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Statement on Madison's Pesticide Policy 6/23/03

By Zachary James Wachtendonk

Twenty three years ago an eight-month-old child was exposed to Illegal Drift from Madison Park's Department spraying of Pesticide 2,4-D in his home adjacent to Warner Park, and his life was dramatically changed. I was that eight month old child, and since that day my life has been full of pain, suffering, and a never ending struggle with disabilities and conditions associated with Pesticide Exposures. It is a daily, often hourly struggle, which will undoubtedly be my lifelong struggle.

I remember as a child, feeling frightened and disoriented, following pesticide exposures and subsequent seizures in Parks, in the Lakes, on the buses, and in my regular and special education classrooms. It was difficult to remain balanced and happy while my family was forced to move, repeatedly over the years, in the vain attempt to avoid pesticide exposures, and ensuing illnesses. There is no way that we can escape this — and we suffer because of it. The twenty plus years of work to educate City and County officials, school teachers and District Administration officials, as well as citizens of this community was hard on our family, as it took our parents time, energy and funds for many years, and left my sister and I feeling unsafe, traumatized and sometimes captives in our home, due to the relentless pesticide usage all around us. There were then, and still are, many places that we cannot venture in this city. Our lives are terribly restricted and become more so — as Pesticide usage increases in our environment.

Epilepsy, Blindness, Chemical Sensitivity, Brain, Neurological and Muscle Disorders are just a few of my disabilities exacerbated by this initial exposure when I was eight months old. Virtually every morning I have clonic-tonic or pettit mal seizures and regularly through out the spring, summer and autumn spraying season, I experience violent grand mal seizures, and must be revived and recovered by one or both of my parents — it has been this way all of my life.

It is EXTREMELY UNNERVING to lose COMPLETE control over my entire body to these violent convulsions. It can take from hours to days to weeks to recover my memory, my speech, my balance, my sense of SELF. Medications help to calm the seizures, but having to take high doses of the medications takes a heavy toll on my body.

Due to my blindness, I am unable to drive, so I must rely daily on the bus system. It is difficult for me to get on a bus knowing that they have been sprayed with chemicals that I am allergic to. I don't know when they have been sprayed or with which chemical or combination of chemicals! There is no public notification, no posting of treated buses.

It is impossible to avoid the buses altogether, as the necessity of travel from point A to B cannot always be provided by family and friends. The buses should be accessible to chemically sensitive individuals, without hesitation.

Twenty two years ago I was a defenseless child, caught up in a politically and economically charged series of events, when the Contamination and Loss of our family's home occurred in October of 1980. I and my sister, were innocents in the unlawful spraying by the Parks Department, resulting in seizures, hospitalization, and confusion and fear for two small children aged eight months and two years. Our lives had been forever changed by that event.

I have stayed in the shadows for many years dealing with these struggles, these disabilities, these illnesses. I am no longer in the shadows — I am no longer that helpless child. I am now an adult, with a powerful voice, and life experiences well beyond my 24 years. I am a citizen of this community, and a productive member of this society. I am a gainfully employed, college graduate and I vehemently resent my tax dollars being used to sicken me, my family and others in Madison with Pesticides.

Save money, and lives — stop purchasing and applying pesticides!

Madison's once progressive and protective Pesticide Policy MUST be restored to it's original 1991 intent and form with strict oversight and compliance by all agencies and departments, including fines and accountability for violations, for the safety of my community, my family, and myself.

Sincerely,
Zak Wachtendonk