By Nikki Silverstein
Hero: Let’s give a toothy grin to the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) board for voting to continue adding fluoride to our water. A contingent of false science followers lobbied against it, claiming that fluoride is a toxin and reduces the IQ of children. A lone board member, Larry Bragman, supported their misguided belief by voting against fluoridation. We aim to set the record straight: Fluoride strengthens teeth. The American Dental Association states, “Drinking water with fluoride (called ‘nature’s cavity fighter’) is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do to help prevent cavities.” We commend the reasonable board members for recognizing real science and following the well-founded state order that requires the MMWD to keep fluoride flowing from our taps.
Zero: In a heartless move last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) denied Hugo Mejia an immigration hearing before a judge, despite the fact that he has been a law-abiding resident since entering the U.S. from Mexico 17 years ago. As we reported on May 24, Mejia, of San Rafael, was picked up by ICE for illegally entering the country, and is on the fast track to deportation without due process. The Marin community has provided overwhelming support of Mejia, including organizing rallies and gathering thousands of signatures on a grassroots petition to protest his incarceration and demand a court hearing. It’s absolutely disgraceful that the U.S. government is hell bent on taking this honorable man away from his wife and three children. Banish criminals instead.
