One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Schwarzenegger Not Terminating Hope for Plastic Bag Ban
Schwarzenegger delivering remarks today (Photo by Justin Short, Office of the Governor)
The bill to ban plastic bags in the state of California was defeated, but today Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke at a press conference to ask lawmakers to consider reviving the bill, reports the Sacramento Bee.Cracking a "we'll be back," joke, Schwarzenegger said that after failing to pass the bill by a few votes those in favor of the ban remained committed to seeing such a policy make it into law. If it doesn't happen now, said the Governor, "we'll get it done next year."
One special interest group, Virginia's American Chemistry Council, put up fierce opposition to the bill. Today, that group's "Tim Shestek was in the crowd for the occasion. While supporters of the ban cheered their prospects for a second round, he said, 'This is a bill that's dead.'"
Such a ban isn't dead in Los Angeles, after the County approved a ban for unincorporated areas, and other local cities are passing bag bans of their own.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
