Media Release

NATIONAL CITY COUNCIL GIVES THUMBS UP TO HEALTHY HOMES

(July 19, 2006) – More than 50 community residents cheered last night’s unanimous vote of the City Council to adopt the National City “Healthy Homes” ordinance. The ordinance, sponsored by the City’s Building and Safety Department, will establish annual inspections of all rental properties to ensure that all of National City’s rental units are well maintained and free of lead and other toxic hazards. This is the first pro-active inspection program covering all rental units in the county.

“Proactive code enforcement is the right option,” stated Yeni Linqui, a Community Organizer with the Environmental Health Coalition. “It shifts the burden of keeping housing units safe and free of lead and mold dangers onto the landlords. Based on experience, we know that complaint based systems fail to protect children from lead poisoning and respiratory illnesses as tenants are often reluctant to complain. And, as the staff report states, the complaint system often results in tenant evictions.”

National City’s housing stock is among the oldest in the county with the greatest number of hazards. Over 75% of the occupied housing units in the area are rentals. Recent inspections by the National City Building and Safety Department reveal that many of these rental units have serious health and safety violations. For example, of 500 units inspected, 70% had electrical violations. The ordinance will establish an annual fee to cover the costs of the inspections.

Environmental Health Coalition has partnered with National City’s Building and Safety Department to develop the pro-active housing inspection program and commends the City for refusing to tolerate unsafe and unhealthy housing.

Maria Coronel, a Promotora who works with Environmental Health Coalition inspecting homes in National City said, “I know first hand about the housing problems we have here in National City. I have seen houses with deteriorated lead-based paint and so much mold – these are the two most serious hazards affecting the health of our children. This ordinance puts us on the right path to create changes that will improve our quality of life”

The crowd’s chant told it all: Healthy Homes – YES we can! Hogares Saludables - ¡SI se puede!

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