City of East Orange signs

“Model Lead-Safe City” Agreement with NJ Public Advocate

Announce aggressive actions to prevent childhood lead poisoning

EAST ORANGE –The City of East Orange signed an agreement Tuesday, June 17^th with the New Jersey Public Advocate to aggressively respond to and prevent the problem of childhood lead poisoning.

New Jersey Public Advocate Ronald K. Chen and Mayor Robert L. Bowser signed the agreement designating East Orange as a “Model Lead-Safe City” at a ceremony in City Council Chambers. Those in attendance included members of City Council, members of the Board of Health, City Administrator Reginald Lewis, representatives from the Municipal Court. Rochelle Williams-Evans, the City’s Health Officer helped facilitate this initiative in collaboration with the Department of Public Works, the City’s Neighborhood Housing Division from the Department of Policy, Planning and Revitalization, and the Department of Property Maintenance and Code Enforcement.

The Public Advocate issued a report in April that showed East Orange had one of the most severe childhood lead poisoning problems in the state, due to the age of its housing stock. 

Under the Model Lead-Safe City agreement, East Orange will increase the number of children tested for lead exposure, expand lead paint inspections, and increase oversight of contractors who clean up lead contaminated housing. These initiatives compliment strategies and proactive measures the City’s Health Department has already in place due to efforts of its dedicated staff.

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