Friday, January 13, 2017

Bag tax coming back

From the Queens Chronicle:

One of the hottest stories last spring was the City Council’s close and contentious vote to charge customers five cents for almost every paper or plastic grocery bag they use while food shopping.

Originally set to be implemented last October, the fee was pushed back to Feb. 15 when the state Legislature threatened to ban such fees. The issue faded into obscurity under things like the presidential election.

That could change once the new session of the state Legislature goes into high gear in the coming weeks.

Three state senators from Queens — all of whom opposed the Council measure — told the Chronicle that Albany could well be reviving the bag bill ban.

20 comments:

(sarc) said...

As soon as the plastic bag tax is instituted, the legislatures will look into the new and improved breathing tax...

Anonymous said...

Use my own bags anyway...have noticed the ones in the stores are getting smaller and thinner.

Anonymous said...

Just another reason to hate the City Council. I am getting sick and tired of having the Government's hand in my pocket.

Gary W said...

Just keep nickel and diming the poor to death Council!!

That will teach 'em.



georgetheatheist said...

So, just how does this work? The cashier a priori grills you as your items move down the belt as to how many plastic bags you want? The heavier items you want doubled usually but she puts it in a single bag and the whole shebang plotzes right on the counter? They then charge you another 5 cents for a new bag? This is so-o-o ridiculous. And probably will be a waste of time and energy. How is this going to logistically work?

Anonymous said...

Nickeled & dimed to death !

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Use my own bags anyway...have noticed the ones in the stores are getting smaller and thinner.
still good for garbage

Anonymous said...

Every step you take
I'll be watching you

Anonymous said...

If you are on food stamps you are not charged this fee. and it's .10 per bag btw.

JQ LLC said...

Putting the economic onus of the human costs on climate change committed by avaricious energy manufacturing corporations on the working poor and middle class, because the electeds and the authorities don't have the guts to go after the CEO's and oligarch owners that are truly responsible for this.

As mentioned earlier by George, the logistics are stupid, but the shitty council doesn't give a fuck because with their recent 32 % raises, clearly they have better alternatives and haven't been to a supermarket in years. How is this going to be meted out by cashiers? It's certainly going to lead to longer waits to be checked out to tabulate the amount? And why are restaurants exempt? because of the app delivery economy perhaps? And what about these fucking food trucks, which you hacks have given more permits for and are responsible as well has these new vibrant creative eateries for the majority of discarded trash in the streets, bags and food, giving rise to the varmint and roach populace.

The only solution for the modern day proletariat is just collect every plastic bag you get now and bring them when you go shopping. Yet another hassle living in this unfair, inequitable, unaffordable city under a duplicitous, fauxgressive, neoliberal regime.

Anonymous said...

Putting the economic onus of the human costs on climate change committed by avaricious energy manufacturing corporations on the working poor and middle class, because the electeds and the authorities don't have the guts to go after the CEO's and oligarch owners that are truly responsible for this.

Stop this non-sense. The same CEO-s are in cahoots with the politicians.
One pollutes, the other taxes carbon.
Yes, you will be poisoned, but the climate is controlled by our star the Sun.
Carbon dioxide is plant food, gets converted into oxygen.

"Photosynthesis is largely responsible for producing and maintaining the oxygen content of the Earth's atmosphere, and supplies all of the organic compounds and most of the energy necessary for life on Earth."

Anonymous said...

FUCK YOU!
I'll pay the tax for the convenience.

Anonymous said...

I think everyone can agree that plastic bags are a big problem. Plastic bags are forever and littering the environment from the tops of trees to our waterways.
I was wondering why stores are not given incentives to switch to biodegradable bags and also stores should give customers a discount if they bring their own bags.

JQ LLC said...

Correction:

I meant to write energy AND manufacturing corporations. Going by the sordid histories of our own power plants and factories re: Gowanus, Newton Creek, the rivers surrounding flushing, and of course the peninsula at Jamaica Bay.

Anonymous said...

I think everyone can agree that plastic bags are a big problem. Plastic bags are forever and littering the environment from the tops of trees to our waterways.


Let George explain it to you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rld0KDcan_w

Anonymous said...

I'll pay the tax for the convenience

Take it easy.
We all know you are stupid.

Anonymous said...

Yes it is still good for garbage. But now harder for those to throw their house garbage out in the city garbage pails. You know who you are!
Yes they will charge you for paper bags too.

Anonymous said...

Repealed. So there is no need to argue :)

Anonymous said...

On the one hand, I dislike the state overriding the City when it comes to City laws.

On the other hand, this rule is so stupid, backwards, and regressive, I'm almost grateful.

Anonymous said...

Some city council members should have a plastic bag tied over their heads for this one....preferably filled with dog shit!