Vindication from the state

When the Chico City Council’s progressives passed a local ordinance restricting the use of single-use plastic bags last April, the panel’s conservative members and several others within the community chided them for their effort.

At several points during one of the council’s regular meetings, things got personal. Longtime Councilwoman Ann Schwab was lambasted not only by council regulars Stephanie Taber and Michael Reilley, but also by one of her colleagues, Vice Mayor Mark Sorensen.

During that meeting, the ever-doctrinaire Sorensen called the issue a waste of time and city resources. He attempted to squash the effort, as did conservative Councilman Sean Morgan. The pushback came despite local and chain retailers being on board with such bag-restricting ordinances and the fact that 74 other communities in the state had already approved similar laws. Additionally, the stores self-regulate, meaning city resources would not be dedicated to enforcement. In other words, it was a solid ordinance.

Considering the state Legislature passed a law to curb the use of single-use plastic bags in such retail outlets late last week, it looks like the lefties were on the right side of history on this one. And we’re glad that’s the case. Chico’s ordinance will be phased in six months ahead of the state law, which is currently awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature.

Critics may charge that the city ought to have sat back and waited to see what state lawmakers would do on this issue, but, as we’ve learned from their hand-wringing, oftentimes the impetus for change comes from the hardworking folks at the municipal level. California is once again helping set the pace on environmental issues, and in this case it’s thanks to the little people.