To: Tom Theodores, Mayor
Tell Mayor Tom Theodores to Halt the Use of Roundup at MLK
Tell Sausalito Mayor Tom Theodores to stop the use of the herbicide Roundup at MLK Field and educate Sausalito residents about the potential dangers to public health and the environment when using such substances.
Why is this important?
CURRENT UPDATE (2/23/2015 7 PM):
Per Mayor Tom Theodores:
We have put a total stop to the spraying indefinitely. I will meet with staff tomorrow to get fully briefed on the issue and the options; we will then decide when and how to proceed with getting input from the public and bringing it to council. I will let you know what and when the process will be.
Rest assured that no spraying will take place without the review of the city council with the opportunity for public input.
***
Sausalito's Martin Luther King Park is scheduled to be sprayed with herbicides Roundup and Surflan on Tuesday, February 24. This multi-use lawn is frequented by children and dogs and both substances have been found to have serious adverse effects on health and the environment.
Glyphosate, the active ingredient of Roundup, has been linked to cancers, reproductive harm, genetic damage, thyroid disorders, respiratory illnesses and other ailments. There is also active concern about a specific inert ingredient, polyethoxylated tallowamine (POEA), which may cause more cellular damage than even glyphosate. Oryzalin, the active ingredient of Surflan, is linked to reproductive harm, central nervous system depression and is a possible human carcinogen according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Both substances are at least moderately mobile in soil and have the potential to contaminate connected or nearby water sources.
Articles in Scientific American and Reuters noting the dangers of Roundup:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/weed-whacking-herbicide-p/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/25/roundup-health-study-idUSL2N0DC22F20130425
UPDATE 2/23/2015 (4:50 PM):
Thank you to everyone for spreading the word! The spraying has been delayed for the time being. Here is the response from the mayor and my response to him. I will update with any details on a public hearing, and please continue to spread the word in opposing the use of Roundup in our public spaces.
From the mayor:
Tanya,
Thanks for your concern. We are not spraying tomorrow and will delay spraying until staff has had a chance to brief council and assure us that spraying will be safe.
Tom
My response:
Thank you for your response. Can you confirm a time and date on the public hearing of this matter?
My ongoing concern is that we will get the same canned response from the Department of Public Works that justifies the use of Roundup while disregarding the strong research and ongoing findings proving the health and environmental risks of these herbicides. There have been great alternative suggestions from the public including a volunteer gardening task force or use of a safe and effective herbicide such as Scythe. We are currently up to 122 signatures on the petition. It goes without saying that nobody on that petition thinks any amount of Roundup is safe or acceptable to use and will be content with simply a delayed use of Roundup.
Tanya
Per Mayor Tom Theodores:
We have put a total stop to the spraying indefinitely. I will meet with staff tomorrow to get fully briefed on the issue and the options; we will then decide when and how to proceed with getting input from the public and bringing it to council. I will let you know what and when the process will be.
Rest assured that no spraying will take place without the review of the city council with the opportunity for public input.
***
Sausalito's Martin Luther King Park is scheduled to be sprayed with herbicides Roundup and Surflan on Tuesday, February 24. This multi-use lawn is frequented by children and dogs and both substances have been found to have serious adverse effects on health and the environment.
Glyphosate, the active ingredient of Roundup, has been linked to cancers, reproductive harm, genetic damage, thyroid disorders, respiratory illnesses and other ailments. There is also active concern about a specific inert ingredient, polyethoxylated tallowamine (POEA), which may cause more cellular damage than even glyphosate. Oryzalin, the active ingredient of Surflan, is linked to reproductive harm, central nervous system depression and is a possible human carcinogen according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Both substances are at least moderately mobile in soil and have the potential to contaminate connected or nearby water sources.
Articles in Scientific American and Reuters noting the dangers of Roundup:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/weed-whacking-herbicide-p/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/25/roundup-health-study-idUSL2N0DC22F20130425
UPDATE 2/23/2015 (4:50 PM):
Thank you to everyone for spreading the word! The spraying has been delayed for the time being. Here is the response from the mayor and my response to him. I will update with any details on a public hearing, and please continue to spread the word in opposing the use of Roundup in our public spaces.
From the mayor:
Tanya,
Thanks for your concern. We are not spraying tomorrow and will delay spraying until staff has had a chance to brief council and assure us that spraying will be safe.
Tom
My response:
Thank you for your response. Can you confirm a time and date on the public hearing of this matter?
My ongoing concern is that we will get the same canned response from the Department of Public Works that justifies the use of Roundup while disregarding the strong research and ongoing findings proving the health and environmental risks of these herbicides. There have been great alternative suggestions from the public including a volunteer gardening task force or use of a safe and effective herbicide such as Scythe. We are currently up to 122 signatures on the petition. It goes without saying that nobody on that petition thinks any amount of Roundup is safe or acceptable to use and will be content with simply a delayed use of Roundup.
Tanya