Politics & Government

Campbell Residents Petition to Stop Bag Bans

The effort comes on the heels of the city council's consideration of a bag ban.

Three Campbell residents filed paperwork Friday to launch a petition that would allow Campbell citizens to vote to block any potential bag bans.

This effort would be the first of its kind in California, according to Stop the Bag Ban, a Bay Area citizen group, which supports the petition.

Back in March, the Campbell city council considered a bag ban and would make a decision in July, with a six-month period afterwards for implementation.

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The potential cost to the city: a one-time cost of $10,000-$14,000 for implementation and education.

Seventy-six municipalities and counties in California have implemented plastic bag bans and charge a small fee for paper bags, according to environmental non-profit Californians Against Waste. However, the California Senate failed in late May to pass a state-wide plastic bag ban.

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Stop the Bag Ban notes that none of these bans ever went to a popular vote.

The proposed initiative would add language to the Campbell Municipal Code to prohibit carryout bag bans, taxes, or minimum fees, and would overturn any laws that had been passed prior to the vote.

“These bag ban laws are an abuse of power,” said petition co-organizer Larry Grattan, a long-time Campbell resident, in a statement. “The arguments for bag bans are weak at best, and nothing more than an emotional plea that takes away the freedoms and rights of businesses and individuals.”

Grattan added, “It is well-known that Campbell has benefited from increased business due to nearby cities joining in this eco-fad and driving customers here.

“Why would anyone give away our competitive advantage?” he asked.

Don Williams, founder of the Stop the Bag Ban citizen’s group, added, “It is great to see citizens stepping forward to tell the city council that the people should be allowed to vote rather than having their rights and freedoms trampled on by the city council based solely on half-truths and imaginary arguments.”

The Campbell Petition will soon be available for download at http://www.stopthebagban.com


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