MAYOR LEFFINGWELL:  Next speaker is Rae Nadler Olenick. Topic is water fluoridation.

RNO:  Good afternoon, mayor and councilmembers and thanks to our supporters for turning out. Over the past year and a half of speaking here I've watched the council engage many citizens communication speakers with questions and/or comments. You've responded directly to people being harassed by neighbors, people whose sleep is disturbed by nighttime construction, people annoyed by the sight of billboards...and just now, to the previous speaker.  All worthy issues, certainly. But our careful, well-documented presentation of the arguments against water fluoridation and issues that affect everyone's well-being has been thus far met with silence - and one joke. Today I'm going to do something different. I'm going to ask a few serious questions relevant to our topic which I have been told by staff is allowable. First, last august and again last december the austin environmental board issued a recommendation to council to set up an impartial taskforce to revisit the city's 37-year-old water fluoridation policy. What is the status of that recommendation right now? Can anyone tell me?

MAYOR LEFFINGWELL: : No councilmember has taken action on that.

RNO:  Thank you, sir. Second then, exactly what steps would it take to move that same recommendation forward?  What is the process?

MAYOR LEFFINGWELL:   Two councilmembers can bring it before the council.

RNO:  Okay. Well, how does it get discussed? Who brings it up for discussion? How does that happen?

MAYOR LEFFINGWELL When it gets on the agenda it is up for discussion. All this is your time.

RNO:  Yes, I know that. Third, who has the duty to inform new Austin parents that the CDC and the American Dental Association have issued a warning against using fluoridated water to mix baby formula and juices and other drinks?

[ Applause ]

RNO:  OK...

MAYOR LEFFINGWELL:   Nobody has the answer to that question.

RNO:  Right, no one has the answer. The record will show no response to that one. And finally, -- and this is an appropriate question because we are receiving mass medication, as everyone agrees who promotes fluoride, so I would like to know who among you uses unfiltered tap water as your primary source of drinking and cooking water? Any volunteers?

MAYOR LEFFINGWELL:   Apparently not.

RNO:  OK...OK. Thank you. Thank you very much.

(councilmember Spelman gingerly half-raises a hand)

MAYOR LEFFINGWELL:  Thank you.

[ Applause ]

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