Fluoridation has not been on a City Council agenda for many weeks, but Watsonville residents made it the most interesting debate of the evening Tuesday as they decried a $7,800 donation to Mayor Luis Alejo from the California Dental Political Action Committee.

During public comment at the City Council meeting held on the fourth floor of the Civic Plaza, Nick Bulaich, who was one of the organizers behind a fluoridation-banning measure approved by Watsonville voters in 2002, accused Alejo of reinvigorating the effort to fluoridate at the behest of a large political donor.

Fluoridation has been an issue since the City Council first passed a resolution accepting a grant to fluoridate. In February 2002, Flouridation 2010 Workgroup offered the city $946,000 to fluoridate, but in November of that year, Watsonville residents concerned about the safety of fluoridation passed Measure S, which banned from the water all substances not specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration, including fluoride.

For the complete article see the 04-29-2010 issue.

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