Interview with Paula Lavigne
This interview took place on November 14th with investigative reporter Paula Lavigne. Lavigne shared her experiences and insights regarding lead contamination in Omaha. As an investigative reporter for ESPN, Lavigne brings an unique perspective to the discussion of Omaha's community response to lead remediation efforts.
"I did not know about it growing up 'cause I grew up, up by Gretna", but Paula Lavigne nevertheless has deep experience with the phenomenon. It was her familiarity with environmental issues in Tacoma, Washington that fueled her curiosity about lead levels in Omaha. When she moved to the city, she became "interested in what the lead levels were for where we were buying, and doing that research is when I really learned about the whole Superfund thing and the history of lead contamination." Her personal health journey added significance to her investigation, particularly her battle with thyroid cancer. This concern became more pronounced when, in 2009, she and her husband contemplated starting a family. Lavigne shared, "When we were looking at buying houses... one of the things that I was interested in was lead, and just, you know, just because I knew it was a harmful substance."
To gather information, Lavigne contacted the city and the EPA (see above), expressing a desire to understand lead levels in the environment. Her proactive approach reflects her commitment to safeguarding her family's health. However, she highlighted the challenges faced by communities with fewer resources, emphasizing, "So many communities where there are lead issues... are communities where people are either renting, so they don't really have control over that. They're low income... they can't afford private testing of their water." Acknowledging the existence of environmental injustice, Lavigne noted that communities with lower income levels often bear the brunt of lead contamination. She stressed, "I think so much of this problem and so much of the pipes that need to be replaced are in these areas where people have lesser means and lesser ability to do anything to their property."
Drawing comparisons between her experiences in Tacoma and Omaha, Lavigne pointed out that environmental activism and awareness were more prevalent in Tacoma. The visibility of remediation efforts in Tacoma, coupled with active community engagement, contrasted with what she observed in Omaha. She recalled, "I think because there were things actively happening in Tacoma... it was an issue that was being discussed among city officials, county officials."
Despite being an informed and proactive resident, Lavigne expressed concerns about the lack of widespread reporting on lead contamination in Omaha. She highlighted a gap in reporting specifically focused on lead, saying, "I haven't really seen anything on lead recently... I would like to know what the blood testing levels are." As a member of the media, Lavigne suggested revisiting the issue of lead contamination in Omaha, proposing more reporting, particularly on blood testing levels and the current status of remediation efforts. Additionally, she called for requirements for landlords to disclose lead-related information to tenants and suggested financial assistance for families based on income to address lead exposure issues. She emphasized, "It would be nice if there was some requirement for landlords... that they have to at least provide some disclosure information to residents if there's lead in the home."