Lifting the bag ban (pro)
Mayor Harry Kim’s recent emergency proclamation suspended the current county ban on single-use plastic bags (Tribune-Herald, April 2). Concerned over spreading contamination, other government agencies throughout the nation are implementing bans on people bringing in their own shopping bags.
Hand-wringing over “the climate change crisis,” progressive Kona Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas is understandably having a cow, stating, “I believe it’s in the best interest of our county to continue to use properly washed reusable bags.”
Like most “feel-good” legislation, the plastic bag ban was rammed through without adequate consideration of its unintended consequences.
By punishing all citizens for the irresponsible behavior of a few, it deprived the majority of a useful sanitary product and encouraged the same irresponsible element to drag some of the most filthy, disgusting bags into retail establishments — particularly those selling food products.
And how on earth would Councilwoman Villegas determine, much less enforce, use of a “properly washed” bag? Is it one that’s free of the offensive visual and olfactory contamination of roaches, ants, urine, excrement, pet hair or the occasional soiled undergarments that baggers gag over daily?
Here’s a suggestion: Volunteer to bag purchased goods at a market during the first week of the month at peak sales. It might help you define a “properly washed” bag.
Then you can deal with enforcement. Good luck.
Richard Hoeflinger
Keaau
Lifting the bag ban (con)
Dear Mayor Kim: I am disappointed in how you are handling the Big Island’s response to the pandemic, particularly allowing the use of plastic bags when we interact with essential service providers such as groceries, markets, take-out orders.
It has already been proven that the virus lives much longer on plastic than paper, and plastic bags will not be discarded after one use but passed around and around.
Your lack of concern for the health of our citizens is something new for you. As a 40-year resident, I am well aware of your attitude and actions as Civil Defense director, and there is no comparison with your behavior as mayor.
Where is the enforcement of lockdown rules regarding nonessential businesses, and assuring that essential services follow the CDC guidelines about social distancing?
I went to KTA on Tuesday. There was a long line of people very close together waiting for carts to be wiped down one-at-a-time by one employee. The bench near the entrance had been removed, leaving no place to sit for those kupuna who cannot stand for extended periods.
I was offered a cart to lean on while I waited my turn. Thankfully, I was given the next cart by a very thoughtful and compassionate couple at the head of this line of 25 to 30 people. KTA did not remove the bench around the corner for smokers, who sat shoulder to shoulder. The smaller, in-store carts were stacked up inside but were not offered to customers.
Mr. Mayor, I would like to hear from the current Civil Defense director, the council chair, the Big Island’s director of health, Hilo Medical Center’s chief of staff, along with yourself regarding the county’s handling of this pandemic.
This has to be a team effort, and we need to hear from the rest of the team.
L.E. Goldstein
Keaau