| Tuesday, November 5, 2002 Vote Yes on Measure A ! |
| City of Redding Measure A "Shall the following initiative measure be enacted? The citizens of Redding do ordain as follows: The City shall not add to its drinking water any substance or chemical for the purpose of treating the physical or mental functions of any person unless the chemical meets certain enumerated criteria including, but not limited to, approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This measure exempts chemicals or substances intended to make the water safe or potable. Yes No |
| Argument in Support of Measure A Vote Yes for safe drinking water! This ordinance does not require that the FDA monitor public drinking water, or substances that make water safe or more drinkable. Nor does this ordinance conflict with State or local laws calling for fluoridation. This ordinance establishes the criteria, and assures, that should the City or any other entity choose to add a substance to our drinking water for the specific purpose of treating people rather than the water, before exposing consumers to the substance for the rest of our lives, the actual substance chosen to be placed in the water must have gone through the appropriate approval process by the FDA for the health claim made, as the FDA requires for all substances that treat people. Obviously, there is a vast range in the quantities of water that people consume. This ordinance requires that any substance chosen for the purpose of treating humans must be approved for safety and effectiveness at all ranges of actual water consumption, not an arbitrary one liter per day. This ordinance also requires that any substance chosen to be added to our public water supplies to fulfill a health claim, not contain excessive levels of contaminants, such as lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium and other toxic elements that our water department is already committed to working so hard to remove. Protect all citizens of Redding, at every economic level, from the adding of untested products containing excessive levels of contaminants to our drinking water under the guise of better health. The Public Health Department wants to add Hydrofluorosilicic Acid, a non-FDA approved substance, claiming that the fluoride ions in it will prevent tooth decay. This caustic, industrial grade chemical contains lead and other heavy metals as contaminants. Your vote of Yes on Measure A will insure that your children and family have water that is safe to drink. Vote Yes for Safe Drinking Water on Tuesday, November 5, 2002. |
| Don't let anyone mess with our drinking water! Be sure to tell your friends and neighbors to Vote Yes on A. |
|