The Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City is one of the nation’s largest in the nation, housing more than 400,000 low income to middle income families. Recently the property manager find himself in hot water with the federal government for “systematic misconduct and indifference in the management of the city’s housing projects, endangering residents and workers and potentially leaving more children than previously known poisoned by lead paint in their apartments” (Weiser 2018). Not only were they lying to the government and the public about complying with lead paint regulations, they also trained the staff to mislead federal inspectors whenever they came. The accusations and complaints were written in an 80-page civil complaint against the housing complex, and was filed in federal court in addition to a decree. Within the decree was an agreement for the city to spend $1 billion dollars on the housing authority over the next four years, and $200 million a year after that until the judge decides to end the decree.
This situation is one that happens frequently in urban com unities, and often goes overlooked. If I was a resident of that housing complex I would sue for reckless endangerment, pain and suffering, and emotional damages. The landlord has legal obligations to inform the tenants of exposure to led paint before they move in, because they did not they are liable for all damages that result from exposure. I truly believe they should move the residents to another apartment complex while they fix that establishment.