FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com june 30, 2016 • The Queens Courier 3 GET THE LEAD OUT! Lawmakers say lead paint is making Pomonok kids sick By Briana Ellis [email protected]/@briinformed Why hasn’t the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) done more to remove lead paint from apartments at the Pomonok Houses? That’s a question that local elected officials gathered at the low-income housing complex in Flushing on June 27 want answered by the city agency responsible for properly maintaining the apartments. According to a bevy of elected officials — Councilman Rory Lancman, Congresswoman Grace Meng, Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz and state Senator Toby Ann Stavisky — apartments throughout the Pomonok Houses still have walls painted with lead paint, putting generations of children at risk of the ill effects of lead poisoning. Until the mid-20th century, lead was a common ingredient in paint. In 1960, the city banned the use of lead paint after scientists linked prolonged exposure to the heavy metal to developmental problems for children. Kids may suffer from lead poisoning if they inhale or consume paint chips or dust containing lead. “What will it take for NYCHA to protect the children who live in its buildings from lead poisoning?” Lancman asked in a statement. “It’s completely unconscionable that NYCHA refuses to accept the Health Department’s lead hazard findings in favor of doing nothing — which is fast becoming NYCHA’s specialty.” Reports have shown that NYCHA disregarded the presence of harmful lead paint in apartments where children tested positive for lead poisoning, despite the New York City Department of Health’s (DOH) findings. DOH discovered lead paint chippings and peelings in the Pomonok Houses, which are linked to learning disorders, behavioral problems or brain damage in young children. Meng also expressed her concerns about lead poisoning and its detrimental effects on children. “There is a reason why lead paint is prohibited from being used in New York City. It’s hazardous and can cause serious health issues. But instead of taking the necessary action, NYCHA appears to be doing little to fix the problem,” Meng said, who is also a founder and co-chair of the Kids Safety Caucus. “Putting our kids at risk is unacceptable, and I will work with Councilman Lancman and all my colleagues in government until this issue is adequately addressed in Pomonok and throughout the NYCHA system. We cannot accept anything less for our kids.” The DOH and NYCHA issued a joint statement to The Courier indicating that the risks of children at the Pomonok Houses is not as high as suggested. “Lead poisoning in New York City is at a historic low. While one child exposed to lead is too many, NYCHA residents have a far lower likelihood of exposure than residents of private housing,” the DOH and NYCHA joint statement said. “We are committed citywide to ensuring lead levels continue to fall as part of our shared goal of building safer and healthier communities.” Snake found in Woodside factory New York City may seem like a jungle, but no one should be running into snakes at work. But that happened to workers at Woodside’s Xd Xiao Dong Trading Corp. warehouse, located at 51-26 59th St. “The snake was black, about 1.5 meters about 5 feet,” employee Tony Lin told DNAinfo. “It was scary. When I saw him, he was in the office.” Police received an emergency call about the snake at approximately 9:50 a.m. on June 28. According to the NYPD, the reptile was likely an escaped pet. The NYPD Emergency Service Unit safely removed the animal, law enforcement sources said. Officers then transported the snake to Manhattan Animal Care Center. Corn snakes are harmless to humans, feed on small prey, and are popular pets. However, under New York state law, they are illegal to own. The Courier has reached out to Animal Care Centers of New York and is awaiting a response. Katarina Hybenova 115th Precinct boss heads to the Bronx Deputy Inspector Brian Hennessy crossed the bridge to the Bronx last week, becoming the new commander of the 40th Precinct in Mott Haven. Hennessy joined the 115th Precinct in November, 2014 after leading the 108th Precinct for 1 1/2 years. In 2015, the 115th Precinct, which covers Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst and North Corona, only saw one murder, the lowest number on record since the NYPD started collecting crime stats in 1993. There have been no murders in 2016. The 115th Precinct’s Twitter account sent out a thank-you message written by Hennessy. During his tenure, he enacted Neighborhood Fridays, where volunteers would address quality-of-life issues such as graffiti and abandoned cars left on the streets. Hennessy was replaced by Deputy Inspector Michele Irizarry, who was the commanding officer of the 10th Precinct in Chelsea. Angela Matua Photo by Robert Stridiron QNS photos Apartments in the Pomonok Houses have been filled with dangerous lead poisoning.
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