Lead pipe removal takes center stage at DNC

The Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 20, 2024. (Ariana Figueroa | States Newsroom)

Parents in Milwaukee’s most vulnerable neighborhoods continue to worry about the danger of lead poisoning and the risks it poses to their children. For decades, mostly Black and brown residents living in one of the nation’s most segregated cities occupied homes and drank from water which had been thoroughly contaminated by lead. Parents from Wisconsin’s largest city had the opportunity to share their story with a national audience during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago.

“Lead was everywhere, in our pipes, in our paint and in our soil,” said Deanna Branch, whose nearly 12-year-old son Aiden has dealt with the effects of lead poisoning since he was just 2 years old. In his early years, Aiden was twice hospitalized for having high levels of lead in his blood.

Even at low levels, lead exposure has been shown to damage brain development in children and is linked to difficulties with learning, impulse control and violence . Lead pipes remain prevalent in Milwaukee’s Black and brown neighborhoods, which historically have experienced divestment and neglect through decades-old practices like redlining .

On stage at the DNC, Branch, introduced by Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, praised the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill passed under the Biden-Harris administration, which accelerated  the process of removing lead pipes in Milwaukee. Branch said that the level of lead measured in her  son’s blood  “at the highest was 50.” Today, Branch told WPR , “it’s down to 6.8 and he is thriving.” Aiden has also illustrated a book about his experiences called “Aiden: The Lead-Free Superhero.” Branch also proudly reported that her 1-year-old daughter was born lead-free.

Branch was joined on stage by Rashawn Spivey, a Milwaukeean and owner of Hero Plumbing. Spivey’s credits the over 1,000 lead lateral pipes that his company has removed to the policies passed under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Removing lead laterals has been a contentious subject in Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled Legislature. In 2019, a proposal by Gov. Tony Evers to provide $40 million in funding to replace lead pipes was rejected by the Legislature, with Republicans objecting that too much of the money went to Milwaukee.

Federal emergency relief during the COVID-19 pandemic gave Milwaukee a new opportunity to address its problems with lead poisoning. In early 2023 , Branch and other Milwaukee residents gathered at public hearings to implore local officials to spend some of the remaining $92.7 million in federal funding on removing lead pipes from the community.

Replacing lead laterals in Milwaukee’s most vulnerable communities has required not only funding, but advocacy. “I know that the timeline has decreased significantly thanks to our efforts,” Branch told WPR during the DNC. “It was a 40-year plan originally, I think it’s now down to 10 or nine. I’m just happy to see that progress is going to be made, and I’ll be alive to witness the progress being made.”

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