Residents Have Mixed Response to 2nd Dose of Malathion Spraying

A portion of the South Bay--annexed to the Medfly battlefield--received its second dousing of the pesticide malathion last week.

The treated area, part of a 48-square-mile section of Los Angeles County that was showered with the sticky mixture of malathion and corn syrup Wednesday night, included the northeast corner of Gardena north of Rosecrans Avenue and east of Normandie Avenue. Part of the Harbor Gateway, between Century Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue, was also included.

A few residents said they were upset by the spraying, but others, citing the need to eradicate the harmful insect, said they were not bothered by the inconvenience.

The fleet of helicopters caught some residents by surprise.

“I thought they were police helicopters,” said Gardena resident Troy Taber, adding that he received no notification about Wednesday’s spraying or the first spraying in the area more than two weeks ago.

“I would have covered my car and brought my dog inside,” Taber said.

Terry Kennedy, a resident of Mariposa Avenue near 141st Street in Gardena, said his family rushed to call in their three dogs when they heard the helicopters passing low over their house.

“We were upset,” Kennedy said, adding that he took note of the date of the first spraying several weeks ago in a letter he received from the county. But Wednesday night’s spraying caught him off guard, he said.

“It’s sort of like an invasion, like Vietnam, you just hear these helicopters coming in,” Kennedy said.

Although some residents complained that they were not warned, county Agricultural Commissioner Leon Spaugy said the county notified residents either by mail or in person several days before the first spraying, as required by law. The letter included a schedule of the sprayings.

The next spraying in the Gardena and Harbor Gateway areas is scheduled for Feb. 14, Spaugy said. Spraying will continue every 21 days until the weather gets warmer in late March or April, when treatments will be increased to about every two weeks, he said.

The area will probably receive about 10 more sprayings, Spaugy said.

Although state health and agricultural officials maintain that malathion is not harmful, the letter advised residents to remain inside with doors and windows closed between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. while the spraying took place, to bring pets indoors and to cover cars.

Health concerns about the pesticide have elicited protests from residents of other communities, including Westwood and Monterey Park. Last week, three Orange County cities joined in a legal challenge to malathion spraying.

Local officials, however, reported few complaints about Wednesday’s spraying.

Niki Tennant, the Harbor Gateway field deputy for Los Angeles Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores, said her office had received about half a dozen calls, mostly from residents with questions about the schedule for the spraying.

Gardena Assistant City Manager Mitchell Lansdell said the city had received 10 to 15 calls from residents, most of whom had scheduling questions.

“It didn’t bother me because I knew what was happening, and it’s necessary, so why get upset about it?” said Clara Frizell, a resident of Catalina Avenue in Gardena. “It’s no big deal.”

Harold Kobata, a chemical engineer who lives on Mariposa Avenue in Gardena, was thinking more about the benefits of malathion than possible harm from the chemical.

“No, I don’t have health concerns” about the pesticide, Kobata said. “We’re hoping it will help with the aphids and other bugs in our garden.”

The toll-free numbers for information from the Agricultural Commission about malathion spraying are (800) 356-2894 or (800) 225-1346.