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Wasco City Council proclaims February 2025 as Pesticide Safety and Safely Surrendered Baby Awareness months
Summary
At its Feb. 4, 2025 meeting the Wasco City Council presented proclamations recognizing National Pesticide Safety Education Month and Safely Surrendered Baby Awareness Month and heard remarks from local advocates and service providers.
Wasco City Mayor Medina and the City Council presented proclamations on Feb. 4, 2025, recognizing February as National Pesticide Safety Education Month and Safety Surrendered Baby Awareness Month.
The pesticide proclamation cited the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recognition of February as National Pesticide Safety Education Month and noted the California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s statewide notification system that provides 24-hour advance public notice of restricted-material pesticide applications. Council members thanked local organizations for outreach to agricultural workers and residents. Council Member Martinez said, “Thank you guys for what you guys do. This is very important. A lot of people don't understand how dangerous pesticides can be,” and urged continued education for people who do not live in rural areas.
The council also presented a proclamation supporting the Safely Surrendered Baby Coalition and the Bakersfield Pregnancy Center. Erin Rogers, representing the Bakersfield Pregnancy Center and the Safely Surrendered Baby Coalition, told the council that Kern County has recorded 103 safely surrendered babies since February 2006 and that in the last four years no babies have been abandoned or died. Rogers said some parents later reunite with their children after the statutory waiting period. Council Member Raya said, “If you can save one baby, it’s worth it,” and thanked volunteers and partner agencies for their work.
Why it matters: the pesticide proclamation aims to increase public awareness of safe pesticide use and local notification systems; the safely surrendered baby proclamation highlights the county program that provides a legal option for parents in crisis and connects them with services.
Council members and guests named several partner organizations during remarks, including First 5 Kern, Kern Medical, Mercy and Memorial hospitals, Adventist Health and local fire departments. The proclamations were entered into the record and presented to the attendees.
