So, the last Park Slope Co-op meeting about whether or not to eliminate the use of plastic produce bags was a full year ago (they’ve already long since gotten rid of plastic shopping bags, as we all should), but it seems the issue still hasn’t really been resolved. And once again, some intrepid members decided to live-tweet the whole thing.
In addition to Chadwick Matlin (who pioneered the Co-op live tweet thing last time around), the contentious meeting was extensively documented by Slate writer Miriam Krule. Apparently, there was a divide over whether to phase plastic produce bags by charging 20 cents for their use (this in turn sparked sub-arguments about fee exemptions for EBT users, what to do with the extra revenue, etc.). Mostly, it sounds like a pretty exhausting exercise, but a few highlights below:
In case you were wondering, this graph is equally illegible in person #coopbagmeeting pic.twitter.com/LmQW6mn9jc
— Miriam Krule (@miriamkrule) February 26, 2014
We have a Glass user! #coopbagmeeting pic.twitter.com/aXy5TLudBI
— Miriam Krule (@miriamkrule) February 26, 2014
"Please don't shout out so everyone can be part of the conversation" we're trying to stay civilized #coopbagmeeting
— Miriam Krule (@miriamkrule) February 26, 2014
Point of order. Question about time. Leader keeps saying 8, crowd yells 9. Asks "what year is this"? #coopbagmeeting
— Miriam Krule (@miriamkrule) February 26, 2014
Man suggests 20 cents should go toward coop loan fund. "So we can help other coops… and they can also enjoy this debate."
— Chadwick Matlin (@ChadwickMatlin) February 26, 2014
Day after on the ground #coopbagmeeting reporting: there are no bags (in the bread section) pic.twitter.com/pKEXLcI7hi
— Miriam Krule (@miriamkrule) February 26, 2014
Ultimately, the measure was voted down, but seems likely to be re-introduced with more of a game-plan in place at a later date. We look forward to more Twitter updates on this in, oh, another year or so.
Follow Virginia K. Smith on Twitter @vksmith.
