Berkeley Proposes Tax on Disposable Food Containers

[Muse]

Maybe you saw the news... in my town (Berkeley, CA) the city council is on the cusp (they may have done it last night) of adding a $0.25 charge when you get take-out at any shop in town. They figure it will cut down on the litter problem. I think they are daft. It will have zero effect other than taking a quarter out of the customer's pocket and putting it in someone else's pocket, I don't know who. They will do this even if your take out container is recyclable cardboard, they don't care.

Traditionally, Berkeley City Council hosts "lefties" who think they are on the forefront of politics, the leading edge of progressive, forward thinking, planet saving movements. In reality, they are something quite different and are neglectful in important ways. The streets here are abominably maintained. Rather than take care of pressing issues they take up some new cause nobody else does and pat themselves on the back and think they are doing a fabulous job.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Sorry about the streets, but that's an expenditure, so it can wait (and wait... and wait). Taxing something is revenue
revenue > expenditure, always.
And I'll take a win in the fight against pollution, no matter how small, anytime.
Again, sorry about the streets. That really does suck and I can empathize

 

[Muse]

Sorry about the streets, but that's an expenditure, so it can wait (and wait... and wait). Taxing something is revenue
revenue > expenditure, always.
And I'll take a win in the fight against pollution, no matter how small, anytime.
Again, sorry about the streets. That really does suck and I can empathize

Problem is I seldom drive and mostly get around town on my quad roller skates and bicycle. I feel the pain of bad streets more than just about anybody in this town. I should contact my councilman, but I'm doubtful it would amount to a drop in the bucket of influence.

I don't eat out much at all but when I do it's take out. Still, a couple times a month is extravagant for me. A tax won't affect me much but it pisses me off. I seriously doubt it will reduce the pollution here. They should instead get after Pacific Steel Casting, a company on the west side of town that pollutes the air. I can smell it sometimes and it's very foul. I went to a meeting once when it was being discussed. A lady was so distraught because her child was suffering asthma because of it but they haven't kicked those people out of town. The wind blows that way. It stinks but it's revenue and the folks on the hill don't care long as they can stay on the hill.

 

[Incorruptible]

These leftists can go screw themselves, this is just another tax and shouldn't be brought in.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

These leftists can go screw themselves, this is just another tax and shouldn't be brought in.

cool story bro

 

[Greenman]

Maybe you saw the news... in my town (Berkeley, CA) the city council is on the cusp (they may have done it last night) of adding a $0.25 charge when you get take-out at any shop in town. They figure it will cut down on the litter problem. I think they are daft. It will have zero effect other than taking a quarter out of the customer's pocket and putting it in someone else's pocket, I don't know who. They will do this even if your take out container is recyclable cardboard, they don't care.

Traditionally, Berkeley City Council hosts "lefties" who think they are on the forefront of politics, the leading edge of progressive, forward thinking, planet saving movements. In reality, they are something quite different and are neglectful in important ways. The streets here are abominably maintained. Rather than take care of pressing issues they take up some new cause nobody else does and pat themselves on the back and think they are doing a fabulous job.

I've noticed the Berkeley streets needing repair. Some of them up in the hills are way past repair and need complete replacement. The city offices sure are nice.

 

[Ns1]

The Berkeley ordinance would likewise encourage people to bring their own reusable containers to avoid the surcharge.

Under the ordinance, to-go-food containers would have to be 100 percent compostable or recyclable, with some exceptions. Customers would pay 25 cents per cup or container, and restaurants would keep the proceeds to purchase more environmentally friendly food ware. Straws, napkins and coffee stirrers would be free upon request.

bringing your own to-go containers would basically kill store productivity. And 25 cents PER CUP OR CONTAINER? Someone's going to make bank by creating a 12 partition to-go container.

 

[Atreus21]

You could move to Chicago.

https://reason.com/archives/2018/04/25/chicago-debt-impound-cars-innocent

 

[Muse]

revenue > expenditure, always.

Yeah, that's the thing. It's the revenue, but they pass it off as a measure to reduce litter. See, it's the hypocrisy that makes me the angriest. It won't do squat to reduce the litter. Nothing at all, How can it? The people that get take out will just drop the quarter and if they are the littering kind they will just drop the packaging like they used to. They may even be more inclined to litter seeing as the powers that be in Berkeley were just fuckwads to ding them for a quarter with that farce. Fucking hypocrites on the council, pisses me off.

Where does that quarter go to? The stores, some state fund, or...?

That's what I'm wondering. Don't see how it can go to the vendor. Must go to the city.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Problem is I seldom drive and mostly get around town on my quad roller skates and bicycle. I feel the pain of bad streets more than just about anybody in this town. I should contact my councilman, but I'm doubtful it would amount to a drop in the bucket of influence.

I don't eat out much at all but when I do it's take out. Still, a couple times a month is extravagant for me. A tax won't affect me much but it pisses me off. I seriously doubt it will reduce the pollution here. They should instead get after Pacific Steel Casting, a company on the west side of town that pollutes the air. I can smell it sometimes and it's very foul. I went to a meeting once when it was being discussed. A lady was so distraught because her child was suffering asthma because of it but they haven't kicked those people out of town. The wind blows that way. It stinks but it's revenue and the folks on the hill don't care long as they can stay on the hill.

Yes, instead of contacting your city councilman and speaking to them in person, emailing them, messaging them on FB or even via Twitter, you come here to complain. Great job in trying to make a difference!!

 

[Ns1]

That's what I'm wondering. Don't see how it can go to the vendor. Must go to the city.

it goes to the vendor...

 

[Muse]

Yes, instead of contacting your city councilman and speaking to them in person, emailing them, messaging them on FB or even via Twitter, you come here to complain. Great job in trying to make a difference!!

You again, you douche. I've never met my councilman, I don't know his email address and I stay clear of fucking FB and Twitter. Telling him I don't like it isn't going to change much. At least posting here some people are finding out about something they didn't know about.

What kind of difference do you make? You have nothing to say other than try to run me down. Get lost.

Edit: There's no info at my city councilman's website concerning how I can contact him, only a link to getting on his email list.

 

[Muse]

it goes to the vendor...

Well, if that's true that could reduce the cost of the meal. What's the point? It was a photo op for the city council. The put down folding tables and chairs in front of a heap of trash at the city recycling center and had that put on the evening news last night. They are crazy.

 

[Jaskalas]

The problem in addressing the environment and sustainability is that ultimately whatever you discuss comes down to raking people over the coals for their cash. To make life less convenient and more expensive. Unfortunately we're in the midst of a rat race to the bottom where people in general struggle to survive, let alone have an excess to spend extra time and money for these concerns.

I'm afraid environmental altruism falls behind economic priority. For so long as we fail to get our !@#$ together.

OTOH, if we can study what damage plastics and other disposables do to us directly, in the form of adverse health effects, you may garner enough attention and concern to override the chief economic concern.

 

[glenn1]

Yes, instead of contacting your city councilman and speaking to them in person, emailing them, messaging them on FB or even via Twitter, you come here to complain. Great job in trying to make a difference!!

He probably voted for the council member who proposed it. It's not uncommon for people to dislike the real-life results of political policies they like to believe they favor; thinking someone else will pay for or that it won't impact them.

 

[Vic]

Is it really about planet saving, or is it because cleaning up litter costs money, and it should be the sources of the litter paying for the cleanup costs, and not everyone else?

 

[Capt Caveman]

You again, you douche. I've never met my councilman, I don't know his email address and I stay clear of fucking FB and Twitter. Telling him I don't like it isn't going to change much. At least posting here some people are finding out about something they didn't know about.

What kind of difference do you make? You have nothing to say other than try to run me down. Get lost.

I know six of my city's city councilors. I know our Mayor from the local dog park and FB friends with him. Long time ago, when I got a BS traffic ticket, I called my city councilor and he got it torn up. When I contacted a city councilor about getting lights installed at the dog park for safety reasons, lights were installed the next week. Currently, working on a business with a friend and we have the Mayor's assistance if we need help.

Too lazy to go to your city's webpage and find contact information? But you'll spend the time to whine here like a helpless person instead of doing something.

Here's an article on your issue - https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Berkeley-may-slap-charge-on-disposable-food-12861799.php

I bet I could google and find the city councilors contact information that are mentioned in seconds.

But keep on posting and whining here, you big baby.

 

[Capt Caveman]

it goes to the vendor...

Yup, OP was too lazy to even know what he's talking about.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Berkeley-may-slap-charge-on-disposable-food-12861799.php

Under the ordinance, to-go-food containers would have to be 100 percent compostable or recyclable, with some exceptions. Customers would pay 25 cents per cup or container, and restaurants would keep the proceeds to purchase more environmentally friendly food ware. Straws, napkins and coffee stirrers would be free upon request.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Here you go moron, took a simple google search 'Berkeley, CA City Council" - phone numbers and email addresses

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Roster.aspx

Since you're so lazy, you can email them all at council@cityofberkeley.info

 

[glenn1]

Here you go moron, took a simple google search 'Berkeley, CA City Council" - phone numbers and email addresses

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Roster.aspx

Since you're so lazy, you can email them all at council@cityofberkeley.info

Be kind, we already know the OP isn't that bright as he lives in Berkeley, no need to rub it in.

 

[Muse]

Too lazy to go to your city's webpage and find contact information? But you'll spend the time to whine here like a helpless person instead of doing something.

No, I went there and there's no contact information. I can get on a mailing list to be informed, there's no feedback avenue in evidence, you holier than thou moron.

 

[Muse]

Here you go moron, took a simple google search 'Berkeley, CA City Council" - phone numbers and email addresses

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Roster.aspx

Since you're so lazy, you can email them all at council@cityofberkeley.info

Aha, nice work. Thanks. I guess you are sometimes good for something.

 

[brycejones]

Aha, nice work. Thanks. I guess you are sometimes good for something.

Now do something with it. Whining here won't have any effect. Your best bet is engaging your council member.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Aha, nice work. Thanks. I guess you are sometimes good for something.

Yeah, you could have easily googled it or gone to your city's website but whine instead.

 

[Muse]

Now do something with it. Whining here won't have any effect. Your best bet is engaging your council member.

I already emailed him 1/2 hour ago with the info. Have also added all the info from the contact list including names, phone, fax and email for each council member into my contacts database... which took some doing because copy/paste isn't available on their website, obviously for security purposes.