Comptroller: Public was misled on NYCHA lead problems

New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer announced that he is investigating the city's response to the growing lead paint scandal in NYCHA housing.

City Hall acknowledged that city officials have known for years that 820 young children in public housing had dangerously high levels of lead paint in their blood from 2012 to 2016. Until now, City Hall has repeatedly stated that just 19 children in NYCHA housing had elevated levels in the last decade

Stringer said these children were hidden in plain sight. He said city officials didn't want to take the "political heat" for this. He believes someone in some agency is misleading the public. So he is investigating the handling of the cases by City Hall, the city's Health Department, and the Department of Housing, Preservation and Development.

But Mayor Bill de Blasio defended his administration's response. He told Spectrum NY1 News that the hundreds of children were over multiple years and were reported to the Health Department, which followed up with the families and their doctors.

However, the mayor conceded that some of their homes were tested and some were not. But he said his administration a new "aggressive effort" to reach out to every single family when a child, in public or private housing, is reported with an elevated lead level.

Statement from City Hall

"The Comptroller seems to be reacting to a tabloid headline instead of concrete public health evidence. The CDC guidance is clear, and the Health Department has always followed it. The reason we are now going above and beyond these guidelines is because the City has had dramatic success in reducing childhood lead exposure." Spokesperson Olivia Lapeyrolerie