Gripevine

Dear Eleanore Turkington:

I understand the new 10 cent charge for plastic bags was instituted for environmental reasons. The hope was that shoppers would switch to reusable bags, or maybe that businesses would switch to paper bags (Boston Market for instance now use paper shopping bags for their food.)

I have a different take. I use cloth/rescuable bags to shop. However, I was using the incidental plastic bags to gather along the way to line my garbage cans.

With the new 10 cent fine I have to go out and buy, you guessed it, plastic bags to line my household garbage containers. I feel like Mother Earth.

I guess the REAL TEST will be next summer, Summer 2020 we can check and see if there is less plastic waste on the West Haven beaches. Then, we will know if the 10-cent charge worked.

NCA Curious

Dear NCA Curious:

According to my research, customers who shop at stores, have a ten-cent tax imposed on each plastic bag that is used for items purchased. Until plastic bags are banned in Connecticut, they will pay a ten-cent tax on every plastic bag they take home.

Additionally, this topic was time consuming because there were many variables on this new law. As an example, some cities are proposing their own municipality interpretations. However, I wanted to determine just how many dollars were estimated to be generated by this new law, who collects it and where will it go, re: The State of Connecticut. I was able to learn that the 10 cent tax fees from the sale of plastic bags, will be directed to the Department of Revenue and according to a website search, the new state budget includes $55 million in plastic bag state revenue over the next two years. Whether or not this will materialize or not relies on various factors.

Gripe Vine Readers:

From time to time, you will find “unanswered gripes and issues” that have been forwarded to your City Council representatives. Today, Gripe Vine will publish a number of these complaints that fall into this category. Perhaps the Councilmen or Councilwomen have responded to my readers issues, but they have either not been addressed or not completed to the satisfaction of the complainants. There are instances where these city representatives have notified the various city departments of these gripes, but for one reason or another, have not forwarded the results of some of these issues to me.

Councilman Peter Massaro :Litter on Andrews Street

Councilman Peter Massaro: “Abandoned Edible Fruit Truck without plates at Fairfax and US 1

Councilman Peter Massaro: Early morning Cherry Street renovation noise – Local ordinance requested.

West Haven State Rep. Dorinda Borer: Replacement of STOP sign at Seaview Avenue and Ocean Avenue. Attempt to reach Representative Borer via several different emails, both returned. I am hoping she will respond to this Gripe Vine request for assistance.

Council Woman Louise Martone: Motorists running Stop Sign at Hubbard Street and Benham Hill Road- This is a SCHOOL ZONE.

Council Woman Robin Hamilton: Holes and Crevices on Knox Street

Council Woman Robin Hamilton: Dying tree at 51 Nonquit Street-update please

Councilman Nicholas Ruickoldt: Motorists going through Stop Sign THIS IS A SCHOOL BUS STOP

Councilman Nicholas Ruickoldt: Missing light at 389 Platt Avenue

Councilman Mitchell Gallignano: Repaving Hillcrest Avenue following Gas Company work.

Council Woman Tracy Morrissey: Huge pothole on Sorenson Road

You can send your gripes, comments and issues to gripevine4wh@aol.com or mail them to Gripe Vine c/o West Haven Voice 666 Savin Avenue. Please include your name, address and phone number, kept in strict confidence with me. You can also submit through our online form.