On November 1st, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick denied the County of Santa Cruz's request for a temporary restraining order to halt the aerial spraying of CheckMate LBAM-F over Santa Cruz County by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Three state-owned airplanes are scheduled to begin spraying pesticides over North Monterey County on Sunday, November 4th, and then over Santa Cruz County sometime early next week.

Spraying will be from 8pm - 5am. It is advised you do not go outside. The spray will be released at 400 feet above the ground via airplane. It will come down like rain. Pets and their bedding should be removed from the spray. Clothes that are left outside should be cleaned before use. This spray is a new product and every caution should be used to avoid contact. There are health forms, spray zone maps and additional information available at: LBAMspray.info. Download a Flyer

John comments, "I just called the city, the governor's office and the pesticide company Suterra, makers of the shit that they will be bombing our houses with. Now I think it's time to think about some direct action. I've been trying to find out where the planes will be taking off from, with no luck. We could potentially shut down the airport. This is a serious chemical, and I feel that it's an aerial assault on our community and should be met with nonviolent force."

see also: Stop the Spray March / Rally was a BIG success!! | PETITION: Stop fumigation of citizens [all people!] without their consent in California | Democracy Now! Headline | Governor Schwarzenegger Backs Aerial Biochemical Spraying That Harms Children | County of Santa Cruz V. CDFA | Assemblymember John Laird's Oct. 16 letter to Sec. Kawamura regarding LBAM | LBAMspray.info | HOPE - California Aerially Spraying Children of Monterey Peninsula with Untested LBAM Pesticides, 2007

previous coverage: Suterra Issues Cease and Desist Letter to Indybay regarding "Secret" Pesticide Ingredient | "Aerial Applications of CheckMate®OLR-F Are Necessary in Your Area"