From Plastic Bag Bans to Sinkholes

Sometimes, the parochial nature of the local press can be very distressing or stifling, yet they both expose the inefficiency and idiocy of local government

The near collapse of Paseo del Mar in San Pedro, is certainly distressing. A lovely seaside community connected to Los Angeles City, the residents along the route hugging the cliff naturally want to know what they city will do to protect their community, protect their homes from imminent collapse, and prepare a new road, if necessary through White Point Nature Reserve.

Nature enthusiasts are up in arms about the potential devastation to a natural reserve long in planning. Resident demand immediate action. The City Government has hired geologists to report on how much the roadway is cracking.

On the same page, the local press reports on Los Angeles' move to ban disposable shopping bags. A move intended to protect the ocean and natural inland waterways from pollution, the nanny-state legality may protect the environment, but will devastate the tepid business climate. By banning the distribution of disposable shopping bags, LA City will impinge on customers freedom of choice as well as run established firms out of business, forcing more lay offs in a recovery desperate for ongoing job growth.

Instead of tackling such empty non-issues like disposable grocery bags, the City of Los Angeles must dedicate its dwindling resources toward shoring up the collapsing Paseo Del Mar landslide. If LA City really wants to do well by the environment, let them stick to providing ample, clean, and safe space for the city's residents, and leave everything else to the private sector and individual choice.

It was a water quality direct from Heal the Bay who is protesting the proliferation of grocery bags into the ocean an inland water ways. Instead of badgering municipal governments to bully citizens with less choice and more government intervention, why not create local non-profits dedicated to keeping the beach clean? Why not offer an incentive for individuals consumers, like a tax credit, for using cloth bags or reusing disposable ones?

As far as regulating (and decimating) commerce is concerned, LA City should pay attention to the highways and byways of the city, and let the rest take care of the rest.