Fluoride in the Bag?

Santa Fe — like it or not — may finally be getting some resolution on the fluoride issue.

The agenda of Wednesday’s Public Utilities meeting shows that five councilors have signed on as sponsors of an ordinance to totally eliminate supplemental fluoride from Santa Fe’s drinking water.

Unless Bill Dimas, Patti Bushee, Carmichael Dominguez, Ron Trujillo or Chris Rivera change their minds, that’s enough council votes to make the anti-fluoridation contingent very, very happy.

A seemingly endless string of fluoride proposals have been discussed this summer at City Hall. An ordinance to stop adding the mineral to city water was actually approved a few months ago by the City Council but had to be withdrawn because the City Attorney felt the vote violated the state’s open meetings act.

Most recently, Councilor Chris Calvert offered a “compromise” ordinance that would stop supplemental fluoride three years from now, theoretically giving the city enough time to work with the state and others to increase local dental education efforts.