Chicago’s Filthy Secret…Drink Up!

The Disgusting Problem

In the wake of the Flint, Michigan water crisis Chicago has its own problems to deal with and the proof is in the water. Well, more so the LEAD in the water that comes from outdated pipes that costs millions of dollars to repair. The problem with lead poisoning, for those that don’t know, shows a direct relation to decreases in IQ, behavioral disorders and even juvenile delinquency.

“In an interview, Dr. Needleman emphasized: “I’m not saying that lead exposure is the cause of delinquency. It is a cause and one with the biggest handle to prevention.” He explained: “Lead is a brain poison that interferes with the ability to restrain impulses. It’s a life experience which gets into biology and increases a child’s risk for doing bad things.”

The New York Times, February 7, 1996

To make it hit home even harder the Chicago Tribune reported, “Mirroring a pattern that dates to at least 2003, most of the homes tested last year are concentrated on the city’s Far Northwest and Southwest sides — areas where cases of childhood lead poisoning are rare.” This was over 13 years ago and its plain to see that even then they knew how bad lead poisoning was so they covered it up.The data from the 2003 study may show that there were extremely low incidences of increased but that’s only because the people in that area have access to lead free water!

Good job Chicago!

The same article reported, “Most big cities, including New York and Boston, stopped using lead pipes during the 1940s and ’50s. Chicago’s plumbing code required lead service pipes until the day they were banned nationwide in 1986.”

Here’an excerpt from the Chicago Tribune:

“Banning lead in paint and phasing it out of gasoline has led to a steady decline in childhood lead poisoning. But a 2015 Tribune investigation revealed it remains a pernicious problem in the same poor, predominantly African-American neighborhoods on the West and South sides that have given Chicago a national reputation for violence and academic failure.”

The latter sentence is definitely offensive to my people and can I say it’s not true? No. But they forgot to mention the fact that lead poisoning at an early age contributes to an increase in aggressiveness and impulsive behavior not to mention an effort to maintain the myth of the super predator. It’s not that our people are savages or dumb the image of black people has been tainted by the media and we buy into it every time.

The Solution

Obviously the overall solution would be to repair the pipes, but as a result taxes would have to go up if the city takes the bill. We should unify in arms just as Philadelphia did and file a class action lawsuit against the The City of Chicago and the Department of Water Management, since its been managed so poorly. >>>>> http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/03/water-lead-testing-cheats-philadelphia-flint-crisis

In the short run what we CAN utilize methods of purifying water. One would be to apply a water filter onto every faucet in your residence, this should decrease your exposure to lead. Once your water is filtered you should alkalize it to regulate your pH. pH stands for “potential for hydrogen” and is important to our cellular growth. Keeping our bodies pH in an alkalized state is the first defense against disease since diseases thrive in acidic environment. Another option would to simply buy bottled alkaline water such as Essentia.

34 CPS schools with elevated lead levels:

Beasley (1 drinking fountain, 3 sinks)
Beidler (1 sink)
Blaine (1 drinking fountain, 1 area in boiler room)
Blair Early Childhood Center (1 drinking fountain and 3 sinks)
Brentano (1 drinking fountain and 1 sink for hand washing in kitchen)
Budlong (1 sink)
Burbank Elementary (1 drinking fountain and 2 sinks)
Carson Elementary (3 sinks)
Carver Elementary (3 drinking fountains)
Chappell Elementary (1 sink)
Chase (2 sinks)
Columbia Explorers Elementary (1 sink)
Courtenay Elementary (4 drinking fountains)
Disney (1 sink)
Durkin Park (1 classroom)
Esmond (1 drinking fountain)
Fernwood (2 drinking fountains)
Gunsaulus Elementary (1 sink)
Harvard (1 drinking fountain)
Hibbard Elementary (2 sinks)
Jane Addams Elementary
Josephine Locke Elementary (1 sink)
LaSalle II (1 sink)
Manierre Elementary
Nightingale (1 drinking fountain)
Peirce (1 drinking fountain)
Perez (1 drinking fountain)
Reilly (4 sinks, 1 drinking fountain)
Spencer Technology Academy (2 classrooms, a kitchen, 1 bathroom)
Tanner (4 drinking fountains)
Tonti (1 drinking fountain)
Wentworth (4 drinking fountains)

THERES NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT LEAD POISONING FROM BIRTH THROUGH ADULTHOOD CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO AN INCREASE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY NATIONWIDE. FURTHERMORE, WE MUST BE COGNIZANT OF WHAT MAINSTREAM MEDIAS GOAL IS AND THAT IS TO DEMONIZE BLACK PEOPLE AS WELL AS OVER PUBLICIZE WHAT HAPPENS IN BLACK COMMUNITIES. INTRACOMMUNAL VIOLENCE IS PUBLICIZED MORE IN ORDER TO PUSH THE MYTH OF THE SUPER PREDATOR. WE’RE NOT SAVAGES THE SYSTEM IS SAVAGE FOR SPREADING CONFUSION AND MISINFORMATION!

In my opinion, it shows how the City of Chicago and the Department of Water Management has failed us and therefore be held responsible for their lackadaisical approach in distributing this pertinent information. When Los Angeles and New York changed their pipes in the 1940s and 50s Chicago should’ve followed suit. Chicago used lead pipes up until they were banned in the late 80s so it’s no wonder why we see exponential increases instances of violence in the Windy and nation wide. If any of this information disturbs you please call your local officials and Chicago’s Department of Water Management at (312) 744-4420.

#CLEANWATERNOW

#DEADTHELEAD