Letter: Mayor’s correct stance on plastic bags

EDITOR,
I write this response to the Feb. 21 editorials from residents of communities outside of our town that criticized Mayor Reed’s stance on plastic bags. These folks need to clean up their own backyards before they dictate to us on how we choose to transport our groceries.
First, I will not question the claim by Mayor Reed and the City Council in their unwillingness to be drawn into a lawsuit by banning single-use bags since we are constantly being asked to raise our taxes due to budget shortfalls nearly every election cycle.
I am a surfer and I surf somewhere between Waddell Creek down to Capitola at least once a week for the past couple of decades and can hardly recall seeing any plastic bags in the ocean, no less any sea turtles. I still haven’t figured out how someone from Salinas or any inland towns becomes concerned that Scotts Valley’s plastic bags are making their way to the tropics to choke sea turtles? Our Carbonera Creek flows clean into Santa Cruz? Regardless, in the rare event I see trash of any kind in the ocean or on the beach, I pick it up and dispose of it. Everyone should do the same.
Secondly, I debate the “single-use bag” category. I re-use my plastic bags as trash liners and quick carry bags for other uses. I choose not to buy another plastic bag to line my small trash cans or use the additional water to wash those contaminated cloth bags after a leaking raw chicken package is transported.
Thirdly, I vote for freedom of choice. I choose to use plastic bags and am a responsible citizen that re-uses and recycles the bag. Look at the grocery stores that still allow choice, there is a high percentage that still chooses the plastic bags. I understand the folks that keep trying to impose their agendas on others “all in the name of the environment,” but some folks do not have the extra money to buy the 10-cent paper bags, wash their contaminated bags or pay for the additional plastic trash bags. I ask the outsiders that are poking their judgmental noses to keep out of our business and clean up your own backyards before criticizing ours.
Mark Frisse, Scotts Valley