Good afternoon, Mayor Wynn and Councilmembers.  For the last five months now, I’ve been speaking here about water fluoridation each Thursday.  You know me as someone who comes, talks for three minutes and then disappears.  Unusual behavior for an activist!  But I began speaking out because there was a serious issue needing attention that I wanted to get into the open and on record.  

I also hoped my talks would bring me into contact with other members of the public who shared my concerns.  That has happened.  One of those people had the education and knowhow to pick up the ball and carry it farther.  As a result, I understand there’s now some movement within the Austin City Manager’s Office to study some of the scientific issues first brought up here, as well as look at the cost-saving aspects. These are very good first steps.  And so I appreciate this platform, and likewise, want to thank the members of the Water Utility who may have heard or heard of my talks and were willing to pay attention.  

Next week, March 17 to be exact, marks the mid-point of our 2-year contract with Lucier Chemical Industries, the provider of fluorosilicic acid for our water fluoridation.  It would be a beautiful $587,500 gift to the people of Austin if on March 16 of next year, the contract were allowed to expire unrenewed.  We’re always looking for unnecessary items to slash, and that one stands out.  http://www.cityofaustin.org/edims/document.cfm?id=114639   

I’ll bet lots of us have ideas about what we could do with the extra money.  Fluoridation has long been deceptively promoted as “something for poor children”.  How about something that really helps low-income children, like oral hygiene education, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and visiting dentist programs where they can receive real care?  That’s just one suggestion, and the beauty of it is, it doesn’t deviate from the stated mission of protecting those children’s teeth.  Everybody else will have their own ideas.  The point is, there are so many options that don’t involve putting a needless and dangerous substance into the water.

Two weeks from now, an important international meeting of dental personnel  will take place in San Antonio.  I’ll talk about it at that time.  Thank you.