Last Tuesday, after hearing passionate testimony from parents, children and advocates, the San Diego City Council adopted one of the most comprehensive lead poisoning prevention ordinances in the country, the culmination of a six-year Western Center project. The ordinance will prevent lead poisoning by, among other things, requiring landlords to inspect their buildings and repair lead hazards, prohibit dangerous work practices, and require that tenants be temporary relocated during hazardous repairs.

In 2002, the Environmental Health Coalition (EHC), a grassroots community group from San Diego, asked Western Center's Greg Spiegel to draft a model ordinance that would be the most ambitious in the country. EHC used the model as part of its organizing campaign to summon support for a lead ordinance. By the end of 2002, EHC convinced the San Diego City Council to approve the creation of a lead poisoning task force. EHC, a member of the task force, invited WCLP to join the ordinance subcommittee to propose language and fight off opposition from real estate interests such as realtor and apartment owner associations. The task force submitted a proposed ordinance for City Council approval that included almost all of our recommendations.

In 2004, as EHC met with Council members in anticipation of a vote on the ordinance, political scandal hit San Diego. The mayor resigned, and a new mayor was elected in a controversial election. The new mayor, supported by real estate interests, kept the ordinance off the City Council's agenda until last Tuesday. Four years of creative and persistent EHC organizing and the leadership of Councilmember Donna Frye overcame the mayor's opposition to put the ordinance on the Council agenda. In a packed Council chamber before local television cameras, parents, tenants, scientists and advocates, including Western Center, the Council finally adopted an ordinance that compromised 90% of the model ordinance we set forth in 2002. The victory is an example of the benefits of long-term strategic planning, collaboration, and partnership with community.