Community News
Council Snippets: March 5 Meeting
From Issue: Volume XXI - Number 6
3/22/2013
By Steve Propes
Public Health Concerns Over Plastic Bag Ban
Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske stated, “as the resident nurse on this dais, one of the things that has come to my attention is the successful ban of plastic bags has kind of produced a public health issue that our health department stands ready to address. Part of the difficulty is that some of the reusable bags are not washable and that if used over and over again…as we can see in one of these PSA’s,” introducing a video that asserted, “bags can pick up bacteria from the foods they carry.”
After the video, Schipske continued, “I would propose that we feature reusable bags as underwear. The point is that it does present a health problem, which is one of the reasons the Heath Department is very important, as it provides public education. We are moving to have public education on this issue.”
Health Department Director Dr. Mitchell Kushner stated, “the Heath Department has agreed to intensify a public information campaign to bring awareness on how to use and clean reusable bags. I want to reassure the public we have looked into this to see if there is any connection in our district. Over the last four-five years, there has been no connection since the plastic bag ban went into effect with food borne illness not only in our health jurisdiction but in surrounding jurisdictions. It is an interesting item and we are also addressing the item. When we get any food borne illness complaints, we are asking if there is the possibility that person is using reusable bags, if there are any connections, but so far we have not had any.”
Mayor Foster said, “who said they were going to use it as underwear? Cut those leg holes out and it kind of reduces their use as bags, doesn’t it? Couldn’t help it, I’m sorry.”
Larry Goodhue said, “We might consider banning these bags in our public libraries. I think we’ve got in this city a plethora of mobile Petrie dishes, due to the increased number of homeless we have here that are carrying everything they have in there. In too many places, the olfactory senses of the average person will tell you that there is a high probability of disease flowing from urine or fecal matter, if not in those bags or on those bags or those bags have been set down on sidewalks or in doorways where there’s diarrhea or there’s urine and then they’re brought into the libraries, placed on cushions in the libraries where people sit.”
Mayor Foster responded, “I guess our graphic senses are now (inaudible). I won’t repeat what Mr. O’Donnell said, but it was very funny.”
Seamus Innes, representing Long Beach Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, spoke. “I don’t plan to talk about any of the stuff that guy talked about…”
Mayor Foster interjected, “you have to be on subject though.”
Seamus Innes continued, “Homeless people have a hard time staying clean, I agree, that makes sense. This whole concept that reusable bags are a public health issue and have a lot of harmful bacteria, this is all biased propaganda sponsored and paid for by the American Chemistry Council, the people who make single use plastic bags. They publish studies and they’ve got a lot of newspaper and press coverage that say that plastic bags are harmful and this has been debunked by the San Francisco Department of Public Health. I’d say start back with the science, find those original papers, read them and discuss them here.”
Moving on to the next item on the agenda, Gary DeLong stated, “I apologize, but I don’t have a video.”
Mayor Foster replied, “I always knew you were a merciful person, Mr. DeLong.”
steve@longbeachcomber.com
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