Philadelphia City Council Debate Landlord Responsibility In Removing Lead Paint
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - An effort in City Council to make landlords responsible for removing lead paint from rental units is now on hold.
City health officials say 1,000 Philadelphia children last year were poisoned by lead based paint. They spoke in support of a measure that would require landlords to get their apartments tested and certified as lead-safe.
Shelley Yanoff of Public Citizens for Children and Youth says the risks are too great.
"There's really little you can do to take care of a child who's been seriously lead poisoned."
However, Christine Young Gertz of the Apartment Association of Greater Philadelphia said the bill could bring financial ruin to some landlords.
"We all want to keep our children safe, (but) we have to look at the devil in the details."
The committee put off a vote and this debate is expected to continue in the fall.
Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio
