The Monrovia City Council again adopted a ban on plastic grocery carry-out bags on a 3-2 vote, with Mayor Mary Ann Lutz and council members Larry Spicer and Alexander Blackburn in favor and council members Tom Adams and Becky Shevlin voting against. The only change from the previous time the council voted for the ban is that the enforcement date will be later, on Jan. 1, 2015.
Interesting points:
- A representative of a grocers association said its members support the plastic bag ban, but just want the ban to be uniform throughout local communities. Also, Mayor Lutz later said she contacted several local grocers and found they were all in favor of the ban. Council member Adams said that is hardly surprising since a ban would mean the cost of the bags would be shifted from the markets to their customers.
- Councilmember Becky Schevlin said she was bothered that the ad hoc plastic bag committee approved the ban with only two members voting. Mayor Lutz responded by quoting council member Tom Adams, who said at a previous meeting that if you don't show up, you don't get to vote.
- Brad Haugaard
Why ONLY grocers? If I purchase items other than food at Vons do I still get a free plastic bag? What if I purchase food items at Home Depot do I have to purchase a plastic bag? What if I cheat and mix my order and walk out with all items in the free plastic bag. What if a policeman behind me in line sees me sneaking out with a mixed plastic bag? What if I choose not to be a responsible resident of Monrovia and do ALL my shopping in Arcadia or Duarte? BTW ... I have seen Lutz leaving Vons and loading plastic into her car. Why is she waiting for this law to take effect? She should already be taking those 'baby steps" she's been preaching to us for months. This law will serve no good purpose.
ReplyDeleteI've actually already started grocery shopping at Ralphs in Duarte
DeleteSounds good to me. I'll just go to the Von's in Arcadia. Is the Ralph's up on Foothill considered Monrovia or Arcadia. I'm all for saving the planet and do my fair share of filling up the blue trash can, but I really don't want to go out and buy cloth bags that have to be washed all the time. Everyone have a super weekend. :-)
ReplyDeleteToday I went to Pavillions and as usual they asked me if I needed help with my groceries, I declined, but I did mention that in the future, they will have to dump everything in my cart and an employee will have to help me to put the stuff inside my car. BTW, Walmart is in Duarte jurisdiction and so is Ralphs. BigLots and the 99 cent store are in Duarte and can use plastic bags. Considering Pavillions prices, it might even be a good alternative.
ReplyDelete