Enforcement of lead laws getting a shot in the arm

Landlords have received warnings, have been ordered to remediate lead-poisoning dangers and have even had "Do Not Rent" and "Unfit for Human Habitat" signs posted on their properties, and yet Youngstown's lead abatement laws continue to be ignored. Why? Because no scofflaw has had to pay a price for harming the city's most vulnerable, the children.
According to Matthew Stefanak, Mahoning County health commissioner, there are 285 rental properties in Youngstown that are not in compliance with a Youngstown Board of Health order to remediate lead-poisoning situations.
But that's not the worst of it. The following statement from Stefanak should not only anger every responsible human being, but should cause government officials to hang their heads in shame:
"It is really quite outrageous. At least 10 of these properties -- placarded "Do Not Rent" and "Unfit for Human Habitat" -- have been re-let to families with children." No, the new renters were not informed that the lead dangers had not been removed.
We aren't surprised by such disregard for the law and for the health of Youngstown's inner city residents. This has been going on for years and was brought the public's attention five years ago in a series of news stories in The Vindicator. Since then, we have used this space many times to call on city and county officials to take a hard line against landlords who believe that lead abatement laws are nothing more than feel-good government policy. That belief has been fed by the fact that there have been few prosecutions.
Special prosecutor
The announcement this week that the Youngstown and Mahoning County health departments will hire a special prosecutor to give the lead abatement laws on the books some teeth prompts this question: What took so long?
In the past decade, 2,500 children in Youngstown have been diagnosed with lead poisoning, and 400 homes were identified as having lead-based paints that were peeling or chipping from walls.
The lack of a sense of urgency troubles us greatly.
Last week, we praised the federal government for allocating a $3.5 million grant for Mahoning County's lead abatement program. Most of the money will be spent in Youngstown. Of the $3.5 million, $2.6 million will be shared with Akron for use in removing lead from homes.
Given the relationship with Akron, we would urge local officials to work with that city's prosecutor in developing the legal strategy for going after criminal landlords. There should be wholesale prosecutions, and there should be no deals made whereby these individuals walk out with a slap on the wrist.
The children of Youngstown's inner city are at the mercy of adults. Thus far, the adults have failed the children miserably.