JULY 12: CAPITOLA AVOIDS A VOTE ON A SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAG BAN
Yep, they waffled again. These folks are getting a reputation for it--a reputation they probably don't want, but facts is facts, you know? Well, we're sorry to say Capitola decided to avoid voting whether to ask staff to draft a single-use plastic bag ban for the city. Rather, after some contentious comments back-and-forth on the council and a bit of "posturing" they opted to delay the matter....again....and seek a "Negative Finding" on the need for a full Environmental Impact Report of the proposed ordinance before considering any action. This move doesn't kill the matter, but it does delay any actual vote on a plastic bag ban for an long time.
Now, Surfrider and all our environmental partners in the Central Coast Sanctuary Alliance have been working on plastics bans for over 6 years, so we can only conclude that the City Council may still not all be up to speed on the very real problems with plastic bags in the natural environment.
While they're making up their minds, we'll try to provide them with educational materials to focus their thinking, and we invite ALL OF YOU TO SPEAK UP, TOO! WE CONTEND THE COASTAL PUBLIC WANTS SUCH BANS, SO HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO TELL CAPITOLA COUNCIL WHAT YOU THINK.EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO PUBLIC SPEECH AND GET ACTIVE! We posted a chapter letter on this item on July 17, so NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO SPEAK UP!
Capitola City Council: Please cut & paste this email address! City Council <CityCouncil@ci.capitola.ca.us>,
Please, do! We suggest something like: "I'm with Surfrider, Santa Cruz, and I believe a plastic bag ban is necessary to help preserve the health of our ocean and its marine creatures. The coastal public has supported such bans in other jurisdictions, and we will support a ban in Capitola, too."
C'MON, FOLKS, GET ACTIVE!
And while you're at it, please cut & paste to follow these links to Surfrider Action Alerts and send an email supporting supporting both SB 568 and AB 298 on the State level.
Thanks for your participation in these Surfrider campaigns!