Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon helps open renovated home for which there is “a clear need”
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Efforts are increasing to complete lead-abatement work in older homes across Onondaga County, but with it comes a challenge: where do families go during the two to six weeks the work is being done in their home?
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon joined Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens and Kerry Quaglia with Home Headquarters to officially open a recently renovated home where these families can stay free of charge. Located on Lincoln Avenue in the City of Syracuse, the home has four fully furnished apartments, and two of the units can easily be turned into one for larger families.
County Executive McMahon says there was “a clear need” for this type of property and used the opening to highlight the county’s ongoing fight against lead.
“There’s a lot being done and there’s a lot of money being invested” he said. “At no point in our community’s history has there been more money being invested to tackle this issue.”
County Executive McMahon shared that his administration has helped secure $13 million in federal grants in recent years and has had more than $12 million in county funds allocated to help with costs that the federal money couldn’t be used for. He says if this lead-safe home proves to be successful, others could be added in coming years.
County Executive McMahon and Mayor Owens also jointly honored Dr. Howard Weinberger for his many contributions to the local fight against lead. His work in the 1970s helped establish standardized blood lead level testing procedures in New York State and since he has championed routine lead screening for all children at ages one and two and helped guide local and statewide strategies to address lead risks at their source—particularly in Syracuse’s aging housing stock—while advocating for collaborative, cross-sector action to protect children’s health.