With one of the highest rates of childhood lead poisoning in the country, Cleveland is struggling to repair thousands of older homes laden with toxic paint [“The Poison Kids” Aug. 16, 2006].
Last winter a Rhode Island jury ruled that paint companies like Sherwin-Williams should pay for the clean-up. Ever since, activists here have been lobbying for similar deals. Already, at least six Ohio cities have sued Sherwin-Williams, alleging that the company knew its product was harming kids for decades before it stopped selling it.
But strangely, Sherwin-Williams’ hometown hasn’t joined the fight. This afternoon, members of the activist group ACORN plan to march into Mayor Frank Jackson’s office and ask for a sitdown. Not surprisingly, they claim The Invisible Mayor has ignored their requests for weeks. You mean I actually have to meet with people? Since Jackson is slightly less talkative than a Tibetan monk, their chances of success are slim. But it doesn’t hurt to try.
Bets are being taken on how quickly the mayor can hide in his closet. — Lisa Rab
This article appears in Jan 24-30, 2007.