As a moderate politician, I would bend over backward not to be labeled any kind of environmentalist. But I carry reusable bags into the store every time I go shopping. It was a real hassle at first. I must be a slow learner because it has taken months for me to get to the place where I remember. But I feel I must be responsible for the life cycle costs of my own consumerism, and it makes me feel good to know that I am not encouraging the production of one unnecessary plastic bag that might harm our ecosystem or find its way into our food chain.
The plastic bag ordinance that will appear on the Oct. 4 ballot is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. I can name at least four things I would change about it if I had been the author. That is not the fault of the framers. Those were compromises offered by Assembly Member Bob Doll and City Attorney John Hartle, hotly debated and reluctantly accepted, if my source is accurate. It may not be perfect, but the important thing is that this process gives Juneauites the opportunity to decide for themselves by majority vote whether they want a little help, a little incentive, to remember to bring that reusable bag into the store with them.
I love my community and I love to live in a clean, beautiful place. I think we all do. I don’t think any of us enjoys driving by Lemon Creek and seeing plastic bags hung up in the limbs of the trees near the landfill.
In the long run, whether this bag ordinance is successful is not nearly as important as how we interact with each other in the debate. That goes for the bag ordinance, the AJ Mine, the cruise ship docks, the Road, the North Douglas Crossing … and the list goes on. We are a diverse people with broad skills, expertise, and interests. We need to treat each other respectfully to encourage participation so we can take advantage of every idea to help us craft the Great Compromises that will bring us into a more beautiful future.
It matters very little whether we have a 15-cent bag fee when all is said and done if we alienate our neighbors one from the other in the process and set the stage for further separation on the next issue down the road. Ugly or beautiful … it’s up to every person with a keyboard or a pen. I choose civility.
Ruth Danner
City Assembly Member
Juneau
Comments (8)
Add commenttry the truth, Ruth...
Calling for civility in the plastic bag debate...That's funny, Ms Danner, because I've heard you're far from the nicest person in the world to deal with.
So lowsaintjoe
You've clearly decided to take the "low" road.... Now your name fits nicely. Way to go.
A good letter, but it'd be
A good letter, but it'd be better with a rewritten or completely omitted first sentence.
I think it's a shame that Ms. Danner feels a need to "bend over backwards" to avoid being labeled as an environmentalist.
"As a moderate politician, I
"As a moderate politician, I would bend over backward not to be labeled any kind of environmentalist."
Just by that sentence, one knows that Danner aspires to be an environmentalist, otherwise, she wouldn't feel the need to write that. Living under the radar, huh? Or posing as something she's not?
This whole letter appears to be projection. Danner is ticked off at those who oppose the plastic bag tax.
Then she writes, "In the long run, whether this bag ordinance is successful is not nearly as important as how we interact with each other in the debate."
Oh, really? It's very important if this TAX is successful or defeated.
I think what she really is saying is, "Just go along with it. It'll all be good and we'll all be so in love when it's over." ICK
arent there some details missing?
I guess Ms Danner forgot to mention the part that says this tax will only apply to a few certain stores and that this tax wont stop the use of plastic grocery sacks whether people pay the additonal .15 cents to use them or go to the other stores that wont charge the extra tax. I would have preferred to hear some details on what the City plans to do with this extra income from the tax as well as what steps are being taken to set up curbside recycling or additonal recycling centers that are more centrally located making it easier for more to recyle because this tax wont solve the problem she references. Im also curious whether this issue was reviewed by City legal counsel because it sounds like a discrimination lawsuit waiting to happen. Perhaps thats what they will be using the tax for.
Its interesting because we voluntarily pick up litter when we are out on walks and out of the last 10 walks, there were 2 plastic grocery sacks and the majority of the rest of the litter was aluminum cans, plastic wrappings and containers, fishing line, hooks and paper. We recycle our plastic grocery sacks but somehow we need "a little help" to be responsible. We also re-use those plastic grocery sacks to line a small garbage pail for cat litter because Arrow requires used cat litter to be double-bagged. Yet apparently the answer is to not use plastic grocery sacks but instead buy commercial pail liners to meet that requirement. My research into bio-bags showed that the process in manufacturing them as well as the problems they create in landfills including greenhouse gases didnt make them better to use.
I am glad that Ms Danner says she is choosing civility. Sadly, my experience with her as an Assembly member showed her to be otherwise.
and...
You are right. The plastic bag debate must be civil. And I will civilly vote it down.
Solution: request a paper bag!
Ruth, there are many times I am sorry I voted for you. After reading your first sentence, I am now convinced I am sorry I voted for you.
Your explicit bash of environmentalists above shows you are not the middle, which is something you always trumptet. "Gray matters" blah blah blah.
Personally I am disgusted with moderate politicans as a whole. It's like, they can't choose a position, so they don't choose any position, and they take the course which will make the most people happy.
Ruth, there is a difference between being an environmental activist, and an active environmentalist. Too bad you are disgusted with either label.
Try not to hit your head bending over backwards so much. It makes you write goofy letters to the editor.
Pick a side Ruth, then promote that side.
Interesting
I know I am late to this party but I think it is a good sign that Ms. Danner has earned the ire of one of the most conservative and one of the most liberal bloggers on these boards.
I am personally glad that Ms. Danner didn't take a side, regardless of what either Calypso or Jo Mc read between the lines. I know how I am going to vote on this issue and I don't need her to try to sway me with opinion. Facts might interest me, but opinon, while often entertaining rarely gets my vote.
And I am glad she acknowledges that there are problems with the ordinance, a few of which Kiki has pointed out.
Neither side is dumb, or stupid, or mornonic for having their own opinion and I, for one am glad to see someone stand up for civility in the course of debate.
FYI, in the interest of full disclosure, Ms. Danner and I have clashed mightily many times over issues, and she does things that I don't always agree with. But she has never been rude or disrespectful in our interactions.