Lead Paint in New York City

Why is Lead-Based Paint Poisoning City Children?
	Introduction	Task	Process	Resources	Evaluation	Conclusion	Standards

Introduction
	For decades, dangerous levels of lead was added to paint. Children often eat this poisonous paint when it becomes old and flakes off of walls. This situation often happens in poorer city neighborhoods where the lead paint was never removed, or removed improperly. If the existence of lead paint in city dwellings, playgrounds and on bridges has been a recognized problem, and there are laws mandating its removal, why do people want tougher laws? Back to top
Task
	Task One Answer the following questions using the resources provided below. Using the resources below, create a list of the dangers of lead paint poisoning. Using the resources below, describe how people become poisoned by lead. Include a list of sources of lead poisoning in your description. How are Brooklyn children affected by lead poisoning? Describe how people are trying to get the city government to recognize what they see as a lead poisoning problem? Task Two Write a letter to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomburg regarding the latest City Council bill to force landlords and others to remove lead-based paint from their properties. Write your letter as if you were one of the following persons A landlord A parent A tenant Back to top
Process (Things to think about)
	How do you find and evaluate information on public issues of interest? How do citizens become more involved in working on a public issue? Back to top
Resources
	Defining lead paint poising as a public policy issue Why One Out of Three Bedford-Stuyvesant Children are Growing Up in Housing that Impairs Their Cognitive Development Why are children more likely to poisoned by lead paint? How is lead paint poisoning New Yorkers today Lead paint dust falls from subway line Opposition to Local Law 38 Into 101 explained New York Daily News article by Juan Gonzalez City Council agrees on a bill to force home owners to remove lead paint (Nov. 6, 2003). New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning Agencies to help with lead paint Back to top
Evaluation (How you will be graded)
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Conclusion
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Standards
	State Standards 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4, National Standards II, III and V according to the New York State Department of Education standards of Public Policy and Political Participation Back to top
	Updated 01/11/04