The state has settled with a Syracuse landlord for repeatedly failing to address lead-based paint hazards at his rental properties, where most tenants were low-income families.
As a result of the agreement with the New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Todd Hobbs and his companies, TLH Holdings, LLC and TLH Properties, LLC, will pay $175,000, which will be used for a tenant relief fund that will provide payments to families of the children who were lead-poisoned while living at the Hobbs properties. The funds will also be used to identify and resolve potential lead hazards at Hobbs’ properties with a history of lead violations.
“Todd Hobbs put families’ health and well-being in danger and betrayed their trust,” said Attorney General James. “As a result of his failure to properly address lead-based paint hazards, at least 11 children were poisoned by lead at his properties. In Syracuse, throughout New York, and across the nation, children of color are poisoned by lead paint at vastly disproportionate rates, and more must be done every day to protect them from the preventable dangers of lead. I am grateful to County Executive McMahon and Mayor Walsh for their continued partnership in fighting this public health crisis so all children can grow up in healthy homes.”
“With the help of Attorney General James, this settlement addresses three priorities,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. “It holds Todd Hobbs accountable, directs resources to reduce dangerous lead hazards, and provides assistance to tenants. It also sends a message to rental property owners: you must provide safe, quality living conditions for your tenants. The city will continue working with our partners to protect children and families from lead poisoning.”
In July 2023, Attorney General James, County Executive McMahon, and Mayor Walsh filed a lawsuit against Hobbs and his companies, alleging that he repeatedly and persistently violated lead safety laws at more than a dozen rental properties around Syracuse. Over the last eight years, there have been 413 violations of lead safety laws at 19 different properties owned by Hobbs. At least 11 children were poisoned by lead while living at these properties.
Lead-based paint in residential housing is a pervasive problem in Syracuse, where 81 percent of the housing stock was built before lead-based paint was banned in New York in 1970. Lead poisoning in Onondaga County is highest among children of color, the majority of whom live in Syracuse. In 2022, 510 children in Onondaga County had elevated levels of lead in their blood, and 90 percent of those children lived in Syracuse. Approximately 11 percent of the Black children tested in Onondaga County in 2022 had elevated blood lead levels, compared to under two percent of white children tested.
