Portland parks officials from the top down remained silent Monday about their slow response to high lead levels found in drinking water at a city-owned building that serves children and seniors.
Portland Parks & Recreation announced Sunday that testing from 2011, 2012 and 2013 recorded high lead levels in 11 water samples collected at the Multnomah Arts Center. Officials acknowledged that they didn’t take immediate corrective steps but a spokesman said no interviews would be granted until Monday to discuss the breakdown.
But on Monday, parks officials — including the director, Mike Abbaté — declined to be interviewed or directly answer written questions about the situation.
“At this time Director Abbaté is not granting interviews and there’s no new information,” spokesman Mark Ross said in a text message. Ross later said no one at the bureau would be available for interviews Monday.
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