Civility needed. At a recent council meeting, councilmember Toth made a request for a letter to the state legislature indicating support for HB2164. Her description was that it would prohibit certain chemicals from being included in public school diets. She suggested that these chemicals caused obesity as well as other health issues.
And Mayor Friedel quickly looked around, looking for council support. There was no expressed objection, but there also was no real discussion or published information provided. Here is what I found disturbing.
Following the meeting, Councilmember McMahon did her own due diligence on the bill. She decided to exclude her name on the letter. That should have been the end of it. But conservative newspapers published an inaccurate and unnecessary article.
Who provided the story to the newspapers and thought it was appropriate to put McMahon’s political party in the headline? Who told the newspaper that Councilmember McMahon was a “Maricopa County leader?” She is a respected town leader. Was there malice intended to frame her in some Maricopa County political plot?
We have another solution seeking a problem. Not sure what gave Councilmember McMahon pause, but I could not find any information regarding these chemicals having an impact on obesity. What I found is that most of the chemicals are found in cosmetics and lotions such as sun screens and moisturizers. Two of these chemicals are already banned by the FDA! And the others have been investigated by the FDA. This letter should not go out until town staff has matched Councilmember McMahon’s due diligence.
Not surprised. Create problem. Claim a solution. Smear the opposition.
One last thing, I find it interesting that Councilmember Toth did not discuss this with Dr. J? Or did she? I would have thought she would have shared that.
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