“The cessation of all compulsory water fluoridation schemes should be the goal of all public health agencies, ethical lawmakers, and informed citizens.”

 

“The cessation of all compulsory water fluoridation schemes should be the goal of all public health agencies, ethical lawmakers, and informed citizens.” - Prof. Rita F. Barnett-Rose, J.D. in “Compulsory Water Fluoridation” (2014)

Hi Folks - 

Not only have I been personally busy, lots of things have been happening on the fluoridation front. There are three items to which I want to bring your attention: 

1. Despite some creative hacks on my ability to communicate with anyone with a state email address, I managed to get a bill(s) filed in the current Massachusetts legislative session “by constituent request” courtesy of Sen. John Cronin and Rep. Natalie Higgins. They are a rewrite of the current fluoridation law, converting it to a ban. This will come up for public comment some time before December 2024, at which point we will need to turn out in force. Cronin’s family includes dentists and Higgins was less than interested, so they wouldn't sponsor my bill but had to file it on my behalf because of law and my approach. However, all other legislators can support it. The fluoridation ban bill(s) are currently identified as SD.1815 and HD.1235 although that may change. 
   
   
2. The TSCA lawsuit against the EPA will proceed this year with the court schedule being set at a hearing on April 11th, per a very interesting January hearing. God willing, we will have a verdict before the end of the year. This will give us ammunition at the State House for passing the ban. 


3. The MWRA is proceeding with refitting the Carroll Plant in Marlborough with new fluoridation infrastructure. Since the MWRA is a huge water district serving multiple communities including Boston, they do not operate under the MA fluoridation law. Water Districts have their own regulations and the commissioners can add or remove fluoride at will. Since I have moved from Gloucester to Leominster, I am now in a community that does not fluoridate its town water, but does use the MWRA water supplies as back-up which gives me standing. (More)

Consequently, I have the following asks for my Massachusetts colleagues. 

1. If you are in any of the MWRA communities, especially those in the Carroll Plant district, write both your community DPW (look on your city website) and ask that they petition the MWRA to end fluoridation and the MWRA asking they end fluoridation or at least not spend any more money updating the Carroll Plant with new fluoridation infrastructure. We might not win this battle since the construction is due to begin in March, but this is an excellent opportunity to educate these players and set us up for pursuing cessation when the TSCA lawsuit is resolved. 
1. A few strategic MWRA emails:  beverly.anderson@mwra.com, sean.navin@mwra.com, valerie.moran@mwra.com, stephen.Estes-Smargiassi@mwra.com, Carolyn.Fiore@mwra.com, ask.mwra@mwra.com, SupplierAdministration@mwra.com, environment@boston.gov, env.internet@mass.gov, dpw@andoverma.gov, dpw-dispatch@marlborough-ma.gov  
   
   
2. Contact your Massachusetts senator and representative and tell them to add their names in support of the fluoridation ban bills, SD.1815 and HD.1235. I expect we will have to do this a few times in the coming year or so. Frankly, I’d have waited to make this ask of you if not for the MWRA construction. This is all about education and “priming the pump.” So let’s start the wheels in motion now. 
   
   
3. Please forward this email to any Massachusetts friends who are interested in ending fluoridation

You all know the material, but for your convenience, I recommend you not only use FAN, but also check out another website for arguments against fluoridation per communications with CDC, citations of recent science (chronological list including 2023 & 2022 items), and media reports on the TSCA lawsuit. You’ll notice that although it’s Brenda’s website, I am an author. Brenda Staudenmaier is a named plaintiff in the TSCA lawsuit, and I am a member representative on behalf of the Food & Water Watch. She and I have also been making Public Comments to various government entities, too. I uploaded my latest to YouTube. 

As I said, it’s been a busy time. 

This is a large distribution list, so do not “reply all.” However, reach out to me directly at any time, and if you are in the Leominster are - visit! 

Best, 

________________________

Karen Spencer

Leominster, MA 01453

978.283.4606

Follow me on Twitter

Subscribe on YouTube 

See the Call to Action