Effort to Rid Apartments of Lead Poisoning Risk Pushes Forward in Philadelphia

"A law designed to strengthen the city’s safeguards against lead poisoning should soon finally get the vote backers have waited for after almost two years," reports Catalina Jaramillo.

Jaramillo details the surprisingly difficult path the law has taken to get to the finish line, encountering stiff opposition from landlords in the city. "The bill, which would require all rental units built before 1978 to be free of lead hazards, was set for a vote in June before council let out for the summer. Advocates expected a win. The bill had been in discussion for 18 months."

Landlords oppose the bill because they believe the city's efforts are already working, and the additional regulation is unnecessary. "According to city data [pdf], the number of children with blood lead levels above the city’s threshold for danger fell from 1,413 in 2006 to 369 in 2015," reports Jaramillo.

Now the vote is expected to face a vote in fall of this year, after final details on enforcement are hammered out. "The new lead bill requires landlords to certify all housing built before 1978 is free of lead hazards before obtaining or renewing the rental license required to collect rent," according to the article.