Burbank Condemns Spraying for Medflies

The Burbank City Council voted Tuesday night to join at least nine other Southern California government agencies in condemning aerial spraying of the pesticide malathion, the state’s main weapon in the battle against the largest Mediterranean fruit fly infestation in the region’s history.

The council directed acting City Atty. Juli Scott to look into the possibility of Burbank joining a lawsuit filed Thursday by three Orange County cities seeking an injunction to stop malathion spraying in their communities.

A Sacramento judge rejected the request by Huntington Beach, Garden Grove and Westminster. But leaders of the three cities have vowed to continue looking for ways to halt the state spraying. In addition, the spraying has been condemned by the Los Angeles and San Marino school boards and the city councils of four other cities--Monterey Park, Duarte, Brea and Cypress.

Despite assurances from state and county health officials, all five Burbank council members said Tuesday night they are not convinced malathion spraying is safe.

They voted after about 30 members of the public voiced their opposition to spraying.

“I’m really scared of malathion,” said Burbank resident Esther Taylor, 35. “We’re exposed to so many chemicals now. We just need less instead of more.”

Since August, the Medfly infestation has spread over 372 square miles of Los Angeles and Orange counties, posing a serious threat to the state’s $16-billion agricultural industry, officials said.

As a result, malathion spraying will continue throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties through March, said Anita Brown, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is working in conjunction with state and county officials.

The next aerial spraying of Burbank is scheduled for 9 p.m. Thursday. The operation will cover a 30-square-mile area that also includes portions of Glendale and Sun Valley.