The City of Buffalo is continuing to take proactive steps in the fight against lead poisoning with its new “Wipe Out Lead” campaign.
The campaign features 28 billboards already in place across the city – primarily in areas where the highest incidence of elevated blood levels have been documented. Informational messages will be displayed on 120 NFTA buses beginning on November 7.
“These billboards and bus ads direct Buffalo residents to call the city’s 311 hotline if they have concerns over lead based paint in their home or want their water tested,” said City of Buffalo Mayor Byron brown.
The city added a dedicated “lead-line” to the 311 system over the summer, and will be running a public service announcement on the city’s public access TV channel as well.
More than 100-thousand educational flyers will be distributed through community centers, neighborhood programs, and the Buffalo Public Schools as part of the campaign. The flyers will be published primarily in English and Spanish, as well as the city’s top four most prevalent other languages.
The campaign is a joint-effort between the city, Erie County, the Buffalo Public Schools, and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. Masten District Council Member Ulysses O. Wingo commended the organizations for their outreach at an announcement on Friday afternoon at the Delevan Grider Community Center.
“Marketing is extremely important,” said Wingo. “Getting the word out is extremely important. And I am just so pleased to see that we’ve really taken a huge stance to make sure that everyone is aware. Because what good does it do for anybody to have all of these initiatives, all of these efforts, and no one knows about them.”
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Vice President of Community Impact Cara Matteliano said the foundation considers prevention of lead poisoning critical to the revitalization of “the new Buffalo,” and said it’s “doable” through efforts coordinated already underway.
“It will take increased code enforcement for chipping and peeling paint, and the city and the county have made real strides on that front,” said Matteliano. “In addition, the New York State Attorney General’s office has coordinated housing code and violation enforcement across every level of government, to bring absentee landlords to justice.”
Matteliano said awareness of lead poisoning is just the tip of the iceberg in the movement to eradicate the danger entirely.
As the “Wipe Out Lead” campaign gets underway, Erie County’s Department of Health is also expanding its own efforts. Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein said the department recently hired and trained eight employees to work specifically on the lead problem.
“These workers, in just a few weeks, have already inspected over 100 homes as part of their training, and they are ready to go out and hit the streets today,” said Burstein. “So we’re very excited. It’s really going to increase our capacity to inspect homes and reduce children’s exposure to lead.”
Among the new staff is a nurse case manager, who Burstein says will be able to help families by providing health education and coordinating with pediatricians. The expanded team also gives the county the opportunity to go beyond working with children showing traditionally high levels of lead. Burstein says any lead in a child’s bloodstream is intolerable.
Residents and anyone concerned about lead in their homes can call the City of Buffalo’s 311 hotline and find more information at wipeoutlead.com.
City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown explains how flyers will be distributed throughout the community.
Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash explains how the school district will help spread the campaign's message.
Masten District Representative Ulysses O. Wingo of the City of Buffalo's Common Council talks about how important it is to get the word out.
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Vice President of Community Impact Cara Matteliano talks about the foundation's perspective on lead poisoning and efforts at various levels to combat it.
