Regarding "Drinking water in Syracuse schools fails lead tests over and over. There's a better way to keep kids safe" (Jan. 6, 2025):
The Syracuse City School District (SCSD) is holding two proposed budget community forums from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, at Henninger High School, 600 Robinson St., and 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at Nottingham High School, 3100 E. Genesee St. Unfortunately, none will be held at Corcoran or PSLA @ Fowler. The district would like community input as to the allocation of funds for the next school year.
As it has been well-documented, for years, Syracuse has one of, if not the highest, child poverty rate in the country among larger U.S. cities. It seems quite apparent that the next budget should include central water dispensers with filters so that every SCSD student, as well as staff, have access to uncontaminated water. Schools should offer a safe haven for children, not further the issues of poverty.
As for Rob DiFlorio and his lack of accountability as the school district's chief operations officer, his title this year as he tries to ascend to the position of superintendent: I would ask that people remember the decisions he is making as to the health and well-being of our SCSD children. DiFlorio states that he is not opposed to drinking water from SCSD buildings that contain high levels of lead or his children drinking the same water. I wonder where Mr. DiFlorio's children currently attend school and what school(s) they eventually graduated from?
Mr. DiFlorio, you are more than welcome to drink lead contaminated water and perhaps you have been. As for parents of children in the SCSD, we would rather have our kids drink safe, lead-free water.
I can't believe our county and city officials have long been aware of lead in our public water, especially at schools, yet continue to support spending over $100 million dollars on an aquarium -- presumably where the fish will have safe water.
The fix is simple and cheap. Just do the the right thing now. Set up central water dispensers with filters in every school.
Already, $17 million has been spent on the aquarium project that is potentially going nowhere. Supporters of that folly must have an agenda the people ate unaware of. Further, the cost of maintaining the aquarium is sure to be astronomical.
Why can we have better water quality for humans -- children -- and skip the fish?