Good afternoon, Councilmembers.
My name is Maricar Almeda, and I’m a medical student at UCSF and UC Berkeley. I’m here to express deep concern and disappointment that, despite allocated funding, the City of Oakland has yet to take meaningful action to address the lead poisoning crisis in our communities.
As a medical trainee, I’ve seen the irreversible harm lead exposure causes—especially in young children. It leads to cognitive delays, behavioral issues, and lifelong learning challenges. There is no safe level of lead, yet many Oakland children—disproportionately low-income, Black, and brown—remain exposed in their homes and schools.
I was especially moved by the students of Project NEMO, who are demanding action where adults have failed. It is unacceptable that youth must fight for basic environmental safety when the science, funding, and urgency are clear. This is not just a public health failure—it is a moral one.
I urge the City to:
Provide a transparent accounting of how lead abatement funds have been used.
Implement a clear, time-bound plan for lead testing and remediation in homes, schools, and childcare centers.
Prioritize community engagement, centering youth-led groups like Project NEMO, OUSD, parents, and health advocates.
Lead poisoning is a public health crisis requiring urgent, coordinated action. Continued delay is complicity in a preventable tragedy. We are watching. Please act now.
Thank you.
Good afternoon, Councilmembers.
My name is Maricar Almeda, and I’m a medical student at UCSF and UC Berkeley. I’m here to express deep concern and disappointment that, despite allocated funding, the City of Oakland has yet to take meaningful action to address the lead poisoning crisis in our communities.
As a medical trainee, I’ve seen the irreversible harm lead exposure causes—especially in young children. It leads to cognitive delays, behavioral issues, and lifelong learning challenges. There is no safe level of lead, yet many Oakland children—disproportionately low-income, Black, and brown—remain exposed in their homes and schools.
I was especially moved by the students of Project NEMO, who are demanding action where adults have failed. It is unacceptable that youth must fight for basic environmental safety when the science, funding, and urgency are clear. This is not just a public health failure—it is a moral one.
I urge the City to:
Provide a transparent accounting of how lead abatement funds have been used.
Implement a clear, time-bound plan for lead testing and remediation in homes, schools, and childcare centers.
Prioritize community engagement, centering youth-led groups like Project NEMO, OUSD, parents, and health advocates.
Lead poisoning is a public health crisis requiring urgent, coordinated action. Continued delay is complicity in a preventable tragedy. We are watching. Please act now.
Thank you.