SAMPLE LETTER
---You can copy and paste this to your computer and adapt it as you desire. THEN, REMOVE ALL RED TYPE---

---INCLUDE THE DATE HERE---
Metro Public Health Department Environmental Health Bureau
311 23rd Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37203

Dear Dr. Paul, Dr. Hager, and members of the Board of Health,

As a citizen of Davidson County, I am writing to express my serious concerns about the proposed Mosquito Control Policy.

-------PLEASE ADAPT, EDIT, & ADD TO THIS LETTER TO REFLECT YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE & THEN DELETE RED TYPE BEFORE SENDING--

---IF YOU WERE OR COULD BE AFFECTED by Metro's spraying INCLUDE STATEMENTS HERE. Examples: Were you affected by Metro's spraying in 2003-2006 or could you be affected because of health issues? (Do you have asthma, respiratory problems, or pesticide hypersensitivities? Are you an organic gardener?)------

I ask for the following changes and additions to the proposed policy:

1. Commit to placing a stronger emphasis on source reduction and larvicide to address diseased mosquitoes and public health threats (as other cities like Charlotte NC have done) rather than mass spraying.

2. Include specific statements about the inherent risks of pesticides since employees have a history of making false claims that the pesticide the Health Department uses is "harmless" or "safe." Employees also have repeatedly violated the Health Department's policies and, at times, caused injury and adverse effects to citizens because of this conduct. Health officials should not allow any of this unprofessional conduct to continue. Include solid and explicit policies to directly address the history of employee defiance of knowledge and authority.

3. Include a way for citizens to sign up for cell phone notification since a growing number of citizens have no landlines.

4. Emergency rooms, Poison Control, physicians, clinics, and veterinarians should be notified about pesticides the Health Department intends to spray at least 48 hours prior to their use.

5. Establish a system to keep track of complaints and symptoms citizens have reported after spraying.

6. Acknowledge differences between the mildest level of threat (reflected in the tiny number of human infection cases reported in Davidson County in prior years), and possible levels of multiple cases, or potentially epidemic levels of infection. Include all ordinance mandates for mild threats. Forego some ordinance mandates only when the level of risk is severe and seem urgent enough to require it.

7. Unless there is a "severe escalation in human risk", honor the opt out zone of 150 feet from property lines for residents requesting it as mandated by the Metro Council.

8. Unless aerial spraying is required to address an emergency, include the ordinance's exact requirements for signage and the visible pedestrian warning policy.

9. Since one-third of Nashville's population is at risk during air quality alerts, include postponement of spraying during air quality alerts as the ordinance mandates.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Signature__________________________________________

(PRINT) Full name:
Address:
City State Zip:
Contact information (phone, email):

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If you choose to, you can remove #6-9 (above) and substitute the statement below if you agree:

6. I object to the fact that the proposed policy does not adequately follow the basic protections and notification mandates provided by Metro Code Section 10.32.180, as enacted by Metro Council last August. I support the changes to the proposed policy as recommended by BURNT, Nashville Greenlands, EarthMatters and other individuals in their public comment memo of February 22, 2008.

(Read our proposed changes http://www.nospraynashville.org/proposedchanges.html.)

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YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR LETTER to the Health Department BEFORE MARCH 18, 4:30PM.

E-mail to: brent.hager@nashville.gov (and send us a Carbon Copy Cc: nospraynashville@earthlink.net

Or mail to: Brent Hager, Ph.D. Metro Public Health Department Environmental Health Bureau
311 23rd Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee 37203 340-5653

Please consider mailing our volunteer a copy of your letter for our reccords:
Rachel Sumner
217 Silo Court
Nashville, TN 37221