Press

REMINDER: Governor Stood By Housing Chief Who Proposed Easing Landlords’ Liability for Exposing Families to Lead

Aug 16, 2018

Annapolis, MD—As Ben Jealous unveils his lead abatement plan in Baltimore today to make sure all Maryland families are able to live healthy lives, Larry Hogan is standing by his Housing Secretary who proposed easing landlords’ liability for exposing families to lead.

In August 2015, Housing Secretary Kenneth Holt said, “…a mother could just put a lead fishing weight in her child’s mouth, then take the child in for testing and a landlord would be liable for providing the child with housing until the age of 18.”

Despite calls for Holt’s resignation from more than 30 lawmakers, Hogan stood by Holt, who is still serving as the state’s housing chief.

“While Ben Jealous is laying out a bold vision to ensure that no child’s life is cut short due to exposure to lead paint, Larry Hogan has been standing by Secretary Holt for years despite his callous disregard for Maryland families’ safety,” said Maryland Democratic Party chair Kathleen Matthews. “It’s shameful that Secretary Holt still has a job and even more shameful that Governor Hogan has failed to protect Maryland students from lead exposure in our schools.”