Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced Friday that she would veto a contentious measure passed by county commissioners recently, which aimed to remove fluoride from the county’s drinking water.
“The science is very clear, the decision to remove fluoride ignores the guidance of dentists and medical experts,” Mayor Levine Cava said during a press conference at the Stephen P. Clark Center in Downtown Miami.
Levine Cava emphasized the potential harm of eliminating fluoride, particularly for children and families who cannot afford dental care. “Ending fluoridation could have a real and lasting impact,” she said, explaining that no major studies have shown that fluoride, at the levels used in Miami-Dade County’s water supply, poses harm.
“For nearly 70 years we followed the recommendations of experts to add fluoride to water. They continue to affirm that water fluoridation is safe and effective for dental health,” the mayor added, citing the widespread support for fluoridation from public health experts.
The mayor said she spent several days consulting with dentists, doctors, public health professionals, and residents before making her decision. “The public health implications of this proposal are too significant to ignore,” she said.
However, Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez, who sponsored the measure to remove fluoride, issued a statement on social media criticizing the mayor’s veto. Gonzalez accused Levine Cava of letting politics cloud her decision, arguing that the measure had broad scientific and public backing. He also contended that the removal of fluoride was important for protecting vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children.
“The mayor’s decision puts those groups at risk,” Gonzalez said. “I urge my colleagues to once again join me in rising above the political fray and do what’s right for the people, their health, and individual freedom.”
Miami-Dade’s water fluoridation policy, which has been in place for over six decades, has garnered support from organizations like the World Health Organization, the CDC, and the American Dental Association. These organizations have consistently endorsed fluoridation as a safe and effective measure for reducing dental cavities, particularly in communities with limited access to dental care.
The Miami-Dade County Commission has the option to override the mayor’s veto with a two-thirds majority vote, which could bring the debate back before the public. For now, the future of fluoride in Miami-Dade’s drinking water remains uncertain.
