The C Word, Magic Solution and Fluoridation

October 19, 2001

Dear Editor,

In your article, "No Magic Solution for Strapped Bayside Merchants" (Oct. 18) you quote the city manager as having said, "If people won't fly here we'll try to get them in their cars"

How interesting. Up till now "cars" have been treated as disgusting nuisances by the City. Every thing possible has been done to discourage cars in the business districts. Parking has been restricted to residents only. Building has been encouraged without providing adequate parking, streets have been narrowed, eliminating parking and traffic lanes.

The powers that be have been successful in their efforts to discouraging residents from coming to the business districts by making the experience difficult, frustrating, time consuming, and
exasperating..

Now the city manager wants people to come in their "cars"??? How droll.

And what is the City prepared to do to make it easier for cars to come to the business districts of Santa Monica? The physical space has been rearranged to make it s difficult as possible. You can't get many cars into downtown now that the streets have been reduced to one lane in each direction, and traffic moves at a crawl -- all part of the plan to make it painful for car drivers; part of a determined effort intended to force people to modify their behavior and ride buses. It's still part of the plan as the city approves building after building in the downtown area that will intensify the density on streets that can't handle existing traffic.

And now the city manager wants people to come in their "cars".

If you've recently tried to drive downtown, you know you have to sit through 3 lights to go one block. Parking is impossible. This didn't just "happen" It was planned by those who, behind the scenes, decided to turn our city into a charming tourist destination for the walking visitors from the hotels, completely turning their backs on the needs and wishes of local residents.

The vision makers have achieved their goal, and the merchants are paying the price. People will point to 9/11 as the reason for the drop in business, but it was well under way before then. Just ask the merchants.

Nobody within the group of idealists behind the "anti-car" dogma seemed to realize (or care about) just how hectic modern life is, (especially for families), and just how very, very precious time has become.

People want things to "flow" and when you block that flow, people go elsewhere. They want to get from place to place as quickly and smoothly as possible. All the traffic hostile measures the city has developed that make driving here time-consuming and frustrating may explain why Santa Monicans don't and probably won't shop in Santa Monica. As one resident recently said, "We have choices in Southern California. I go where it's easiest to get around. That's the bottom line. "

Unfortunately, by trying to eliminate cars, the City has cut off its fall- back pool of consumers, and now that tourists aren't flying here, merchants are in trouble. Maybe someone in the City (government) might want to take a new look at "cars" and see them as the vehicles that bring business here, the vehicles of choice for the millions who live in Southern California When they try to eliminate them, they jeopardize the real life blood of the of the city.

Good luck to the city manager as she tries to get people to come in "cars".

Ellen Brennan
Santa Monica

October 19, 2001

Dear Editor,

Why doesn't the city of SM give shoppers a week of free parking in the parking structures and at the parking meters? Make it a December present to the consumers. It may encourage local residents to shop in SM.

Barbara O'Meara
Santa Monica

October 16, 2001

Dear Editor,

What's NOT in our water? Fluoride. But it should be.

If we as a community really care about our children -- all children -- then this issue should be a no-brainer. A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control states: "Fluoridation has been found to be the single most cost-effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay."

This is especially important for those children whose families cannot afford regular dentist visits or bottled water. Fifty-five percent of 6-to 8-year-olds have untreated tooth decay and children in lower income households -- with less access to dental care -- have even higher rates.

There is a vocal minority opposing Santa Monica's proposal to add fluoride to the municipal water supply. But as the City Council takes up this issue later this month, we ask them to consider the softer voices of these children, and pass this important public health measure.

Sincerely,

Rochelle Fanali
Co-Chair
SMMUSD PTA Legislative Committee

October 16, 2001

Dear Santa Monica City Councilmembers,

As physicians working at the Venice Family Clinic, we are writing to you in support of water fluoridation in Santa Monica. Dental caries, or tooth decay, is extremely prevalent in our patient population, affecting both children and adults. Sadly, our patients lack health insurance and generally are unable to afford dental care. As a result, the severity and extent of their dental problems is much worse than in the general population. One of the most common reasons that our homeless patients visit the clinic is to try to obtain a referral for free dental care.

Unfortunately, we run out of funds for this service almost as soon as it is made available. Children, who would benefit the most from water fluoridation, don't get regular dental care because their families can't afford it and often can't access the few services that are available to them.

In medicine, we have learned that prevention works better than treatment. This is especially applicable in the case of dental disease. Water fluoridation is safe, effective, and inexpensive. It is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Medicine, and the American Dental Association. This vital public health measure has already been implemented around the country and fifty years of scientific evidence has validated its safety and benefits.

Our staff, comprised of dedicated health-care professionals, offer their urgent plea to the Council to vote Yes on community water fluoridation.

Sincerely,

Susan Fleischman, MD, Medical Director, Venice Family Clinic
Blanca Andres, MD, Physician Supervisor
Karen Lamp, MD, Assistant Medical Director
Gina Vescovo, MD, Associate Physician, Family Medicine
Mary H. Smith, Family Nurse Practitioner
Carol Schwartz, MD, Internal Medicine
Catherine Charouhas, Family Nurse Practitioner, MN
Laura Watts, MD, Family Medicine
Julia Causey, MPH
Norma Rosales, MD, Pediatrician
Chris Lund, RN, Nursing Supervisor
Claudia Ramirez, RN, PHN
Elizabeth Angel, RN, BSW, PHN
Judith Delatorre, RN
Theresa Brehove, MD, Family Medicine
Barbara Grotts, RNP, MSN
Jeffrey East, MD, HIV Program