I am a resident of Cambridge and I care about the amount of plastic litter in our environment. However, I don't think banning or taxing plastic grocery bags is the right decision for my community.

I know that a bag tax or ban would have an impact on the thousands of American families who rely on the plastic bag manufacturing and recycling industry to make ends meet. In addition, plastic bag recycling is a growing green industry that employs more than 30,000 Americans. In this economy, why would our city pass a law that hurts American jobs? It is the wrong time to increase costs at the checkout.

In addition, I'm concerned that some reusable bags contain unsafe levels of toxic metals like lead, and that all reusables, unless properly sanitized, harbor bacteria that could hurt my family.

I urge Cambridge lawmakers to oppose bag bans and taxes, which limit the freedom of all local shoppers and increases our financial burden when we can least afford it. If you really want to address litter, let's try cracking down on litterers and encouraging people to recycle.

For my family's health, for the economy, for American jobs and for increased recycling, I oppose bans or taxes on plastic shopping bags.