FROM A LOCAL PARK TO A SUBURBAN MALL.

>> NOW TO OUR TOP STORY, GETTING THE LEAD OUT OF CHICAGO HOMES.

LAST MONDAY WE REPORTED ABOUT THE WIDESPREAD LEAD-BASED ÑqrPA t Aä!pv@$jWowúQRHCchH7UG0XrGçSlT >> AND LEAD DUST ON FLOORS.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAID PAINT HAZARDS ARE PRESENT IN 99% OF CHICAGO HOMES.

THAT REPRESENTS THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOUSING.

>> OFTEN TIMES IT'S UNHEALTHY.

>> JOHN BARLETT IS CEO OF THE METROPOLITAN TENNIS ORGANIZATION.

HE SAID THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ONLY EQUIPPED TO STEP IN ONCE A POSITIVE BLOOD LEAD LEVEL HAS BEEN REPORTED.

>> WE NEED TO PUT MORE INVESTMENT AND BE MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

>> CHICAGO HAS MADE PROGRESS ACCORDING TO DATA, IN 2021 2% OF CHILDREN TESTED POSITIVE FOR ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS IN THEIR BLOOD DOWN FROM 70% 25 YEARS EARLIER.

BUT FEWER THAN HALF OF CHICAGO CHILDREN ARE REGULARLY TESTED IN MANY LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE REPORTING AS MANY AS 40% OF RESIDENTS HAVE POSITIVE TEST RESULTS.

>> SHE SAYS LEAD POISONING IN CHILDREN CAN CAUSE BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE HEALTH ISSUES.

>> IT CAN AFFECT A CHILD'S DEVELOPING BRAIN.

THERE ARE LOWER IQ SCORES THAT HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED, FOR EXAMPLE FROM A LEAD LEVEL OF 10, THEY SHOW A DROP OF IQS OF SIX POINTS.

>> IT CAN CAUSE AUTISM AND OTHER IMPAIRMENTS.

>> IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.

>> ROXANNE RODRIGUEZ WANTS THE CITY TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM BEFORE MORE KIDS GET POISONED.

SHE IS SPONSORING AN ORDINANCE FOR HEALTH INSPECTORS TO SCREED SCREEN HOUSING UNITS EVERY FIVE YEARS.

>> IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHEN YOU RENT A PROPERTY AND BRING YOUR FAMILY AND YOU WANT TO KNOW THAT THAT IS A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUR FAMILY.

I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.

>> A PROACTIVE CITYWIDE PROGRAM WOULD REQUIRE AN ASTRONOMICAL 600 NEW HEALTH INSPECTORS.

SHE SAID THE CITY SHOULD AND SAID INSTEAD FOCUS ON THE HIGHEST RISK UNITS.

>> WHERE WE KNOW THERE ARE HOMES THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR A HIGHER LEVEL OF LEAD.

WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE ON THIS.

>> SHE HOPES JEDI'S STORY IS A WAKE-UP CALL TO THE CITY.

>> PROVIDING THESE APARTMENTS TO PEOPLE IN THIS CONDITION, OUR CHILDREN ARE GETTING SICK.

>> THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE CALLED THE HEALTHY PILOT PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY SITTING ON THE CITY COUNCIL'S COMMITTEE.

HER SON IS STILL RECORDING HIS LEAD LEVELS ABOUT THREE TIMES THE LEVELS CONSIDERED HAZARDOUS.

JUST FIVE MONTHS AFTER HE WAS FIRST POISONED.

IS THERE ANY KIND OF LEGAL OR FINANCIAL RECOURSE?

>> FROM TALKING TO ADVOCATES AND THE FAMILIES IS A TRICKY SITUATION.

A LOT OF LANDLORDS CARRY INSURANCE THAT HAS EXEMPTIONS IN IT.

SO YOU CAN'T REALLY SUE FOR DAMAGES IF THEIR INSURANCE IS COVERING.

SO RENTERS DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF RECOURSE IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.