Document 2J93mvj1a7YBbzxn36MLwarO5

. ,40 It/V Sierra Club Joins Battle Onn LcuadiPlaiin.l Of The o/lctin Staff The Sem Club, better hnnwn lorytts rancern about CaliforniajrirdMWKls and nextera riviwniet, ha* turned its attentfo/ far the first time to the Innifrily environment. The rlilb*( eastern Prnttsjlva- nia group, with more than SW members, is auppitrtfng a eonti-: tern a| Philadelphia community' groups in nn effort In rnmhat lead )nitit poisoning among! jdtmp children living in deterio-; fated inner-city housing. I land paint poisoning is rsU-; mated to atlrct several thou sand childPro la the city, most of them luildly. In srvrre rases it rail lead In kidney di*-. ease, Mingii-sa, w even death. In mild casts it is suspected of rontrlbulipif to subtle mental retardation: Diverse Membership The coilMan, 'formed last April byI It groups ranging horn the* Black Panthers to white'KejUingtnnfcnnnls' Bsso- riationa.loosulled n-ith the city: tealth (i-parlnient in devising' in espmtded detection, treat ment aid prevention program tor the hazard. , City f'ouncil made a special sltoratiln of J6m.M0 tor the irojevli Despite an ICarth Week sledge far stepped-up efforts on. die problem, Mayor Tate over ruled Its- council action und or-,- lered tile money transferred in-' ttead tot a police contingency hind. " Urge Action By Tale last week the Sierra Chili's xerntive cnttuniltee passed a resolution urging the mayor to reverse his decision and nther- trise "to demonstrate his con- torn tor the welfare of the chil dren oi Philadelphia and the jtialiiv of Philadelphia's envi ronment by rigorously taking tuch measures and procedures necessary to eliminate this scalth hautd." Harold A. locknood It., chairman of (he executive com mittee, said the graup'a support of the coalition rellectcd a feel ing among members that "we have to be concerned not only about the redwoods, gorges, canyon and marshes, hit also about problems related to the urban environment.'' .: The eastern Pennsylvania1 group, he said, is basically "an urban group" within the Sierra Club, and as such felt it had a responsibility to Involve itself In Philadelphia problems. Jonathan M. Stein, counsel to the coalition, said it welcomed the support oi the conservation. group for its program. Stein said "the Sierra Club has helped ns in the past, I helieve making some telephnne rails for us," and added that he hoped It was n sign that eon* aervatlon groups traditionally concerned about the natural en vironment would become more Interested In the loner rlly. '* h* JUL17 m PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 13 Sue to Release Funds to Stem Gangs,; Cut Lead poisoning By MIKE mml Of The inquirer Staff Thirteen citizens who live within Philadelphia's leadpaint belt and feel thwarted by gang violence (lied auit Thursday to force Mayor James H. J. Tata, to "unfreeze" the gang control and lead- paint poisoning prevention funds authi td by City Council. , the City Coun :il transferred ! the funds from be ft miUion ' SEN. CLAUDE PEPPER police eontlngcicy fond to - ... exploring Federal role Tate's budget liter protests Suit Demands City by diitea group, slltuies a grave health prob Three cttlzea groups--Uie lem of epidemic proportions in Philadelphia Welfare Rights the city." X Spend *1.7 Million Organisation, ttfe C__o_a_l_it_io_n_l_o_rIt alto charges- that "gang; Action and . Philadelphia violence eeustituiek a present Coalition aca Lead Faint *n< immediate throat to the Thirteen individuals and three, organizations late yesterday fiP| ed suit to compel the city to re-| lease 71.7 million to combat! gang yiolence and tead-palnt, Poiaoolng--jo . to the auit. Named aa . fondants with Tate were Roi isnus Buckley, city finance director, and PhUlp Pi in, city treesurer. Eoisoiilng -among children. 'Todayr'Prestdeat Judge Vto-JI_H_EA__Ah_R_e_IaN_rGi_n_g_S_iI_f sEetDoDnItEheDcom- I - , ' safety of the city's residents.", The plaintiffs teed to eom- pet Tate to release the *,-. 60# supplemental Welfare Depariment appropriation for ` gang control and the 7000,000. "smue"paprtleampepnrtoapl riHateioanlthff!orDr. el1peaardt--.i cent A. Carroll, alter a half-: plaint {or 103# A M. Friday *"? "-?* poiwnin-g contro'l an-'hour conterence with attorneys before Common Pleas Court Sor%T ky * cT"cU oil: tor both sides, told City Solici- President Judge Vincent A ; Kix,. , _ . tor levy Anderson to file an an- Carroll. T , T*,c has contended that the swer within a week. Judge Car- The lifigeiion wili -present roll said lie then will assign a CarroQ with a unique legal, JESSL*?* judTglJe-Utt es'lOTft J Com- qquueirsetiohnimbetocaruuslee oitn wwhinethreer- j: **nore TM counc" * pUocjtion. < muntty T-egaf Servicer for 11' council nr the mayor has the - TITO FUNDS |- ppaarreennttss wwhhoo/.staaiidd tthheeiirr cchhiillddrreenn!1 ffiinnaall sa,y fna,-. t*hse- dj i,s--persal o-at . Th- e plaintiffs alio seek to have sutfered mental retarda tion nnd Brain damage from lead-paint /poisoning or gang appropriated funds. , have Tate release lhe 7769,000 Tata contends It is within originally authorized to the his discretion to Ignore the si- welfare Department for con- violence. / I iocationt because the city Op- (inuation of existing gang con- Included among the plaintiffs were the Philadelphia Welfare! erates budget with a "lump sum" ttol programs and the 7182,000 that allows shifting of ' originally included In the Rights Organization, the Coali funds during the fiscal year. ( mayor's budget for paint poi- tion o! Action, and the Philadel phia Coalition Against Lead Poisoning to Children. The/suit sought to compel city officials to release 7783,000 by I the pepxrtmcnt of Health to! SPECIFIC CHARGE . soning prevention. The suit, prepared by communtty togs! sendees and at The suit s>Sagyns ttwhnagt MaWOHO ebfaiJsCesJ of lead paint poisoning hive torneys Harry Lore and been reported to the city and WUUara Akers, charges that that 89 ot the cates have re-. "childhood lead poisoning con- ' tutted to death. combat teed poisoning and 7969.-, 000 by the Department of Pub-1 [lie Welfare to control teea-agej gangs N39162