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Posted on April 3, 2008

More Cities Oppose Aerial Spraying

RICHMOND, Calif. (KCBS) -- More Bay Area cities are expressing their opposition to the state's plan for aerial spraying to kill off the light brown apple moth. State officials insist their plan is safe, and will proceed as scheduled this summer.

Richmond is the latest, as more than two dozen cities officially oppose aerial spraying to kill off the invasive insect. "This is really a further assault on the people of Richmond who are already burdened with toxic industries and a history of polluted air," declared Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin before the City Council voted unanimously against the spraying. [emphasis added]

Anxious and concerned residents were on hand to express their concerns about the aerial spraying "How come they can't just use convention, Mother Nature, bring in some other insect and let them eat the moth up rather than spray the people with a toxic chemical?" questioned one man.

Not too far from Richmond, state Secretary of Food and Agriculture A.G. Kawamura. told the Alameda City Council that the "Checkmate" spray the state intends to use won't kill anyone or anything, but simply keep the moth from reproducing. "We chose the pheromone because it allows us to go specifically after the species and not affect bees and other important native pollinators and beneficial insects or other butterflies or other moths," explained Kawamura.

The state Assembly will consider a bill next week that would require voter consent before aerial spraying.

Click here for Doug Sovern's radio broadcast of this report.