The environment deserves our care

I completely disagree with Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich’s “no” vote on banning single-use plastic bags in the county and his reasons for doing so (“Not the proper time for a bag ban,” Nov. 24).

He claims it puts an unfair burden on the consumer and businesses. I say not banning single-use plastic bags puts an unfair burden on our environment. And, like it or not, we need our environment to be healthy or we won’t have anything left to consume.

No one can deny that our environment has been badly abused. Anyone who wants to argue the point should do so from the top of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch floating off the coast of California. From smog alerts, to toxic waste flooding entire villages, to massive oil spills (those plastic bags are petroleum products, folks) we are all consumers in every sense of the word and, frankly, it’s time to pay the piper.

Here’s a great way to get past that 10-cent charge for a bag if you forget your reusable bags at home. Just have the bagger put the items in the cart without bags, unload your items into your car and when you get home, get your reusable bags and bag your items from there. Sure, it’s an extra step and may not be worth the 10-cent savings to some, but it’s a small price to pay when we owe our environment so much.

Please, people, stop taking only convenience into account when you make a purchase, drive to a destination only a few blocks away, or toss something away. Think about the repercussions of your choices. Think about the planet we’re leaving to our children and grandchildren.

It’s already past the point of no return for thousands of extinct species of plants and animals. With the exception of those lost due to the last major climate change (also known as the Ice Age), we humans are single-handedly responsible for their loss. Nature was doing a fine job balancing things before the Industrial Age.

Let’s do what we can to make sure our environment survives the next century intact, and that humans aren’t on the endangered list 50 years from now.

Amiee Klem

Glendale

Reusable bags are easier to use

Once again the 30-plus-year windbag, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, gets published in the Burbank Leader in his ongoing effort to make it 40 or more years at the public trough (“Not the proper time for a bag ban,” Nov. 24).

A while back, someone gave me some reusable bags. I use them all the time now — easier and more comfortable to handle, hold my groceries better, and don’t cut into my fingers as plastic bags do.

I am 76 years old. Come on seniors, get interested in new and innovative things, especially if they help the environment. It might extend your life and make it more meaningful.

Stop with that “back in the good old days” business. Actually, they weren’t.

Chuck Rutkin

Burbank

Gabel-Luddy would be a fine council addition

I am very pleased to see that Emily Gabel-Luddy has decided to run for a seat on the Burbank City Council.

As a retired personnel director from the city of Los Angeles, I had many opportunities to observe Gabel-Luddy’s work with the city planning department. I have also watched her chair many meetings of the Burbank Planning Board.

I have always been impressed with her professionalism and her willingness and ability to thoroughly analyze problems before coming up with reasonable solutions. She is a committed public servant, and Burbank will be fortunate to have her on the City Council.

Elliott Porter

Burbank