The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) agreed as part of a settlement a few months earlier to repair the city’s public housing units, also known as “the Projects.” However, according to a recent CBS News report, the new head of the agency, Stanley Brezenoff told the media that NYCHA does not have the money to repair housing units that have lead paint. The contamination and the elevated lead levels from the paint of some of these units have been blamed in more than 1,000 child lead poisoning cases. CBS reports that some of these houses are in a dilapidated condition with crumbling layers of paint and rusting pipes. There are more than 170,000 NYCHA apartments in the city.
Acute Shortage of Funds
Now, Brezenoff says only about 20 percent of these units can be repaired with the money they currently have. In fact, the agency is so strapped for funds that it will have to “triage” repairs, he said. And there seems to be more bad news. With winter coming, there is only enough money to replace 182 of the 2,097 boilers over the next three years and 950 of more than 2,400 roofs over the next decade. The agency will identify the boilers most in need of attention and repair those, Brezenoff stated. He added that the agency is going to need aid from Washington in order to alleviate this cash crunch and make the necessary repairs to public housing.
NYCHA is the largest public housing in the nation and houses more than 400,000 tenants in about 325 developments. These homes are in poor condition and are in severe need of repair. A recent federal investigation revealed that NYCHA concealed residents’ exposure to lead and its failure to safeguard them from the hazards of living in these old dilapidated buildings. A report issued by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York shows that the city allegedly falsified compliance documents related to lead paint regulations and claimed falsely that these apartments were “lead free.”
Residents in Danger
In June, New York City officials admitted that hundreds of children under 5 living in NYCHA apartments had tested positive for elevated lead levels. The housing agency was then placed under a federal-monitor program after the investigation by federal authorities showed major health violations.
Unlivable conditions in these housing units have put tens of thousands of children in danger because children are most vulnerable to the adverse effects of lead poisoning. According to the University of Michigan Health System, research shows that even low levels of lead may cause developmental issues such as learning disabilities, poor attention span, impulsiveness, and lower IQ.
It is important to remember that lead poisoning often does not have clear symptoms. Some children may experience stomach pain, constipation, headaches or may seem irritable. Children’s developing brains are more susceptible and even small amounts of lead exposure can add up over a period of time to increase the risk of serious and irreversible brain damage.
What Action Can You Take?
It is important to immediately take a child who has lead poisoning symptoms to a doctor. If you find out that your NYCHA housing unit has been contaminated with lead paint or lead dust, take your child to a doctor even if he or she is not displaying any symptoms. Take photographs of any rusted pipes, chipping paint or other conditions in your housing unit that is potentially exposing you to toxic lead.
A parent or family living in the projects or public housing with a child who has been diagnosed with high blood lead levels may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the NYCHA. Victims may be able to seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, cost of diagnostic tests, loss of earnings, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. An experienced New York City lead poisoning lawyer will be able to help you file the lawsuit and compile the evidence that is required to hold the agency accountable for its negligence.
Filing a Lead Poisoning Lawsuit
If your child has been affected by lead poisoning, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
Our firm recovered $1,162,500 for a child who suffered lead poisoning from paint in her apartment. The child’s injuries were subtle and difficult to recognize. We recovered $162,500 above the $1 million dollar total insurance policy in this case. Despite the judge’s efforts to settle the case for $950,000, we fought hard and recovered $162,500 more than the insurance full policy of one million dollars.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
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Source: https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/10/11/nycha-stanley-brezenoff-mayor-bill-de-blasio/