News

Progressives vs. Minorities

May 30, 2013 – The Wall Street Journal –

Meanwhile, the state Senate shot down a plastic bag ban favored by environmentalists. San Francisco and more than a dozen other coastal cities already disallow plastic bags and require stores to charge customers for paper ones. Only 18 of 27 Democratic senators voted for the ban. It needed at least 21 to pass. Leading the opposition were Hispanic and black Democrats representing economically depressed inland and urban areas.

“This bill is an attack on low economic areas,” noted Sen. Ron Calderon of Montebello (located in the Southland’s San Gabriel Valley). “It’s an attack on minority-owned small business.”

“If you think plastic bags are single use, you haven’t met my mother,” added Sen. Ricardo Lara of Los Angeles. Plastic bag manufacturers are concentrated in Los Angeles’s fringes, which have been devastated by the state’s green policies.

Editorial: A deserved third strike for plastic bag ban

May 23, 2013 – Orange County Register –

The San Clemente City Council made the right call May 7 when three council members voted, for the third time, against imposing a citywide ban on single-use plastic bags.

Plastic-bag ban would hurt California workers: Ricardo Lara

May 21, 2013 – Long Beach Press-Telegram –

We all care about the environment and want to reduce litter, but at a time when California is still recovering from a recession, we need to pursue policies that protect the environment and jobs.

Letter: What is behind the Sierra Club’s objections to plastic bags?

May 20, 2013 – The Corvallis Gazette-Times –

Last night the question struck me, “Who at the Sierra Club decided to launch a national campaign against shopping bags, and why did they pick shopping bags?” If you read the primary research report by JGB Derraik that they claim justifies this national movement, you quickly see that shopping bags are not the cause of the devastation to wildlife.

Martin’s provides benches throughout region

May 19, 2013 – Richmond Times-Dispatch –

Martin’s Food Markets, as part of its Bags to Benches program, has donated seven benches to organizations in the Richmond area. More than 12,000 plastic bags returned by customers are recycled into each bench, which has a value of about $600. Since 1997, 1,600 benches have been donated.

Reason-Rupe May 2013 National Survey

May 16, 2013 – Reason –

From San Francisco to Austin, city and county governments are banning various types of shopping bags. Yet, 82 percent of those polled say consumers and stores should determine the types of shopping bags available, while 15 percent say the government should decide.

Legislator opposes ban on plastic grocery bags

May 13, 2013 – Los Angeles Wave –

State Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Long Beach, has called for caution before continuing efforts to ban plastic grocery bags in the state.

Letter: Demonizing Plastic Bags the Biggest Hoax of All

May 9, 2013 – Dana Point Times –

Xavier Stevens wrote in a letter to the editor in the April 26 edition of the Dana Point Times said the use of plastic bags in the U.S. reaches over 100 billion per year, and the production of these bags requires 504 million gallons of oil.

Of course, this assertion is not sourced.

Editorial: Make bag ban a 3-time loser in San Clemente

May 5, 2013 – Orange County Register –

San Clemente council should decline, again, to make single-use shopping bags illegal.

Hot air over plastic

April 26, 2013 – Boston Herald –

There is something delightfully, charmingly trivial about the current effort by environmental zealots to ban … plastic grocery bags.