Cities Vote to Halt Aerial Malathion Spraying

The San Gabriel Valley Assn. of Cities, representing 30 communities from Pasadena to Pomona, has voted overwhelmingly for a halt in the aerial spraying of malathion to combat the Mediterranean fruit fly.

As part of its debate at a monthly meeting in Baldwin Park Thursday night, the association included an amendment acknowledging the pest’s threat to the agricultural industry.

“However, we are also concerned about public health and believe the spraying should be halted until more research is done,” San Dimas Mayor Terry Dipple, an association executive board member, said Friday.

City council delegates from Arcadia, Walnut, Temple City and La Verne abstained. Although not all cities were represented, Dipple said, the 75 public officials who attended accounted for a clear majority of the group’s membership.