Lawmakers rebuke NYCHA

After New York City revealed that more than 800 children living in public housing have elevated levels of lead in their blood, the state Health Department is now declaring a public health emergency for NYCHA. Councilman Ritchie Torres will soon propose legislation that he hopes will improve lead safety and also prevent the city from trying to cover up lead cases. The city announced a new initiative to conduct environmental investigations for all city children with a blood-lead level of 5 micrograms per deciliter or higher. But Torres said that is not good enough.