It will help schools that serve 22,000 students in Cicero, Berwyn, Lyons, McCook and Stickney. Leading the way in the fight against the damage done by tobacco, Public Health is adding a tobacco prevention coordinator to translate our anti-smoking talk into action. And the 2001 budget year will see the opening of our employee day-care center in the County Administration Building, at 69 West Washington. In an effort to expand services throughout Cook County, Treasurer Maria Pappas has been successful in providing taxpayers with 120 locations where they can pay their real estate taxes. Soon, Cook County will have 107 police departments on-line for speedy access to criminal histories and mug shots.
Lead poisoning remains a plague threatening young families living in older housing.
Children through age six are at risk from lead paint chips and lead dust. To screen children for lead exposure, and to find and remove lead hazards, Cook County will take action to make a difference in lead abatement. In the coming weeks, I will name a Lead Prevention Advisory Council. The new Council will oversee grants to encourage education and prevention and to help property owners carry out lead mitigation and lead abatement. We will need to take this challenge to our financial resources seriously in the months ahead.