Read and send the letter below (or your own words on the subject) to state and ferderal leaders to intervene in the unfolding tragedy of Detroit's lead poisoning prevention program.  Simply fill in your information in the box to the right and click "sign." The letter will be sent automatically to targeted leaders in a position to respond.  Greed, corruption, and power-mongering can only be stopped if the Governor, HUD, EPA, FBI and others at the Federal level get together and take action.  They will only take action if you let them know how you feel.  Please make your voice heard on this important subject.

The Centers for Disease Control, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan Department of Community Health all agreed in 2009 that the City of Detroit's Department of Health and Wellness Promotion failed to protect children from the tragedy of lead poisoning. They concluded that the Department was unable to effectively manage the lead poisoning prevention program and the CDC and MDCH offerred continued support with the condition that a Healthy Homes Czar and Program Manager with full authority to implement changes be appointed with direct accountability to the Mayor's Office.

Somehow DHWP, for over a year, sat on a grant from the Kresge Foundation which funded the Healthy Homes Czar position before finally appointing Mr. Ronald Levi in December of 2009.  Dr. Kyle King was appointed as Program Manager in January of 2010.  In fact, the DHWP fiddled while Rome burned in 2009.  The catasrophic events which led to charges and at least one conviction of DHWP employees could have been prevented if only DHWP had hired these experts when they were given the funding. Miraculously, even after a child was irreparably harmed and arrests were made, DHWP remained in control of the program funding. 

Finally in a deplorable bait and switch, the City has reneged on its commitment to change, fired the very men chosen to implement the program approved by the CDC and MDCH, and taken the program back in house.  Directors Yvonne Anthony and Bill Ridella selfishly serve only their interests by acceding to the uninformed complaints of Wayne County Prosectuor Mary Morrow.  Morrow misled them and Group Executive Kirk Lewis as well as local media with assertions that Levi and King changed protocols which eliminated services to children.  It has been verified that changes were made to enhance services to more severely poisoned children while continuing to provide services to other children at levels recommended by the State (MDCH), and that the changes were initiated and authorized by the Director, Yvonne Anthony, not Levi and King.  The changes were recommended by the CDC, MDCH, DHWP Medical Director, an independent consultant paid by the Kresge Foundation as well as the program manger and director. Morrow's malfeasance and self-promotion have jeopardized children, and the continued lack of leadership by Ridella and Anthony has failed to protect them.  Mayor Bing's novice Group Executive, Kirk Lewis, ignored reports of corruption and demonstrated a level of incompetence that is frightening for someone so close to the Mayor.

Detroit's Planning & Development Department receives approximately $5M each year to repair the homes of children poisoned by lead as referred to them by the Department of Health & Wellness Promotion, however, they've only fixed 71 such homes since 2002 according to their own records.

Selfish politicking at the expense of the most vulnerable members of our society, poisoned children, can only be stopped by leaders with integrity at the highest levels.  This continuing tragedy demands your immediate action.  Please request a federal investigation of the entire matter and ensure that the solution is irreversible.  Even if there are no further illegal activities identified, State and Federal officials must intervene to correct these very serious and complex problems.

See The Spirit of Detroit Blog for more information and supporting documents.