A hotly contested debate over adding fluoride to water has been capped for now in the village of Cassadaga. By a 4-1 vote, board members rejected the proposal.
"Different ideas are a good thing, not a bad thing," said village Mayor LeeAnn Lazarony after the vote. "If everybody sat on this board and agreed to everything it wouldn't be much of a board. So I am glad the issue came up and we discuss things, sometimes heatedly. We get passionate because we care about this community."
Cassadaga, however, is not alone. Adding fluoride to any water system will bring public opposition. In Portland, Ore., arrests were made in the last month due to protests at meetings regarding the topic.
Locally, the idea has been rejected. We believe - on this case alone - that increased costs cannot be taken on by any customer or taxpayer at this time when spending is still rampant among too many of our small governments.
