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The editorial in the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian offered local voters some blunt advice: "Shield your eyes," it said, "because the City Council is preparing to spit in your face."

That was this month, as the council inched toward finally fluoridating the city's water -- a state-mandated action that has been bitterly debated since city residents narrowly voted to block it in 2002. At a council meeting in January, an anti-fluoridation activist held up a sign alluding to Nazis. When speakers threatened to boycott local businesses if fluoridation goes through, a council member told them to jump off the parking-garage roof.

Martinelli's nonalcoholic sparkling cider was concocted during Prohibition and has been a reliable stand-in for champagne ever since. The company's cider and apple juice use no water except that in the fruit the company buys by the ton from area orchards.

But this summer, the company plans to roll out juices -- acai, pomegranate, blueberry and others -- made from concentrate and water. And if that water is fluoridated, Martinelli said, customers will balk.

"What we're talking about is our growth opportunity," said Martinelli, who says the expansion could add dozens of workers to his 200-person staff. "Watsonville won't benefit from the growth of our business if I have to take it somewhere else."

Despite facing a $5 million deficit, city officials said they might help Martinelli pay for the high-tech equipment required to remove fluoride from water.

"We want to make sure he feels welcome to stay in Watsonville," said Councilman Manuel Bersamin, a fluoridation supporter. "He heads a company that placed Watsonville on the map."

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Originally posted by Jongsstraw:

General Jack D. Ripper: Mandrake, do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk... ice cream. Ice cream, Mandrake, children's ice cream.

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