Latest news with #StuartCityCommission
USA Today
07-02-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Why all the fuss about fluoride? Who was complaining about our water supply?
Why all the fuss about fluoride? Who was complaining about our water supply? | Our View Show Caption Hide Caption The truth about fluoride Fluoride is present in dental products like toothpaste, protecting teeth from cavities and preventing bacteria in the mouth. It is also added to public water supplies. unbranded - Lifestyle Like radon in our basements and alar in our apples from a few years back, Treasure Coast communities are confronting a "new" potential problem that's both invisible and poorly understood: Fluoride in our water supply. Some, but not all, utility companies in our region have been adding fluoride to water as a common practice. Fluoride is supposed to help prevent tooth decay. People who brush their teeth and regularly visit a dentist might not need it, but the thinking has been drinking water with small amounts of fluoride could help people who weren't taking proper care of their teeth. Until recently, when the thinking changed. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo's office issued a warning last year about possible health risks associated with fluoridated drinking water. A U.S. District Court in California ruled even small amounts of fluoride — 0.7 milligrams per liter — could carry health risks. According to Ladapo, these include "children reducing IQ, cognitive impairment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder." The Stuart City Commission voted swiftly to stop adding fluoride to its tap water, with other local governments following suit or considering similar actions. Other parts of Martin County are served by providers that weren't adding fluoride. Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie West also decided to stop adding fluoride, while Fort Pierce, which also provides water to unincorporated St. Lucie County, is studying the issue. Drill into the research a little bit More: Trump, Biden undermine justice with Florida Turnpike killers, Jan. 6 rioters | Editorial More: Stuart, Martin moms-to-be must travel to Port St. Lucie, Jupiter to deliver? | Our View Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, is against fluoridation, it's likely the discussions about fluoride bans are going to continue in local council and commission chambers for a while. There's a "monkey see, monkey do" aspect to what's happening now. Local governments are in a rush to become part of the anti-fluoridation trend, even though it's not clear how this issue bubbled to the surface of public consciousness. If fluoride has potentially harmful effects, it's certainly reasonable to find out more about what those effects are and if they outweigh the potential benefits. It's reminiscent of the vaccine debate from a few years ago, when some saw potentially harmful side effects as reason to avoid getting vaccinated against COVID. Even if catching a severe case of COVID was an even greater risk for certain people. Scientific discovery is often a balancing act. Scientists do research and find potential health benefits from drinking a couple of glasses of red wine a day. Then, they do some more research and find out there are health risks associated with that habit, too. Deal in facts, not political talking points The key is trying to find the right balance. Do the risks truly outweigh the rewards? Snap decisions shouldn't be based on a single study someone cherry-picked to match a particular set of beliefs. If scientific consensus shows fluoridation is more bad than good, then the chemical shouldn't be added to public water supplies. It doesn't feel like there's enough data out there to make such a determination yet. Much more needs to be shared with the public about the studies showing harmful effects — and how they square with earlier ones showing the benefits of fluoridation. This shouldn't be about politics. Banning fluoride shouldn't be done to curry favor with Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis or anyone else. This is a public safety matter and should be treated as such. If fluoride opponents have learned about dangers from the chemical that haven't been widely known, then they shouldn't mind sharing the information with others who aren't "in the know." Fluoride bans should be able to stand up to careful scrutiny if they're about protecting people's health. If the bans are being discussed for political reasons, then it's one of the more cynical endeavors in an age of cynical political endeavors. It's one thing to try to render political opponents toothless in a metaphorical sense, but not in a literal one. So there's new research available on fluoride? Let's discuss it in open community forums and decide if that research merits changes to longstanding practices. After those discussions are over, hopefully, we'll all still be able to smile and remain friends. Editorials published by TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers are decided collectively by its editorial board. To respond to this editorial with a letter to the editor, email up to 300 words to TCNLetters@
USA Today
28-01-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Martin County takes Brightline spat with Stuart to state conflict-resolution process
MARTIN COUNTY — County officials will try to resolve a legal showdown with Stuart through negotiations and possibly mediation before deciding whether to sue the city. County commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday — with Commissioner Eileen Vargas dissenting — to seek a solution through the Florida Governmental Conflict Resolution Act, which requires meetings and meditation between governments before litigation. Martin County contends that Stuart is legally obligated to support, in writing, the county's effort to get grant money to build a Brightline station in downtown Stuart. That's one issue of contention. Stuart officials so far have far essentially ignored the demand. "The end goal is to get a letter of support," County Administrator Don Donaldson told county commissioners Tuesday. Brief history of the dispute Martin County in November, and again this month, asked Stuart to support its efforts to get grants to build a Brightline station. County officials claim Stuart is breaching a legal agreement by failing to provide the support, such as a letter. And the county is seeking more than one letter because it is applying for more than one grant. The Stuart City Commission on Jan. 13 heard from City Manager Michael Mortell, who received this month's request from Donaldson. Mortell sought direction from the City Commission but got none. Why press on? But wasn't $6 million already spent on a lawsuit, Vargas asked county administrators at Tuesday's meeting, likely referring to the suit by Martin County and citizen group CARE FL — Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida — and Brightline that ended in a settlement in 2018. "But that has nothing to do with this," County Attorney Sarah Woods told Vargas. "We have a contract with the city," Woods said, which later Commission Chair Sarah Heard reminded board members. A contract "You can't break binding agreements," Heard said. What if the county decided it wanted to forego its contract with the firefighters, she asked hypothetically. A letter under duress Even if the county got a letter of support from Stuart commissioners ... "it would be under duress," County Commissioner Ed Ciampi said. And that could be ineffective at providing the support Martin County wants or needs to secure a grant, he said, because officials in Washington, D.C., will see it was delivered under threat. City reaction It's a poor idea to try to get a letter of support under duress, Stuart Vice Mayor Christopher Collins said Tuesday. He appreciated comments by Vargas and Ciampi, he said by phone following the County Commission meeting. But Stuart Mayor Campbell Rich said the city "will follow the letter of the law" regarding the resolution process. "We will make every effort to ensure the greatest benefit to the taxpayers of Stuart and Martin County," Rich said. The county also contends the Stuart must promote the reestablishment of passenger rail in its boundaries because the city's growth plan requires it. Grant money on hold? But the grant money Martin County is seeking may be on hold. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump late Monday put federal grants and loans on hold, which may affect those Martin County is seeking through the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration. On Tuesday, however, a U.S. District Court judge in Washington, D.C., put that freeze on hold until they could be vetted by the White House. More:Martin County Fair to stay put again in '25, but still eyeing move to western fairgrounds More:Stuart doesn't blink in spat with Martin County over applications for Brightline grants The resolution process The Florida Governmental Conflict Resolution Act allows for a private meeting where Stuart and Martin County assess the conflict. Then a public meeting may be held, if necessary. Mediation would follow the public meeting, if required. The whole process could take three to four months to work through. Keith Burbank is TCPalm's watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at and at 720-288-6882.
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Stuart and Martin County should pump brakes on budding feud over Brightline
Stuart and Martin County should pump brakes on budding feud over Brightline | Opinion In our social media-driven culture, arguments never end if neither side is willing to admit to being wrong. Show Caption Hide Caption Watch a Brightline qualifying train move through Stuart for the first time A Brightline qualifying train moves through downtown Stuart for the first time on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. Leah Voss and Lina Ruiz, Treasure Coast Newspapers After a couple of weeks of posturing, Stuart and Martin County officials seem to be on the verge of a serious feud over a proposed Brightline train station. Things started heating up earlier this month, when Martin County Administrator Don Donaldson sent Stuart officials a letter, asking the city to write a letter of support for a federal grant application for funding that could cover most of the station's costs. In his letter, Donaldson suggested the city had a contractual obligation to support the grant application. At a meeting a few days later, the Stuart City Commission discussed the letter, but took no action to support the application. 'War'? What is it good for? More: I'm starting the new year as a renter. Here's why others make the same choice | Opinion More: Wondering about those pesky arrow traffic reflectors on U.S. 1 in Martin County? | Opinion Based on the way Donaldson's letter was worded, commissioners speculated the county might file a lawsuit to force the city to cooperate. At least one city commissioner seemed to welcome that sort of confrontation. "I'm tired of being strong-armed by the county," Stuart Vice Mayor Christopher Collins said. "This has nothing to do with us, and if you want to go to war, so be it." There are other options available to the county, including trying to resolve the dispute through the Florida Government Conflict Resolution Act, which encourages governments to settle their differences without going to court. Or the county could retaliate in other ways, such as refusing to support future grant requests initiated by the city. In short, there's the potential for this situation to get really ugly, really fast. While journalists are sometimes accused of stirring up conflict to boost their audiences, this one is hoping cooler heads are going to prevail. Time to look at the bigger picture Collins' remarks were inflammatory and, frankly, a little juvenile. It would be understandable if Martin County commissioners wanted to give Collins — and perhaps one or two of his feistier colleagues — a lesson about the usefulness of tact and consensus-building in political situations. I continue to think the Stuart commission majority made a shady and unethical decision to back out of a previous commitment it had made to support the station before last fall's city elections. The people opposing the Brightline station at this point seem to be doing so mostly out of spite. Yeah, it would be great if Brightline were willing to contribute some portion of the station's construction cost. Yeah, it would be better for Stuart to have a true commuter rail service with numerous stops on the Treasure Coast and South Florida rather than an express service, like Brightline, with only a few stations between West Palm Beach and Orlando. Sometimes in life, though, you have to play with the cards you're dealt. Brightline's point of view is the company has invested billions of dollars already in tracks and other infrastructure along the route and would be responsible for all future maintenance and operating costs for the Stuart station. That's no small commitment. And there's no commuter rail system in the picture right now. There might be one later, but the chances of that could improve considerably if a Stuart station is built as a starting point. Plus, here are a couple more points that Brightline critics apparently need to be reminded over and over: 1) Brightline didn't ask for a Treasure Coast station; our community's leaders did. 2) Not having a station in Stuart won't mean Brightline trains will stop rumbling through the Treasure Coast. They'll still keep coming, without local residents getting any benefit from them. But I don't think logic matters to some of the diehard critics any more. They've spent years opposing Brightline's plans, dating back to before the train system was expanded through the Treasure Coast, and they just can't admit the trains haven't had the negative impact on the community some feared. In our social media-driven culture, arguments never end if neither side is willing to admit to being wrong. Lots of reasons to avoid conflict here If this does devolve into an all-out political brouhaha, my money is on Martin County to win. County officials have the resources and, even with a couple of newcomers coming aboard, greater political savvy to make the lives of Stuart officials miserable in ways Collins and his allies may not have imagined. I hope it won't come to that. So far, Martin County commissioners have played the adults in the room by stepping into the breach when Stuart backed out of its commitment to Brightline. Here's hoping they will continue to take the high road, for many reasons. As Stuart City Commissioner Laura Giobbi pointed out, a coerced letter of support might have little value, anyway. Might the Federal Railroad Administration be less inclined to look favorably on the grant application if it isn't supported by both the city and county? Well, maybe. There are lots of other factors that could derail the grant application, too. I don't think anyone knows yet how the new U.S. Department of Governmental Efficiency is going to view transportation grants, if the goal is to strip the federal budget down to its bare bones. Even with the support of U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, who seems to be on good terms with President Donald Trump, getting federal grant money for the Treasure Coast could be a much tougher proposition in the years ahead. If the county sues the city, it's likely to affect cooperation between the two governments in other areas besides Brightline. (This is a point Stuart commissioners might also want to consider during their discussions about suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over water management policy for Lake Okeechobee.) Martin County commissioners represent all the residents Stuart city commissioners do — plus all the county residents who live outside the city limits. Ergo, Martin County commissioners can't hurt Stuart officials without also hurting about 20,000 of their own constituents. No need to rush karma here I believe Stuart commissioners will get a comeuppance at some point not too far in the future if a majority of them continue to act recklessly. However, Martin County commissioners don't need to wield the political axes that chop them down to size. During my eight-year foray into state government, I had an opportunity to work for (now retired) Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson, one of the smartest people I've ever met. Wilson was well versed in a vast array of subjects, including investments, the law, government budgeting and — perhaps most importantly — how to handle tricky political situations. I remember his advice once when someone was trying to bait me into a petty fight. "Remember that if you wrestle a pig, you'll both get dirty," Wilson told me. "But only the pig will enjoy it." I'd share that advice now with Stuart and Martin County commissioners. I'll leave it to them to figure out who is the pig in this analogy. This column reflects the opinion of Blake Fontenay. Contact him via email at bfontenay@ or at 772-232-5424.
