Letter: SLT needs to keep banning plastic bags
Publisher’s note: This letter was sent to South Lake Tahoe City Council and is reprinted with permission. The council meets Dec. 7 at 9am with the plastic bag ban on the agenda.
Dear City of South Lake Tahoe Council Members,
I am strongly opposed to the possible repeal on single use plastic bags for small businesses in South Lake Tahoe. It is a bad solution in search of a problem that does not exist.
Rosie and John Friedrich
The Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce has repeatedly communicated to the council that the 70 percent or more of its small business members support the plastic bag ban. People in the community have largely embraced the ban, which has helped our community reduce waste and demonstrate our environmental awareness and commitment. Rarely are businesses, environmental organizations and the community so aligned on any issue.
So it’s puzzling to understand on what basis the council is proposing to move backward on this issue. Before voting in favor of such a regressive move, the council needs to demonstrate the data that justifies such a decision. Have businesses been systematically surveyed to assess the impact of the program? Is there any other data that has been gathered to justify the proposed repeal? If not, it would appear to be motivated by the personal opinions of certain council members, and not on a measured assessment of the desires, or best interests, of our community. Which constituents would be served by voting to flood Tahoe with more plastic waste?
Finally, I can’t imagine worse timing for considering a vote to degrade our environment. Right now, a large California delegation is in Paris, helping lead the push for a strong climate agreement by highlighting California’s example that environmental protection and economic growth go hand in hand. It’s unfathomable that the governing body of one of the treasures of California, and the world, could meanwhile vote to undo protection of our fragile environment. What kind of message would that send to our visitors who expect Tahoe to be on the cutting edge, not tail, of solutions.
Please keep the plastic bag ban in place, and instead, join the hundreds of cities across California and the U.S. that are moving forward with strong commitments to help protect our planet.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
John Friedrich, South Lake Tahoe
Well said, John. I concur – keep the ban in place. Tahoe needs to lead on this front.
Well said John, I agree with you 100%. Every single time I go to the grocery store and give the checker my cloth bag full of other cloth bags to use they say thank you. That is satisfying to be told that you did a good thing by bringing your own bags to reuse. I have been doing it for 25 years or more and it is never a problem. Even the stores that look down their nose at you for not wanting their plastic bags have changed their attitudes. It is the right thing to do and if our little town can make this a priority (no brainer) we will be part of a bigger movement that chooses to be considerate of our local environment and the earth in general.
What a waist of time… We have more tourist that shop here then us locals. Do you think they remembered their bags? Nope… Now you have more people paying for paper bags. And where do paper bags come from people? Trees! Good work! You went from one extreme to another… Be sure to pat yourself on the back for saving the world…
Here, here, John.
Let’s not be lame. Let’s be leaders. Such a move would surely confirm the outdated thinking our town has been known for for so many years.
Lame = LAME. I guess if its a waste of time for you than continue to do what ever it is you do. Some of us will move forward.
I just do not get it, Went to Ross today, They said Plastic bags are coming back.DUH.
Well said, John! Let’s keep moving forward and not repeal something that is working wonderfully! I can’t believe the council is looking to repeal this. I just don’t get it.
The city did repeal the ban as noted at the bottom of this story: https://www.laketahoenews.net/2015/12/106350/
LTN staff
Kae, it sucks. The ban was lifted without evidence to support JoAnn’s claims that it “hurt small business.” I think you should carry a story on how city council made a decision based on hearsay rather than what the town wanted.
Help us call the council out on this!
This letter leaves the impression that the ban has been completely overturned. It is still in place for grocery(bats you can still recieve your praise from the grocery clerks) and food. This is just for retail stores which only went in to effect October. You cant really say something is working when its only been going on for 2 months.
Ive been using cloth shopping bags for 30 years. Its really not a big deal. I dont need praise I was just surprised that the baggers at the store thanked me for being prepared and using my own bags. I have actually given bags to people at the check out who didnt have a bag and didnt want to buy one. It was my random act of kindness and hopefully that turned into another person seeing that its not a big deal to bring your own bags with you. To the whiners who think its a big ol hassle, grow up…
See Sam ^
It’s a good idea and really a no brainier.