Pushing for better protection against mold Eyewitness News

December 14, 2006

WABC-TV New York

(New York - WABC, December 14, 2006) - Mold can be a nightmare for

any homeowner, bringing with it serious health concerns.

Now health advocate Betsy Gotbaum is pushing for upgrades to protect

you and your family.

Eyewitness News reporter Kemberly has more ont he

guidelines.

" Please, we just want a safe place to live, " Tongia said.

Mold inside her apartment is what drove Tongia to tears. She

says it's so bad she can't live there anymore.

" My children became ill, " she said. " Since then, they were diagnosed

with asthma and have hair falling out. "

There is loads of it inside Barbara Skinner's apartment. You can't

see the fungus there, but it's not because management removed it.

Rather, they painted over it. Her children are also suffering.

" [My son] got it so bad, he's been in the hospital 40 times with

asthma, " Skinner said. " He's 12. "

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum has documented an alarming increase in

the number of mold complaints citywide. It's a jump from 861 in 1999

to more than 16,000 in 2004.

" What we aim to do is nip it in the bud before it gets worse, "

Gotbaum said. " And if we don't do anything it will get worse. "

And mold has no boundaries. At a Park Avenue building, Bianca Jagger

has wrestled with mold for more than four years.

" I continue to have health compromised and it's the reason I can't

go inside my apartment, " she said.

Gotbuam wants the city to create a team of inspectors dedicated only

to mold, slapping landlords who ignore the problem with civil

penalties. And then there are the guidelines.

" They're not part of the HPD codes, " Gotbaum said. " And there's no

implementation or punishment if nothing is done. "

And so for others like Barbara, staying at home almost guarantees

another trip to the doctor.

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