Glendale Joining Suit to Block Malathion Use

At the urging of several residents, Glendale will join the cities of Los Angeles, Pasadena and Burbank in an attempt to halt the aerial spraying of the pesticide malathion.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted 3 to 2 to authorize City Atty. Scott Howard to join the other cities in filing a suit against the state to end the spraying.

The vote followed warnings by Howard that the city’s effort could be an exercise in futility.

In a report, Howard cautioned that halting the spraying of malathion through legal means would be a “difficult and arduous battle” in light of setbacks suffered by other Southland cities and groups that have tried to obtain court injunctions against the spraying.

Glendale Councilmen Carl Raggio, Larry Zarian and Dick Jutras nevertheless voted in favor of challenging the state Department of Agriculture’s spraying program.

On the same day the Glendale council voted to join the suit, Pasadena officials took an even stronger approach, voting to ban flights by low-flying helicopters. But state officials said the Pasadena vote would have no effect on the Medfly eradication program.

State officials and Gov. George Deukmejian have stated that malathion spraying is the only way to eradicate the crop-threatening Mediterranean fruit fly. The flies have been captured throughout Southern California in recent months.

The battle against malathion has come to Glendale in recent weeks, prompting about 30 residents to voice their concern during the past four council meetings. Small demonstrations have been held several times in front of City Hall.

Citing academic and technical research, speakers have urged the council to challenge the spraying, saying the long-term health effects of the pesticide are unknown.

In a debate before the vote, Raggio said the city should join in the lawsuit because “there’s a huge question in my mind on whether malathion is safe.” He said the lawsuit should be pursued even if the chance of success is small, because “if one tries hard enough, he can accomplish the impossible.”

Councilwoman Ginger Bremberg strongly disagreed. “Malathion is the latest yuppie cause,” she said. “Who knows what it’s going to be next month?”

Pesticide spraying has been going on for years and is needed to preserve the world’s food supply, she said. By joining the other cities in the suit, she said, the council would be spending money to pursue a cause that is both wrong and unlikely to succeed.

“It’s a waste of our valuable time, the city attorney’s valuable time and the taxpayers’ valuable money,” Bremberg said.