Sonoma Passes Resolution Against Aerial Spraying
Thursday 08 May 2008 | LBAM Spray Bay Area
Sonoma City Council members voted 4-1 Wednesday to pass a resolution opposing aerial spraying to eradicate the light brown apple moth.
Read the Press Democrat Story Here.
I will make the actual resolution available here when I can find a copy of it.
In the meantime, deepest thanks to Councilman Ken Brown for introducing the resolution and to the members who voted for it.
I am concerned that the Press Democrat report indicates that the council is asking the state to use least-toxic methods. Unfortunately, CDFA’s idea of least-toxic is blanket aerial spraying of carcinogenic pesticides and deadly PM10 over 7 million people! I need to see the resolution for myself to get a clear idea of what was resolved. I’ll update this post soon.
Update:
Here is a Sonoma Index Tribute article regarding the city council meeting. From the article:
Sonoma architect Bill Willers told the council its most important responsibility is “the health and welfare” of the community. “It’s absurd,” he said, “to put ourselves under this aerial assault.”
Mayor Joanne Sanders emotionally recalled her childhood experience in the South Bay when her neighborhood was sprayed with malathion, a pesticide used to combat the Mediterranean fruit fly. “My parents told me the malathion was coming and it marked my whole life…It wouldn’t matter to me if this room was full of people from the government saying this was safe. I guess I don’t trust the government.”
Update:
Extract from letter to the editor from Sonoma Mayor Pro-tem, Ken Brown:
As a Sonoma County resident and parent, I am concerned that the state may conduct aerial spraying for the light brown apple moth, which has been found in Sonoma Valley.
In Santa Cruz and Monterey counties last year, there were more than 600 health-related complaints attributed to the spraying when it happened there.
In almost all circumstances there would be a complete environmental impact report to determine the effects of this spraying. All we are asking is that the full process of an EIR study be included before any spraying occurs.
Thursday 08 May 2008 | admin | LBAM Spray Bay Area |
least toxic would probably mean twist ties and they are going up all over the by area much faster than i realized. we are finding out how toxic they are plus 33% of the ingredients are undisclosed. other ingredients are the same as those in checkmate. suggesting the least toxic methods instead of aerial spraying is playing into their hands in this fake emergency.
I think we should shine the spotlight on how little a threat this moth actually poses to crops. Europe does not classify it as a quarantine pest and that New Zealand uses nontoxic IPM (integrated pest management) to contain it and doesn’t feel the necessity to eradicate it, which is an unattainable and dangerous goal.
Dear Donna -
Yes, I am afraid you are right and that CDFA will doubtless wish to festoon every shrub, fence and tree with their toxic twist ties.
I saw CBS footage of them putting these up…I’m assuming in San Jose? The ties were so low in hedges that very small children could simply reach them walking past on their way to school.
It’s outrageous.
Peggy -
You are absolutely right, and thankfully, Dr. Daniel Harder’s New Zealand report has been widely used in the defense of Californians. Please, share this information with everyone you know, and thank you so much for taking the time to comment here. Come back soon!
Mim