights lead awareness event drew a small crowd, but it was a crowd of people who were serious about trying to address the lead issue. There were landlords, contractors and Realtors Two gentlemen came from the city of Shaker Heights in anticipation of their City possibly modeling their program after Cleveland Heights. Got some good information and made some contacts. We got invited to show up at a wellness event at City Hall in Cleveland Heights on Monday."
University Heights Juneteenth Celebration. Andre, Dalonzo, Darrick, and Molly helped to table this event. Despite the steamy weather and a slow start, we got 28 clicks (guests who picked up literature), but it was hard to hold a conversation when dancers at the next tent overflowed on to the sidewalk so that non-dancers had to weave away from our tent. Only 5 sign ups. Thanks to the Mayor and Councilpersons who stopped by.
NEOCH Housing Justice Summit Saturday June 8th, 2024. NEOCH's Housing Justice Summit. Saturday's weather was great, the turnout out respectable, and the speakers were enlightening. CLASH got 3 signups and moved a lot of literature from the registration table. Unfortunately our planned workshop never materialized since much of the crowd had melted away in the heat of the afternoon. Here's what we would have suggested for activists looking to get started on lead safety.
Thanks to Andre, Chantal, Darrick and Molly for staffing the booth at the Harvard Square Family Fun Day. Despite a dampening rain storm, there was a nice turn out of families (we counted 28 who stopped by the booth). Darrick provided 10 gift books to moms of children under age 10 and there were some long discussions. Reps from Cuyahoga Jobs and Family Services and Say Yes to Cleveland booths stopped by to pick up materials also.
Cleveland Asian Festival is always a highlight of the tabling year for CLASH Thanks to Andre, Chantal, Darrick, Erika, Yvonka. An all star crew. Practically 175 guests stopped to pick up literature, sign up or talk during the 2 day event. Watch for photos and more later this week.
Maple Heights Community Resource Fair at Maple Heights High School (Cafetorium). CLASH's Andre White and family provided lead safe information to community members. Thirty stopped by the table, eight signed up for our newsletter. Special Guests: Mayor Blackwell , and Council members Stafford-Marbury and Madden.
Saturday April 6, 2024 CLASH was there when Birthing Beautiful Communities sponsored a gathering of doulas, birthing individuals, caregivers and families, celebrating birth work and showcasing partners in the reproductive health and wellness spaces. Our theme is Doulas as Superheroes! CLASHers Molly Garfield, Rev. Darrick Wade. and Dr. Chantal Dothey talked to attendees about lead safety.
CLASH participated in the Cuyahoga County Conference on Social Work (CCCoSW) by tabling information for participants and sponsoring a workshop on Lead and Crime...which featured our old friend Dr. Maria Jose Talayero Schettino, from George Washington University, who participated via Zoom. Participation was disappointing but being able to talk directly to social work professionals about lead safety is a valuable opportunity.
Report from the HUB event: On Saturday. Darrick and MollyG attended and made brief presentations at Black Childhood Development Institute event. The event was an open house for BCDI's new hub for empowering early childhood educators and families. Nine attendees picked up CLASH and EPA literature; four registered for the CLASH "Stay in Touch" newsletter.
Salvation Army-East Cleveland Branch November 29, 2023: CLASH participated in a food/medical event sponsored by FoodStrong/CareStrong. Because of the first big snow of the season, the turn out was light. CLASH talked to about 4 tenants, but got acquainted with students from CWRU's Patient Assistant programs and FoodStrong staffers. Future collaborations are planned. Meanwhile Salvation Army circulated 4 copies of EPA's Protect your family... brochures from CLASH's static display box in the lobby.
Salvation Army-East Cleveland Branch November 29, 2023: CLASH participated in a food/medical event sponsored by FoodStrong/CareStrong. Because of the first big snow of the season, the turn out was light. CLASH talked to about 4 tenants, but got acquainted with students from CWRU's Patient Assistant programs and FoodStrong staffers. Future collaborations are planned. Meanwhile Salvation Army circulated 4 copies of EPA's Protect your family... brochures from CLASH's static display box in the lobby.
Asia Plaza Community Resource Fair. Spencer took the table and Chantal assisted on Tuesday September 19th from 9AM-1PM. Good crowd, mostly Chinese speaking which reminds us that we need to add lead safety literature in Chinese and sharpen our skills with Google Translate.
Andre and Chantal took over tabling duties at the 14th Annual African American Women's Wellness Walk, sponsored by CLASH member organization Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition.
August 26, 2023 -- 10 AM-3 PM. Reviving our Communities Resource Fair at Glenside Park is a favorite CLASH venue. Andre, Darrick, Erika, and Molly took turns at the CLASH Table.
Stand up for our children on August 11, 2023 was not a CLASH event, but CLASHers were there in support of our member organizations, Black on Black Crime Inc. and Black Lives Matter Cuyahoga County. Both Channel 5 and Channel 19 carried the demand that elected officials offer support for youth.
August 5th Noon-6PM at New Day In Hough. Andre, Dalonzo and Jeff took the first shift. Darrick and Spencer took the second. But Jeff hung around to help table on the breaks and did some politicing on the side. Councilman Conwell hung out with us and laughlingly called us a bunch of radicals. Still here's there when we need his voice on Health Committee. Other pols stopped to say "hi" but they weren't as funny.
August 3, 2023 -- 6 PM-8.30 PM: SUMMER YOUTH MINIFEST. Harvard Community Services Center. Andre and Spencer manned the table. Several visitors had "horror stories" about lead poisonings in their families. Councilman Joe Jones stopped by and hesitately reached out to shake hands...but only waved to nemesis Andre. "You've got my number, right?"
Love in Action Friday. July 21, 2023. 1PM-3PM at Changing Lives Ministry, 12651 St. Clair Avenue in the Community Room. Small turn out, but hearty discussions. Molly's friends stopped by for a snapshot.
Love in Action. Thursday. July 27, 2023. 1PM-4PM at Euclid Beach Villa. Darrick at the table. Good discussions around upcoming SoilSHOP events; children with high EBLLs; Seniors who have grandchildren over to visit and chipping peeling paint throughout the highrise.
University Heights 2nd Juneteenth Celebration started slow, but that's OK. There was time for some deep discussions. 10 sign ups including a nice mix of health and lead professionals, DIYers, new parents, homeowners, landlords looking for financial assistance, and newcomers to Cleveland -- 2 of our sign ups were folks moving to Cleveland from California and Florida respectively!
Aches, Pains and Automobiles. Saturday's event was another big success for Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition. Rev Darrick Wade, a long time advocate for lead safety greets an attendee on Saturday. One participant took the TEX parent survey.
Famicos Health and Digital Expo. June 9, 2023
Eleven Glenville residents stopped by the CLASH tent on Friday at Famicos' Health and Digital Expo. Eight attendees took literature on lead safety and five signed up for this Stay in Touch newsletter. In addition, CLASH volunteers made contact with representatives from NEON and Medworks to set up future events.
Maple Heights Housing Resource Fair May 13, 2023
Maple Heights Housing Resource Fair May 13, 2023
CLASH volunteers greeted one and all. Thanks to Maple Heights Mayor Annette M. Blackwell and the Department of Building and Housing for the invitation.
Cleveland Asia Fest, May 11-12 was a block of displays and guests from all over NEO. CLASH was there with Lead Safety information, parent surveys and guest visitors.
Cleveland Asia Fest, May 11-12 was a block of displays and guests from all over NEO. CLASH was there with Lead Safety information, parent surveys and guest visitors.
The NEOBHC Minority Health Fair was a great event for a rainy Saturday April 30, 2023. Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition was pleased to have so many vendors and guests. Special thanks to USEPA, City and County Health Departments and the Lead Testing Team from MetroHealth.
Site of the explosion taken from the sidewalk at 22500 Alexander Road.
Creek behind the plant runs into a culvert under Alexander Road. Lead levels were 10 times the "risk" standard.
Run off creek along the Marginal Road next to I-77.
March 18, 2023. WaPo. Plant explosion leaves town with fear of lead exposure and few answers. "CLASH struggled to get timely answers from the Ohio EPA about whether the agency was looking for lead contamination and what the preliminary findings were, according to messages reviewed by The Washington Post. Hall, who used to work for the Cleveland Health Department, said there are protocols for jumping to action after a disaster and she remains critical of Ohio EPA for not treating the Oakwood Village explosion as such." Thanks to Kim Bellware for her diligent reporting. This is the opposite of press release journalism and Kim was tireless in seeking out all perspectives.
Aug. 14, 2023. Cleveland.com. OSHA faults I. Schumann & Co. for fatal explosion at Oakwood plant. No mention of the lead contamination that was documented by CLASH volunteers at the time of the explosion. CLASH will resume its investigation into the explosion as time permits. Another news report here.
Love in Action at the Community Resource Connection. 1-3 PM, April 21, 2023. Changing Lives Ministry, 12651 St. Clair. Spencer and Molly provided lead safety information, sign up for Barriers to Child Testing, and buttons for the children.
Black Child Development Institute Lead Exposure Listening Session, 10.30-11.30 Saturday April 22nd at the newly renovated Hough Library. 6530 Lexington Avenue. Share your experiences, ask questions and get information.
Tabling moves indoors! On December 3, 2022, CLASH participated in the Health, Housing, and Jobs Fair sponsored by Famicos. It was a big event. Well over 100 guests came through the gymnasium at the East Professional Center. Thanks to Chantal and Ashley for covering the the event with Lila. Dalonzo stopped by the table and Samario Ford had CLASH information at the NEOBHC table.
University Heights Fall Fest October 2, 2022. Noon to 5PM at Stinson Park. Lila and Chantal worked a decidedly professional crowd in University Heights.
NEOBHC Fall Fest October 1st
On October 1st, CLASH joined the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition for a Autumn Health and Wellness Fest. Andre shared lead safety information at the CLASH Table.
Lila reports: "While many Senior Residents are expecting more from the community like a grocery store, more activities to ensure healthy mental and motor skills, there were quite a few concerned how lead exposure through water and outdated repairs could affect their life expectancy especially those with a compromised respiration system using oxygen tanks."
Lila reports: CLASH gained big support from University Heights Mayor Brennan and Vice Mayor Michele Weiss. "I had the support of Bob Parker from SPAN 12p-2p and I rocked out with the crowd until 5pm. We had the coziest tent btw."
Andre and Ashley report: There was a child-filled in the Harvard Square area when NEOBCH brought the Fall Health Fair to Cawthorn Park. Lots of pols stopped by too!
Lots of kids meant lots of CLASH buttons in the crowd.
September 24, 2020: CLASH Team Picnic
Special thanks to Andre at the grill, Molly in the kitchen, Raconteur Darrick, Special Guests: Judge Wanda Jones, Chris Ronayne, Rachel Dissell. And our hostess, Yvonka Hall.
Rosemary and Darrick
Jeff, Darrick, Andre talk politics
Molly and Yvonka in the kitchen
Catching up
Intense discussion
Tabling in August 2022
Tabling in August 2022
Saturday August 20, 2022. Noon-6PM. Ward 5 Back to School Event. Friendly Inn Settlement, 2386 Unwin Rd. Lila and spencer took turns being table leader. Molly helped from Noon-2PM and Dalonzo covered 2PM-4PM.
Saturday, August 27, 2022. Community Resource Fair at Glenview Park, sponsored by COOLJC Region VI Social Justice Ministry of Pilgrim Church of Christ. AshleyE, Chantal and Lila took turns at the table.
Wednesday, August 17, 2022. 4pm – 7pm. Ward 12 Back to School Resource Fair at Art House Inc. 3119 Denison. At Councilwoman Maurer's request, CLASH gave away 17 3M Home Lead Test kits (courtesy of God Before Guns Foundation). Dr. Chantal, Lila and Spencer were chatting with neighborhood folks and local politicians throughout the event.
Friday, August 5, 2022. 2PM-6.30PM. University Settlement. 4939 Broadway Avenue. Molly and spencer covered the Back to School event on Broadway sponsored by the University Settlement. We were busy for an hour and a half--lots of interested parents and children, but then the storm rolled in!
Thursday, August 4, 2022. 6PM-8PM. Summer Trick or Treat. Harvard Community Service Center, 18240 Harvard. Andre and spencer covered the back to school event at Harvard Community Services on Thursday. Thanks to everyone who signed up for the "stay in touch" email newsletter.
Sunday, July 31st, Lila and Spencer participated in the Hayes Temple Harvest Festival. Great music and fellowship! Participants had questions about Cleveland's Lead Safe Certificate program, the impact of lead on seniors, lead in soil even thought the home has been made lead safe, and the availability of Individual Education Plans (IEP) for children entering Pre-K and Kindergarten.
What's News!
What's News!
Saturday, June 30th, Lila covered the Health Fair at Maple Heights Library on. Many public officials stopped to talk about the feedback they are getting from Maple Heights residents. Looks like CLASH will be setting up follow up events around lead safety education and engagement.
Andre and Spencer provided information on lead safe housing at the Famicos at McDonalds Resource Fair on Thursday, July 21, 2022. Thanks to Famicos for producing an exciting event. The wind from the lake made the hot temperatures bearable. The mood on the 17 visitors to our booth was curious and experienced! Most took literature on lead safe housing.
Wednesday, July 13, 2022. 6 PM-7.30 PM. Our Voices Matter. MidTown Techhive, 6815 Euclid. Andre and spencer report "Lots of young people in a combination of a resource fair and a training event for young activists."
Darrick and Earth Justice proclaim support for the Lead Safe Housing for Kids Act in the US Congress. " 'It is past time for HUD to adopt a primary prevention strategy for addressing lead in federally assisted housing. Preventing lead exposure is cheaper than fixing the problem after a child has been poisoned. Not only cheaper, but morally imperative,' said Darrick Wade, board of directors, Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing."
Thursday, July 7, 2022. 6PM-8PM. Community Resource Fair. 18240 Harvard Avenue. Andre, Molly and the premiere of the CLASH store display! Old and new friends stopped by to say "hi": Toni Johnson, Judge Scott. Larry Gardner, Councilman Jo Jones.... Andre knows everyone! Thanks to Andre and Molly for tabling.
Thursday, June 30, 2022: 11 AM- 2 PM, St. Andrews Tower, 5225 Superior Ave. Cleveland, OH 44103. Love in Action Ohio is partnering with St. Andrews Tower for a Community Resource Fair. Lila reports: "Yesterday's event was full of networks and interested parties collaborating to further spread the awareness of Lead Safe including NEON and a visiting Pediatrician. Dalonzo was a delight to work with.
Thursday, June 23, 2022: 11 AM- 1 PM, Memorial-Nottingham Library Branch, 17109 Lakeshore Blvd. Cleveland, OH, 44110. Love in Action Ohio is partnering with Memorial-Nottingham Library Branch for a Community. MollyG reports many women with large families stopped to talk about lead and poor maintenance by their landlords. Many followups. One table guest will be holding a community meeting in October and will invite CLASH to participate.
June 25, 2022. 10AM -- 4PM. A. Philip Randolph Institute Ohio State Education Conference, Marriott Renaissance Cleveland 24 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44113. It was slow for Lila and Spencer at the table, so Lila took handsfull of brochures and worked the crowd during breaks. Yvonka was a guest speaker in the evening session.
Monday, June 27, 2022: 11AM-2PM. Warrensville YMCA, 4433 Northfield RD, Cleveland, OH, 44128. Love in Action Ohio is partnering with the Warrensville Heights Family YMCA for a Seniors’ Community Resource Fair. Food Distribution, free cell phones, cleaning & hygiene products, and more.
Dr. Chantal and Lila provide the smiles and lead safe information
June 17, 2022: 11 AM- 2 PM, Changing Lives Ministries, 12651 St. Clair Ave. Cleveland, OH, 44108. Love in Action Ohio is partnering with Changing Lives Ministries to host a Community Resource Fair. Food Distribution, free cell phones.
June 18, 2022. National Council of Negro Women, Family Fun and Fitness Fair, Zelma George Rec Center 3155 MLK Jr. Blvd. Lila, Spencer and Andre
Lila's ready to share information
Dr. Chantal talks lead safety with residents
June 19, 2022. Juneteenth Event in University Heights at Stinson Park 2301 Fenwick Rd, University Heights, OH 44118. Dr. Chantal Dothey counsels families. Thanks to Erika and Lila for helping out!
Dr. Chantal Dothey and Spencer at the Famicos Festival on May 12, 2022
Thanks to WEWS for their on-going coverage of lead issues in Cleveland.
March 8, 2022. Maybe Governor DeWine pays attention to CLASH Public Comments. New funding for Lead Pipe Replacement for Child Care Centers.
Press Release
February 10, 2022 For Immediate release
Judge Scott is Right! Housing Court Should Enforce the Lead Safe Certificate Law
CLASH supports Judge Moná Scott’s right to require landlords to show compliance with Cleveland’s Lead Safe Certificate law before they are eligible to bring an eviction action. A recent court case brought against the Judge claims that she does not have the authority to enforce the Lead Safe Certificate Law, passed in 2019. (alternate source here,)
By taking the initiative to require lead safe compliance, Housing Court Judge Scott has shown that she understands that there is no such thing as voluntary compliance without some strict enforcement. The failure of the 2005 ordinance creating a Lead Safe Registry is a dramatic example of the failure of voluntary compliance. No one ever signed up! At risk Cleveland households should not have been forced to wait in vain for lead safe housing.
While many landlords have shown themselves willing to obey the law in the interest of their tenants, many others are waiting to see what will happen if they do nothing. Some clear examples of consequences for landlords who have not complied will move many who are on the fence to comply with the law. The cost of making a rental property lead safe is negligible and assistance is available. Making rental homes is not just altruism. If a child is poisoned in a rental property, the owner may be compelled to pay thousands of dollars for a full scale lead abatement.
It’s ironic that no one actively opposed a similar court rule created by former Housing Court Judge Ron O’Leary. That rule required landlords to register their property with the City’s Rental Registration Program before bringing an eviction. Back then, landlords were pretty confident that there were very limited inspection requirements connected with the rental registry.
One of the most powerful impacts of compliance with lead safe certification will be to close a loophole in the Federal and City lead disclosure laws. For two decades, owners of pre-1978 rental properties could honestly say that they had “no knowledge” of lead hazards because they were never inspected. The passage of the Lead Safe Certification Ordinance closed that loophole. Once certified, an owner can’t tell prospective tenants that he or she doesn’t know about lead hazards or fail to reveal what steps were taken to remediate those hazards.
Judge Scott’s initiative is civic heroism, but Judge Scott shouldn’t be the only Cleveland official who is enforcing the Lead Safe Certificate Ordinance. CLASH is advocating that Mayor Bibb’s Lead Czar (see page 40) will work with the Directors of Building and Housing and the Law Department create a procedure for bringing charges against egregiously non-compliant property owners. Further, the Department of Building and Housing must resume lead testing (including dust wipes) as a part of Rental Registration inspections and inspections triggered by tenant complaints.
For more information contact Yvonka M. Hall, President
Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing (CLASH)
Phone or Text: 216-802-8101
Email: neobhc@gmail.com
Oct 11, 2021. Cleveland Scene. Winners and Losers in the Cleveland Mayoral Debate: Bibb Kicks Kelley's Ass. "...Bibb's strongest moment came in the discussion of the lead paint crisis. Bibb celebrated the work of CLASH activists and said it was a shame it took their efforts to finally force city government's hand on lead. He said he wants to beef up housing code enforcement to ensure landlord compliance, appoint a lead czar in his administration and spend ARPA dollars to establish an endowment to fully eradicate lead poisoning in Cleveland. Ambitious? Sure. But Kelley took exception to Bibb's plan to ;beef up' code enforcement — this was another buzzword, presumably — and talked about the challenges of recruiting employees in the building and housing department. Though he did say the city can't make excuses, he said the lead safe Cleveland initiative had been stalled by the pan
City Council Comment October 1, 2021
Thanks to Yvonka, Darrick and Mario who testified at the VERY FIRST Citizen Comment period at City Hall. Focus of testimony was using American Rescue Plan funding for expanding child lead testing in Cleveland. The remarks were well received with applause from the other citizens. Erika and Spencer sat in the audience and were supportive. Sitting in the audience TJ summed it up this way: "I streamed your public comment last night. I'm so proud of you. Yall killed it! In solidarity." Cleveland City Council allows public comments at meeting for first time in a century.
Tremont Arts and Culture
Tremont Arts and Culture
Thanks to BrianH, ChantalD, DalonzoC, DarrickW, DaveG, and MarioP for their help at the Tremont A&C festival this past weekend. 7 Lead Test KIt applications; 15 Stay in Touch signups, and lots of questions from tenants and landlords. One repeated question: what's going to happen to lead water lines in Cleveland? CLASH will be doing some research into the current status of funding and pushing the Mayoral candidates to be prepared to apply for Federal funding if/when the Infrastructure Bill (BIF) is passed by the House and Senate. CLASH was able to be there thanks to GailL who provided paid for our table space.
Harvard Square Family Fun Day September 4, 2021
8 guests to our table signed up for the Stay in Touch newsletter and 4 requested for lead test kits. Celebrity guests who stopped by included Mayoral candidates Ross DiBello and Zack Reed, Council candidate Kevin Bishop, and State rep Kenny Yuko.
CWRU Know Your Neighbor
Tae-Hee and Dalonzo are providing information to attendees at CWRU's Know Your Neighbors on Saturday August 28th. Sixteen table guests signed up for Stay in Touch Newsletter. One guest received a Lead Test Kit.
Pilgrim Church of Christ Summer Resource Fair
Pilgrim Church of Christ Summer Resource Fair
"I saw you on TV!" One of our table guests recognized Erika from a clip shown on Channel 19. They got to share information on lead poisoning.
"I saw you on TV!" One of our table guests recognized Erika from a clip shown on Channel 19. They got to share information on lead poisoning.
Sleep Out on the Steps of City Hall
Thanks to Mayoral candidates Justin Bibb, Dennis Kucinich and Zack Reed for participating. Their commitment to support lead safe housing is appreciated!
Read more at East Side Daily News, page 7. There's another story coming up later this week. Thank ESDN.
Thanks to Richard T. Andrews of the Real Deal Press for supporting the Sleep out on the steps of City Hall.
You can watch the whole event on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah9rR1-80a8 and at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdM2oFdbvcw
Thanks to Larry Gardner for the videos!
Black on Black Crime hosts an Activists Convention to end gun violence
CLASH has signed on as a supporter. Childhood lead poisoning is directly related to young adult contact with the criminal justice system.
In Cleveland 30% of children with elevated blood lead levels have contact with the Juvenile Justice System
In Milwaukee, 50% of people involved in gun violence had elevated blood lead levels.
In Ohio the rate of elevated blood lead levels in children 0-6 years of age is almost 3 times the national rate.
Preventing lead exposure plus early diagnosis and treatment can reduce gun violence in Cleveland.
Saturday tabling at Shaw Jr. High event--Bridges to the Future. We had about 20 visitors to the table, 5 sign ups. Yvonka was on a panel in a break out session.
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