A Queens City Council proposal to remove fluoride from New York City's tap water has drawn sharp criticism from fellow lawmakers and public health advocates, who say the plan could undermine decades of public health gains.
Introduced by Councilman James Gennaro, the MAHA-inspired bill would require the city to remove fluoride from its municipal water supply and would create a program to provide free fluoride supplements to residents who request them. Gennaro, first elected to the council in 2021, has long known Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and endorsed him in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary, but a representative for Gennaro said Kennedy had no role in drafting the measure and that "new science has emerged that is worth thoughtful discussion." The bill also cites research questioning whether people are getting too much fluoride and potential risks of overexposure.
Reaction to the proposal was swift and sharply partisan. An unnamed councilmember told The Post, "I know Jim considers RFK Jr. his mentor but we don't need this crap in New York City." Another colleague called Gennaro "addled" and said he should retire. Councilman Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn) also slammed the plan, noting that fluoride has "improved the dental health of millions of New Yorkers regardless of their income or insurance status."
Officials across the city say the proposal would roll back an evidence-based public health intervention. The CDC's site currently lists 0.7 mg/L as the recommended level for fluoride in drinking water, the same level at which New York City's taps are fluoridated.
A representative for Gennaro said the longtime councilman has "supported fluoridation in the past," but added that "new science has emerged that is worth thoughtful discussion" and that Kennedy had no involvement in drafting the bill. The proposal was first reported by City & State on Tuesday, helping to spark a broader conversation about public health policy in the city.
While many officials criticized the plan, others defended fluoridation as a public health success. Restler's remarks echoed a broader view that removing fluoride could jeopardize gains in dental health, particularly for residents with limited access to dental care.
