Nothing better to do? Chicago to vote on banning plastic bags tomorrow

Not happy at Chicago's
Happy Foods

Chicago has massive pension debt, pot-holed marred streets, and rampant shootings. But the City Council, which has seen thirty of its members convicted of crimes since 1972, is tackling the menace of plastic bags.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

With self-congratulation but no debate, Chicago aldermen agreed Thursday to ban plastic bags but exempt restaurants and small independent retailers in a move that will require consumers to dramatically change their shopping habits.

"Today for Chicago is a historic day in terms of our environment and moving into a new economy,” said Ald. "Proco" Joe Moreno (1st), who has waged a two-year campaign for the San Francisco-style environmental crackdown.

Actually it was just a committee vote, the full Council will vote on the ban on Wednesday.

Moreno is best known for his jihad to ban Chick-fil-A from Chicago. Despite Moreno's claim that the ban will not cost jobs--Illinois has the third-highest jobless rate in the nation--it will. Paper bags create more landfill waste and take more energy to manufacture. Shoppers in Chicago already pay a higher sales tax than suburbanites, the likely ban gives another reason for city residents to shop elsewhere.

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