‘Women of City Council’ celebrate Philly’s new lead-poisoning protection measures

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Philadelphia Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown discusses the lead-poisoning protection measures aimed at safeguarding kids in the city. She is joined by (from left) Councilwomen Maria Quiñones-Sánchez; Helen Gym; Jannie Blackwell; and Cindy Bass. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

Philadelphia Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown discusses the lead-poisoning protection measures aimed at safeguarding kids in the city. She is joined by (from left) Councilwomen Maria Quiñones-Sánchez; Helen Gym; Jannie Blackwell; and Cindy Bass. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

The “Women of City Council” are celebrating a victory in the fight to prevent lead poisoning.

Philadelphia City Council has approved two bills — one requires schools to meet strict standards for water in drinking fountains and another mandates child care centers undergo lead testing. 

Councilwoman Helen Gym vowed Philadelphia will not have the same problems that plagued Flint, Michigan.

“We knew in our city of Philadelphia we were going to stand up for our children, especially, and to advance and push on a 50-year-old problem to bring fresh eyes to it and a lot of energy,” she said.

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Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez said the effort is about education and not penalizing people.

“Many times people don’t know… if people have a house built before 1974, they may be exposed to [lead],” she said. “So this is not about being punitive, but about being thoughtful in the work that we can do to establish protocols to protect our children.”

The bills now head to Mayor Jim Kenney for his signature.

Quiñones-Sánchez

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