The Connecticut residents holding a rent strike amid lead poisoning crisis

They thought their redeveloped 19th-century building was safe – but after learning it still contained toxic levels of lead, they formed a tenants union

Katy Slininger was one of dozens of residents who moved into the Lofts at the Cargill Falls Mill in Putnam, Connecticut, shortly after it opened in late 2020, enticed by the historic charm of the building and affordability of an apartment in an area with significant affordable housing shortages.

The building is a redeveloped 19th-century mill that opened in 2020 after government subsidies contributed millions of dollars in grants and tax credits to its renovation and was hailed by local officials as a boon to the local economy.