A plan announced Wednesday would expand Erie County's lead poisoning prevention programs. County Executive Mark Poloncarz is calling on the Legislature to increase program spending by $3.75 million over five years.
Poloncarz says, the funding would go towards hiring more inspectors and purchasing equipment to remediate lead-based paint in homes across the County.
"If approved, we will be able to substantially increase the number of homes that we inspect on an annual basis, thereby ensuring that the homes are truly a home-sweet-home for our community's children. And not a silent threat that is poisoning them," Poloncarz said.
Lead poisoning can cause neurological damage, which the county executive says can destroy a child's future.
The problem is not in the water. Poloncarz says it's due to the lead-based paint found in the region's aging housing stock.