Ban is the right move

The 2018 World Economic Forum states 12 million tons of plastic enters our global oceans annually. Global plastic production, much of which is nonrecyclable, is rising rapidly.

This year 360 million tons of plastic was produced; the estimate for 2030 is 619 million tons. China has announced it will no longer take “foreign garbage.”

Knott Landfill indicated it will need to find additional locations soon as they are reaching capacity.

It would seem clear to anyone who cares what happens to our environment that government intervention (federal or local) is needed.

Eliminating free plastic bags at retail level is a pretty painless start.

Any efforts to minimize our plastic use lets manufacturers know they need to do a better job of coming with alternative packaging.

I’ve been using the same heavy duty plastic and canvas bags for years. They hold heavy loads without breaking, can be cleaned easily and most were free. I commend the City Council for their decision.

The Bulletin’s staff has written two editorials complaining about this decision.

The last one had suggested that shoppers could buy 1,000 bags from Amazon at 2.5 cents each and get the “satisfaction of thumbing their noses at the City Council.”

First, that seems like an environmentally irresponsible thing to advocate and why would someone who can’t afford the 10 cents store bag fee and who doesn’t want to bring their own bag pay $25 plus shipping to Amazon and still have to bring their own bag?

Nancy Kerins

Bend

I want the job

My name is Charles Webster Baer.

I would like to be on the City Council of Bend, Oregon, U.S.A.

In January 2019, the City Council of Bend will choose someone to be on the Bend City Council.

I would like that person to be me.

I have already filled out and turned in all the paperwork.

I feel the people of Bend are familiar with my agenda because I spent most of this year running for mayor of Bend.

I ran for Bend City Council in 2012.

I have lived in Bend for 12 years.

I have lived in Oregon for the entire millennium.

My web site is globalinternetgovernment.com.

My phone is 541-797-3236.

My email is charlesbaer@outlook.com.

I have great respect for all the councilors and the mayor, Sally Russell.

I think that I have lots of good ideas for Bend.

If I am put on the council, I will never forget that I was not elected, and so I don’t have the right to shoot off my mouth.

If I am put on the council, I will go with the flow and defer to Sally.

I plan on running for City Council in 2020 no matter what.

I think that Bend is in a great position to lead the state, country and world on what I consider to be the two most important political issues.

The two most important political issues of our time, in my opinion, are, 2, government financial transparency and, 1, female reproductive rights.

Charles BaerBend

They care

I am responding to a recent editorial published in The Bulletin which stated that the Bend-La Pine school district showed a lack of concern with school safety. As a former teacher, now retired, I can say that allegation is totally untrue. Every administrator, teacher, aide and parent volunteer in the district I have known was always extremely committed to providing the safest school environment possible. The Bulletin owes all those people an apology and should be more careful about publishing ridiculous unfounded accusations.

Frank Barnes

Bend

An inconvenient truth

How delightful and exciting to see our Deschutes River memorialized on a new Postal Service Forever Stamp. The stamp is part of a new series celebrating the Federal Wild and Scenic River Act. This act protects the wild and scenic qualities of designated segments of the Deschutes and many other rivers around the country. In the words of the USPS: “This issuance celebrates Wild and Scenic Rivers — exceptional American streams that run freely through natural landscapes without man-made alterations.” We certainly appreciate the ceaseless efforts of the Bulletin’s editor, Erik Lukens, to promote the virtues of the Federal Wild and Scenic River Act and how important it is that we in this region cherish and protect the designated segments right here in our own backyard. Also, he has enlightened us so profusely regarding an inconvenient truth: a pedestrian/bike bridge is one of the man-made alterations that is prohibited. Seriously, that is inconvenient.

Judy Clinton

Bend