Pirate's Cove

Having solved all their problems….no, wait, San Francisco hasn’t. High crime, property values almost unaffordable, used drug needles everywhere, people doing drugs openly in the street, urine and poo everywhere…

No more slurping through plastic straws in San Francisco

Soon to be heard in San Francisco: the last slurp through a plastic straw. That’s because the city’s about to make them illegal.

The Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance Tuesday that will prohibit the city’s restaurants, bars and retailers from providing customers with plastic items — such as straws, stirrers or toothpicks — beginning July 1, 2019. If the ordinance passes the board on the second reading next week, it will then be presented to Mayor London Breed.

If the mayor signs the measure, retailers will also be prohibited from selling single-use food service products made with fluorinated chemicals. Bars, restaurants and cafes would also only be allowed to provide products, such as condiment packets and napkins, upon request or at self-service stations.

“This is about changing people’s behavior,” said Supervisor Ahsha Safaì, who co-sponsored the ordinance along with Supervisor Katy Tang. “Do you really need to offer a straw with a glass of water?”

Remember, this is the same city that provides needles to drug users (4.5 million per year). But, you can’t have a straw. And, look, as an environmentalist, I can understand. But, some things go too far. Certainly, the city could have simply urged eateries and bars to reduce the number of straws they provide, make it on request, as well as ask them to take them and recycle. And, consider that, if people can’t buy straws in stores, they’ll simply go to a different city. And perhaps spend more money there.

Also, consider that a flat ban is bad for disabled people, as article after article highlights. In their rush to Do Something, these big government nanny state types really do not consider the issues beyond feeling good about themselves.