Ross Valley Reporter
May 29 - June 24, 2001Marin Scope View
Fairfax right to fight for its right-to-know town ordinance
The Town of Fairfax has a reputation of being "eccentric," but perhaps a better description would be "independent." Fairfax does things its way, In many instances that makes the town, despite its reputation of being a throw back to the '60s, a leader in the new millennium. Fairfax's latest tussle is with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation which is demanding that the town rescind a recently passed ordinance that requires residents to notify neighbors when they intend to use pesticides. The ordinance also prohibits the use of pesticides on town property and right-of-ways.
The state action is either a turf war with bureaucrats out to protect their domain or, as many town officials believe, protection of the interests of big pesticide producers.
Either way the state is wrong and Fairfax is right, Fairfax's ordinance is really pretty benign. It codifies town policy of not using pesticides on public property and it requires residents to notify their neighbors if they intend to use pesticides on private property.
Some neighbors might be upset over the use of pesticides by anyone nearby, but how much more upset would they be to find out afterwards?
The Fairfax ordinance is common sense and good neighbor policy. Other communities would do well to follow the town's lead.
And, it is something the community wants.
The state has suggested that Fairfax develop an integrated pest management program that would have the state stamp of approval.
Fairfax doesn't want an integrated pest management program. It wants a notification program. It is more a right-to-know issue than an anti-pesticide issue.
Obviously pesticide manufacturers and distributors are concerned that ordinances like. the one recently adopted by Fairfax will be the proverbial camel nose under the tent with total bans likely to follow.
They are right to be concerned. The more we know, the more apparent it becomes that there are better and safer ways to do away with pests than to use chemicals with unknown long-term affects on human health and the environment.
But ban pesticides is not what the Fairfax ordinance does. The ordinance simply mandates that people know what is going on in their neighborhoods.
It is not too much to ask, and state bureaucrats should not have the right to interfere with that right to know. Nor should state bureaucrats have the right to dictate to local towns what they do to protect their residents.
Fairfax is right and every town and city in Marin should support its efforts. Fairfax is not only fighting to protect its citizens' rights, it is fighting to protect the fundamentals of local democracy.