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a community organizing town hall in syracuse, ny.
courtesy of isaac moore
february 25, 2026
power in community: the syracuse lead crisis
residents of syracuse, new york are battling the destructive effects of lead exposure.
the city of syracuse is located in central ny and has a population of about 146,000. the majority of syracuse homes were built prior to the 1978 epa regulations on lead paint. in addition, nearly half of the city’s water service lines are lead pipes, with many service line materials still unidentified.
syracuse community members are organizing to fight back against this crisis. advocacy by organizations like families for lead freedom now is ensuring that affected voices will be heard. oceanna fair, kiara van brackle, and lanessa owens-chaplin are members of this organization who are proving why grassroots organizing is so crucial.
