How & Why I Became Involved in the Toledo Lead Inspection Ordinan

[Adam A.]

I've been a Toledoan for 33 years, Toledo investor for more than 10 years and following the ordinance since 2014. I've attended all the city council and town hall meetings when the ordinance idea was ignited last Summer. I was scared and confused about what to do with my hard earned properties. I opposed the ordinance, I spoke against it , tried to layout a common ground solution, supported Luderman and Spang amendment. However, it PASSED!

For me, I had no choice but to move forward and selling out was not an option. My first thought was to pour money into fighting the ordinance with a lawsuit just like everyone else. I listened to the legal arguments and then I stopped. I took the matter into my own hands and I researched everything. The legal aspects of the lawsuit, I studied the Toledo ordinance, I looked into other cities that passed such ordinances. I read EPA, ODH, HUD and some of OSHA lead rules. I became educated about lead and specifically this ordinance.

As an investor, I look at the issue from the financial and economic side to make my decision. Honestly, I never approached it from the children or the environmental aspect.

From the financial side, I found that the EPA RRP rules are the most are the most important aspects of being involved in real estate. A $37,500 A DAY FINE is enough to ruin anyone. So I got involved and became RRP certified, even though I mainly manage my properties now.

When I started reading the ordinance, it was very confusing. I found some contradictions that I listed here on Facebook. Then, I started to look for answers. I wanted to know more, so I took the class that's offered by LCHD to become a local lead inspector.

The more I got educated, the more I found how easy it is to pass the inspection. Sure, there are some steps need to be followed, however, it's not setup to be mission impossible as everybody thinks.

Whether you agree with me on this ordinance or not, it is not my concern. I've been here with another gentleman, to help Toledoans with their concerns and to PASS the inspection.

However, I still feel that the ordinance is unjust and it needs tweaking. I listed on Facebook my ideas. Again, that was not enough. So, I joined the Lead Task Force and discussed some of the the unfair problems landlords face with this ordinance.

I found that the free advice I was offering, to help my community was being twisted around to possibly harm other inspectors. I had to retract my advice due to the assault and the idea of attorneys suing inspectors.

At last, the general atmosphere I see here on Facebook from Toledoans is that they want to do good for the community. I've seen more posts regarding many environmentally educational lead awareness issues including: the negative effect of Landbank demolitions, Keep SAFE Larchmont Estate Apartments & Surrounding Neighborhood which has 800+ members.

During my research, I found how ignorant I was about lead poisoning. I was exposed to high levels of lead dust during a simple remodel or a simple small cleaning job.

This is a wake up call!!!

I need to stop hurting myself, start educating others, to prevent the public, especially children, from mistakes. As long as this ordinance is alive, I will keep working hard, volunteering to fight on the behalf of owners for a reasonable and better solution.

Toledo is the first city in Ohio to pass such an ordinance. To find out more about the ordinance, announcements and to join in discussions with Toledo city councils, please visit:

Thank you for reading.

Adam Atassi

[Andrew Fidler]

Hi Adam,

I have a small empire in 43608 so I'm with in the "We Shall Pass" boat...additionally I have my undergraduate work in Environmental Health and my profession in the environmental and emergency response arena. 

I don't like the emotions of FB but have been watching the lead law section. I concur that the City of Toledo has put forth a very silly law and that they have no clue how to comply...still, all we care about is complying and passing. (I feel that ultimately all the City is really concerned with is $45 per rental moving into their pockets)

Happy to discuss further offline, most of the lead law has been debated and whined about...I along with the rest of the investor community am waiting quietly to see how others fair with their inspections. Once I have a lead inspector who has a hundred passes under their belt I will walk them through the visual inspection and prepare for wipes. 

I do not plan to become the guinea pig ! :)

Andrew R Fidler, CHMM (Certified Hazardous Materials Manager since 2004)