USA - Fluoridation and obfuscation
Fluoridation and obfuscation
Posted: Saturday, May 29th, 2010
BY: JON CHOWN
If City Council members Luis Alejo and Manuel Bersamin believe that they can forcibly turn a falsehood into reality, they are mistaken.
Tuesday’s City Council meeting was another romp through Never Never Land for the two as they vehemently denied the public’s accusations that they are trying to fluoridate Watsonville’s water against the wishes of the voters.
Sure, Bersamin can read a letter from the state that calls on the city to fluoridate and Alejo can say the issue predates his term on the council, but they can’t deny the reality that they have tried to push this issue through, and even in a reckless manner.
I am disposed to let the issue lie where it is, but the two council members’ actions and words on Tuesday deserve a response. Reality, the truth, should not be so easily rubbed out.
After local residents, during public comment, made another plea with the council to not follow the state’s mandate to fluoridate, the two castigated the speakers for spreading misinformation. Both council members forcefully argued that they were only acting in compliance with state law, and to act any differently would subject the city to unnecessary costs and fines.
But their actions in the open, combined with huge political donations from fluoridation advocates, rightly lead people to wonder what they are doing outside the public’s view.
The reality is that both wanted to approve a proposed contract from the California Dental Association Foundation, granting the city up to $200,000 to construct a fluoridation system, but would have left the city with serious liability issues. It was a contract that City Attorney Al Smith said he wouldn’t recommend, but both Alejo and Bersamin voted for it anyway. Luckily, they couldn’t get the four votes needed and Alejo’s motion to approve the proposed contract failed.....
Posted: Saturday, May 29th, 2010
BY: JON CHOWN
If City Council members Luis Alejo and Manuel Bersamin believe that they can forcibly turn a falsehood into reality, they are mistaken.
Tuesday’s City Council meeting was another romp through Never Never Land for the two as they vehemently denied the public’s accusations that they are trying to fluoridate Watsonville’s water against the wishes of the voters.
Sure, Bersamin can read a letter from the state that calls on the city to fluoridate and Alejo can say the issue predates his term on the council, but they can’t deny the reality that they have tried to push this issue through, and even in a reckless manner.
I am disposed to let the issue lie where it is, but the two council members’ actions and words on Tuesday deserve a response. Reality, the truth, should not be so easily rubbed out.
After local residents, during public comment, made another plea with the council to not follow the state’s mandate to fluoridate, the two castigated the speakers for spreading misinformation. Both council members forcefully argued that they were only acting in compliance with state law, and to act any differently would subject the city to unnecessary costs and fines.
But their actions in the open, combined with huge political donations from fluoridation advocates, rightly lead people to wonder what they are doing outside the public’s view.
The reality is that both wanted to approve a proposed contract from the California Dental Association Foundation, granting the city up to $200,000 to construct a fluoridation system, but would have left the city with serious liability issues. It was a contract that City Attorney Al Smith said he wouldn’t recommend, but both Alejo and Bersamin voted for it anyway. Luckily, they couldn’t get the four votes needed and Alejo’s motion to approve the proposed contract failed.....
posted by Bill at
10:16 AM
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