Mayor Owens Launches the "Lead Big Table"
Published on October 26, 2026
On National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Syracuse Mayor Sharon F. Owens announced the launch of the Lead Big Table to bring together government agencies, health experts, housing partners, educators and community organizations to confront one of the region’s most urgent public health challenges.
Modeled after the collaborative structure used in the I-81 Big Table, this new initiative strengthens Syracuse’s capacity to coordinate large-scale, multi-agency interventions. By adopting a framework already proven successful in bringing partners together around complex challenges, the Lead Big Table is positioned to drive significant and lasting improvements to lead safety.
Guided by a bold vision, the Big Table strives to unite Syracuse to eliminate lead hazards in every neighborhood so every resident regardless of race, age, income, or zip code can thrive. The Lead Big Table establishes shared strategies for protecting families, including remediating lead paint in housing and removing lead pipes, and improving public education and healthcare protocols targeting at-risk populations. The focus is on developing and implementing coordinated citywide strategies to reduce and prevent lead exposure from paint, pipes, and dust.
“Eliminating lead hazards is one of the most important equity issues of our time,” said Mayor Owens. “We are bringing every partner to the table for ongoing collaboration and accountability as we all work to collectively eliminate lead hazards across our City. Lead poisoning is preventable and the Lead Big Table is how we make prevention a reality.”
"Onondaga County has made significant investments in lead poisoning prevention, removing hazards from hundreds of homes, expanding blood lead testing, and securing millions in funding to protect our children,” said County Executive Ryan McMahon. “These efforts are producing measurable results, but there is more work to be done. By collaborating with community partners, we can build on this progress, develop lasting solutions, and move closer to eliminating childhood lead poisoning in Onondaga County."
"Lead poisoning is a preventable public health issue that can have lifelong consequences for children,” said Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Kathryn Anderson. “Through the Lead Big Table, we can strengthen our collective efforts to educate and empower community members, identify children at risk, coordinate intervention efforts, and connect families with the resources they need to protect their health.”
“In Onondaga County, Black children are almost six times more likely than white children to be exposed to lead poisoning. This disparity underscores the urgent need for meaningful, coordinated action to address the lead crisis in Syracuse. The New York Civil Liberties Union has worked alongside community members, advocates, and experts to elevate these concerns and advance solutions that protect our most vulnerable residents,” said Lanessa Owens-Chaplin, Director of the Racial Justice Center at the NYCLU. “We appreciate Mayor Owens’ responsiveness and leadership in bringing stakeholders together through this working group. We welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with the City to turn our shared commitment into meaningful progress. Every Syracuse resident deserves access to a lead-free environment and we look forward to building on this partnership to eliminate lead hazards in every neighborhood.”
"As we begin National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, we stand with the families whose lives have been forever impacted by childhood lead poisoning,” said Oceanna Fair, Director of Families for Lead Freedom Now. “There is no safe level of lead exposure, and every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive free from preventable harm. Syracuse has the knowledge, resources, and community partners needed to make a difference. Now is the time to think beyond what we've done for the last 50 years and commit to stronger prevention, ongoing support for affected families, and better outcomes for our children."
Members of the Lead Big Table will convene regularly and work closely to shape ongoing remediation, outreach and education strategies.