In an unprecedented display of citizen participation, hundreds of people from every walk of life filled an Assembly hearing room earlier this spring on a Wednesday afternoon to speak out against the aerial spraying campaign against the Light Brown Apple Moth, and in favor of several spray-related bills before the Assembly Agriculture Committee. Their message was simple: Protect our right to be informed and to choose whether aerial pesticide spraying should take place in our communities.

Even though the committee failed to pass all of the bills, the hearing focused attention on the issue, and galvanized thousands of residents who had been told that they did not have a say in these decisions.  In fact, at a press conference before the hearing, a leader from the coalition of groups against the spray stated they had already collected thousands of signatures. The total now stands at over 29,000 in the Bay Area alone.  If the Agriculture Committee did not heed the voice of the people, he said, the people were ready to go forward with an initiative campaign to ban all aerial spraying in the state. 

Just two weeks later, a judge invalidated the California Department of Food & Agriculture’s (CDFA) emergency declaration for aerial spraying over Santa Cruz county, and the Governor halted the aerial spraying of an untested chemical over nearly 7 million people. 

While this was good news, the CDFA continues to promote the spraying program throughout the Bay Area.  Although the date is now a moving target, it appears that the CDFA and the Governor have already made the most important decision: spraying is necessary. 

Despite claims to the contrary, CDFA’s dire predictions about this pest are just that, predictions.  In New Zealand, where the moth has existed as an invasive species for a very long time, neither the agricultural industry nor the government see this pest as anything more than a minor threat. According to reports earlier this year, native predators account for 80%-90% of the control program in New Zealand.  In stark contrast to our state, New Zealand not only decided against aerial spraying as a first step, they’re against using it at all.

While I applaud the Governor’s move to temporarily halt any aerial spraying, I urge him to place the program on permanent hold until a viable alternative to the spraying, such as what is done in New Zealand, has been fully investigated.  If the Governor deems active control of the moth necessary, then he should resort to the ground-based, non-invasive methods that are already available.

However, this is not the first, and will certainly not be the last pest that California will have to face.  Before we decide on aerial spraying, it is vital that the State have all of the facts.  Let’s be clear: spraying over people is not the same as crop-dusting. Those who would be affected should be fully informed and empowered to participate in the deliberation process The people of California deserve and demand that their safety be our top priority.

Next Monday, you can help add your voice to the movement. Stop the Spray—East Bay will hold an important town hall meeting on the aerial spray program.  Experts will explain the issues behind the moth, the legal challenges available to cities in the Bay Area, and how people can become involved in the campaign to protect our communities.  The meeting will be held at the Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave in Oakland from 7-9pm.  For more information, visit www.eastbay.stopthespray.org. 

Assemblymember Swanson is the Chair of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee.  He represents the 16th Assembly District, including the cities of Alameda, Oakland, and Piedmont.