Watsonville voters who approved Measure S in 2002 need to get ready to shield your eyes because the City Council is preparing to spit in your face.

The will of Watsonville’s voters will be overruled when the council’s ad hoc committee comes back with a finalized contract to accept a grant to fluoridate their water, and that’s bothersome, but the disdain the City Council showed the vote makes it far worse.

Does the city have to accept grant money to fluoridate?

By law, the courts have ruled Watsonville has to, but courts move slowly and it seemed pretty clear from City Attorney Al Smith’s presentation, as well as other points brought up during the meeting, that negotiations on accepting that grant could keep dragging on, especially since there are a number of questions to answer.

Staff time is not included in the grant. Equipment will have to be installed at 13 sites, maintained and monitored. David Koch, director of public works, said the cost for staff was not expected to overrun the grant funding, but it was obvious it very well could because during his presentation, Smith noted that estimates of the planning costs were already nearing the $200,000 cap — and estimates did not include staff time.

There are other little issues as well and other possible avenues to explore. For instance, if the city were to demand the use of medical grade fluoride, the cost would increase significantly, according to Koch.

So if the city wants to continue to fight fluoridation, it looks like it could, but it appears that several members of the council want to find a way past the Measure S vote as quickly as possible.

Mayor Luis Alejo made a motion to accept the contract less than an hour after Smith told the council that he could not recommend it due to liability issues. Alejo’s motion got two other votes and even though it failed, I believe the alternative motion to create an ad hoc committee will just delay the city’s capitulation to fluoridation.

And while the council gave this reason or that as to why the city couldn’t fight it anymore, a disregard for the vote in favor of their own attitudes appears to be at least part of it.

“I remember when I was first appointed mayor, we had to make a decision whether to fight for the voters of Measure S or not. ... and we did … but eventually we lost,” said Antonio Rivas, but then his argument turned from proper to patronizing. He said he had studied some on fluoridation and people should not be afraid and having “emotional outbreaks.” And as a council member, he gets to make the decision.

“Our background, our experience, I understand very well how it is,” he said.

Alejo, who wants to represent us in the California State Assembly said the state had decided to regulate fluoride and he wanted to find a resolution to approve the contract and move forward as quickly as possible.

As a state representative, would Alejo believe it is his job to represent Sacramento on its decisions regarding this valley or would he represent the citizens of this valley regarding decisions being made in Sacramento? I have to wonder.

Manuel Bersamin’s argument for approving the contract hinged on three contentions: that Watsonville voters were too uneducated to make the right decision; that the validity of the vote on Measure S was questionable because, not only was it a close outcome, but illegal immigrants and children could not vote; and that his education and intelligence, and the fact that he was a City Council member, gave him the right to decide.

Following his own argument, Bersamin won his council seat by fewer votes than Measure S passed, so should his opinion on the council count as much?

Rivas, Alejo and Bersamin only need a fourth and Kimberly Petersen, who voted against immediate ratification of the contract, expressed her desire to move it as quickly as possible through the ad hoc committee. She was also key in making sure no members of the community wound up on that committee, noting that it would slow the process down.

Alejo said there would “definitely be a lot of public input during the process,” but I believe it be blown through in a handful of meetings over the next few weeks. And if I seem paranoid, it’s only because some members of the council are crying foul as well.

Greg Caput wanted to keep fighting and said the decision was being “rushed.”

“I believe in democracy and the majority of people in Watsonville said they did not want fluoride. We have to respect that,” he said.

Nancy Bilicich said she first heard about the issue from a pro-fluoride supporter who somehow had the City Council’s agenda before she did. She pointed out that after two years, water rates would likely be raised if the program were to continue, setting up a future battle.

Emilio Martinez was admittedly livid about the whole affair. He also first heard about the issue from lobbyists for fluoridation.

“This is an unethical process!” he yelled, literally leaving his seat. “Luis, you should be ashamed of yourself because this is your political ploy.”

So what should Watsonville voters do if their elected representatives don’t honor their democratically-expressed wishes? Unfortunately, this time, I don’t think there will be enough time to do more than cover your eyes.

•••

Jon Chown is the editor of the Register-Pajaronian. He can be reached at 761-7327 or by e-mail at jchown@register-pajaronian.com.





Share on Facebook