I agree that peeling paint can be a potential lead hazard. Unfortunately just about every building in the city built before the 1970s contains lead paint. I and most of this cities property owners cannot afford to hire the hazmat crews to come in and do a perfect job of removing lead from our environments.
WM: I would suggest that peeling paint is also a hazard for you and for the future. You and I, Dyna, could drop dead tomorrow and the lead hazard would be there for whoever takes over the house.
The same recently completed fencing that is keeping the gangbangers away from my house is also keeping children at risk of lead poisoning away from possible lead containing paint on my property.
WM: Lead paint as a hazard was first observed in house painters who suffered nerve damage. Though less of a hazard for adults than for children, lead paint is a hazard to adults. Ergo the caution to wear gloves and mask when scraping paint. Anyone with a compromised immune system is likely to be at more risk for lead poisoning.
...the city has ordered me to paint my home, but doesn't seem to care what happens with the old paint I scrape off.
WM: I think you'll discover that the city very much cares what happens when you scrape lead paint from your house. If you don't know the drill (as I do not, having a stucco house) it would be best to call inspections and have them send you the info you will need for this odious chore.
The fact that our Housing Inspectors would cite a citizen for an appearance issue such as peeling paint and ignore the much more important potential environmental consequences of what happens to that paint is a glaring example of what's wrong with Housing Inspections.
WM: Others who have been scraping their homes in order to paint have found, much to their chagrin, that the city very much cares and is required to care via state and federal law. The inspectors are authorized to tag you for improper removal and disposal of lead paint. Appearance is only a side issue in a peeling paint situation on any building built before 1978.
As I have observed from 4 decades living and from other list members comments, Housing Inspections seems to concentrate on appearance items that can easily be observed through the windshield of a city car. Unmowed lawns, unlicensed cars, and peeling paint are for the most part not hazards. They may lower property values but it is not the city's responsibility to force citizens to prop up their neighbors property values.
WM: My understanding is that the city only tags for lawns, weeds, unlicensed cars, piles of junk, etc. when the neighbors call in complaints. The inspectors are required to inspect upon receiving complaints.
As the recent tragic loss of 3 lives in a Minneapolis duplex fire shows, when it comes to real health and safety items Housing Inspections is asleep at the wheel. Even a rookie firefighter would have caught the lack of a fire escape at that duplex. Housing Inspections has a staff of but 30, an easy number to reassign in our city government. Next we can reassign our city attorneys to prosecuting real criminals instead of crippled old ladies with peeling paint.
WM: This is an entirely different matter and has no connection to peeling paint. It is my understanding that inspections may not come into a house without invitation by the owner or renter. Therefore, they cannot inspect for smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, etc. Not seeing a fire escape does not trigger inspectors since many and many an older home and most houses designed to be duplexes have two sets of interior stairs, one in the front and another in the rear
I've always found the inspections people extremely forthcoming and accommodating when I've had interactions with them about my house or rental properties I've lived in. I appreciate their expertise on issues which affect my safety.
WizardMarks, Central ________________________________
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