Phoenix residents have scheduled a public debate on water fluoridation in advance of an upcoming city council vote on whether to continue putting fluoride in the city’s water supply.

Two experts — Paul Connett, a retired professor of environmental chemistry and toxicology at New York’s St. Lawrence University, and Dr. Howard Farran, a dentist in private practice in Ahwatukee — will debate the issue from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Sept. 5. The debate will be in Phoenix College’s Bulpitt Auditorium, 1202 W. Thomas Road. The debate is free and open to the public.

Fluoridation has recently been in the news in the East Valley as the Town of Gilbert is investigating why fluoride was not added to water at one of the town’s treatment plants.

• The newspaper published this comment online (scroll down):
  “Once again, ignorance and hysteria reigns.
  The unbounded ignorance of the radical Mormon/Tea Party/Ultra cons is spewing out from every mouth.
  Never mind that it has been proven safe for 40 years, the ignorant clods can’t stand anything that isn’t their idea.
  Too bad they can still make babies for themselves.”