PESTICIDE FOCUS: Roundup (Herbicide)

Article from The Press Democrat
(c) Press Democrat, 2003. All rights reserved.

Note: The Press Democrat no longer has this on their website, so I have put it on mine as a convenience. The previous web address was www.pressdemocrat.com/local/news/05analy_b1.html.

Mayor: Analy Must Improve Pesticide Use

Letter from mayor prompts evaluation of weed-control method
May 5, 2003
By PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Sebastopol's Green Party mayor wants to teach Analy High School a few lessons about pesticides: Don't spray weedkiller in the wind, keep it off the kids and don't let it pollute the ground water.

The pointers from Mayor Craig Litwin followed a spring break project in which he said campus crews sprayed pesticides into the air on a windy day, allowed at least one child to walk through chemical-laden grass and didn't take adequate steps to avoid runoff into nearby wetlands.

He's asked Principal Martin Webb to avoid such mistakes in the future. Or, better yet, stop all pesticide use, just like the city did about three years ago.

"These are some simple, inexpensive precautions that should be taken to better protect the public, your students and our watershed," Litwin said in a letter to the principal.

"The best precaution, of course, is elimination of toxics all together."

Litwin's criticism touched off meetings between city and school officials and consideration by the district of a switch to more organic methods of weed control, Webb said.

Although the school conducted all recent spraying in compliance with state laws, Webb said, it may switch from Roundup to something like vinegar.

"I know Craig was upset," Webb said. "We're looking into the use of non-toxics like vinegar."

Litwin didn't return phone calls seeking comment.

But in his letter, he said the school created numerous safety hazards with the April spraying, which happened when students were on vacation.

Among other things, he said the school didn't notify neighbors or the general public, who used school facilities like tennis courts during the spraying.

Litwin said the school should post signs and require workers to wear more than shorts and T-shirts for better protection when they spray.

Also, he said the school should avoid spraying just before it rains. A storm hit after the work was completed, causing possible runoff to the Laguna de Santa Rosa.

Litwin also said the district should switch to alternative weedkillers and fertilizers.

"Our weed control in city landscaping areas is better now than when we sprayed pesticides, and we are doing it with no increase in costs," Litwin said in the letter. "We would be happy to work with you in any way possible to assist your shifting into a toxic-free school."

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 521-5250 or ppayne@pressdemocrat.com.

Copyright (C) 2003 The Press Democrat



For more about Roundup, including its use in schools and related actions, see www.healthyworld.org/Roundup.html. Also see the STEP newsletter Index under Roundup/Glyphosate.

For more information about organics and other alternatives to toxics, see our Toxics and Alternatives Resources Page.

For information about Sonoma County and area toxics, organics, and environmental and political information and action, see our Sonoma County Resources Page.

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