Childhood Lead Poisoning Laws in New York City

Environment, Politics and Social Action

Abstract

Childhood lead poisoning is a serious problem and source of conflict in older cities in the United States. Each year, thousands of children are diagnosed with this disease, for which there is no known cure. We examine the extent to which citizen groups can connect successfully with powerful economic and political actors to reduce childhood lead poisoning, from the perspectives of poverty and power, urban social movements, and neighborhood organization and action. As a case in point, we focus on New York City’s battle to solve the problem of childhood lead poisoning. We find that the anti-lead paint coalitions have become a vital urban social movement working on behalf of child well-being and that it is possible for citizen and public interest groups to achieve success when dealing with business, property, and government interests in the matter of childhood lead poisoning.