By Robert Miranda
Editor’s Commentary

According to Health Department data, Aldermanic Dist. 12 has the highest concentration of lead poisoning cases on the South Side.

During the community candidate forum questioning the future interim police chief, I asked Alderman Jose Perez if he received my email below. His response was to be curt and bothered that I would ask him about the condition of his district as it relates to blood lead levels.

When I pressed him again for an answer his response was that he was going to speak with the interim health commissioner Patricia McManus to come up with a plan to address this serious public health concern.

Well, that’s a start. Nothing about him going to community groups and pushing for information to families warning about lead water pipes, nothing about his office sending media advisory to his district alerting families about lead in water–his attitude was that he didn’t want to be bothered.

This attitude coming from politicians who think they’ve become sacred cows surrounded by yes people is why the 12th districts children suffer from lead levels that are highest in the Southside. Perez thinks he can use his position to intimidate people. He thinks no one should question his lack of urgency regarding the health of families in his district. The Alderman wants to choose who he talks to about the public business of the 12th district. Fine.

Not everyone needs to buddy up to Alderman Perez for a liquor license approval or for some public works contract. The sick people in the 12th district deserve to know how this lead poisoned them and hurt their children. Being a toddler politician doesn’t help.

Below is the email message I sent to Alderman Perez. Hopefully he has a newly developed plan to address this serious public health crisis

From: Robert Miranda <rmiranda@wi.rr.com>
Date: February 4, 2018 at 3:34:57 AM CST
To: JoseG.Perez@milwaukee.gov
Subject: 12 District BLL

Alderman Perez:

According to Health Department data, Aldermanic Dist. 12 has the highest concentration of lead poisoning cases on the South Side.

– can you tell me what your office has done in the past to address this issue?

– can you explain to me what your office is currently doing to address this matter?

Your prompt reply will be appreciated.

Regards,

Robert Miranda
Editor, Wisconsin Spanish Journal