By Associated Press - Friday, May 19, 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Toledo’s mayor is encouraging Ohio lawmakers not to block local efforts to address lead paint hazards in homes.

The Blade (https://bit.ly/2ruXW5s ) reports Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson spoke to a House subcommittee this week as legislators consider a proposal giving the state sole authority over lead abatement and limiting cities’ ability to set their own rules.

Hicks-Hudson says the proposal by Republican State Rep. Derek Merrin is “poorly drafted and is bad policy.”

Toledo passed a lead ordinance in August mandating inspections for rental properties built before 1978.

Hicks-Hudson says a delay in implementation “dooms more children” to lead poisoning.

Some committee members say smaller districts would not be able to implement a lead policy. Hicks-Hudson says Toledo could be a “testing ground” for how lead policy works on a local level.

___

Information from: The Blade, https://www.toledoblade.com/

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.

Click to Read More and View Comments

Click to Hide