Letter: Plastic bag article based on flimsy reporting

Posted 4/12/18

As I read your paper’s article about the plastic bag ban (April 5), I thought perhaps your reporter had come late to the Bristol Town Council meeting at which the ban was approved. The reporter …

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Letter: Plastic bag article based on flimsy reporting

Posted

As I read your paper’s article about the plastic bag ban (April 5), I thought perhaps your reporter had come late to the Bristol Town Council meeting at which the ban was approved. The reporter took up most of the article’s space to share Councilor Mary Parella’s thoughts and concerns to such an extent that, had  I not been present at the meeting, I might have thought no one else said anything.

Then, of course, I saw the editorial, and realized that the “news” article was in fact just a preface to the editorial, masquerading as a news story. Disappointing.

The meeting I attended included a thoughtful presentation of the numerous reasons why we, as have so many other communities across the country, might want to ban single use plastic bags.  It was filled with facts as to the impact of such a ban.  The benefits versus the challenges we will face as a result of such a ban were well presented.   

That presentation was followed by statements from the other Council members, each demonstrating how deeply they had considered the ban request, some reflecting on how difficult they had found the decision. In each case, environmental issues seemed to make the difference.

Choosing to become responsible stewards of our world, even at this late date, is not an easy choice. It is hard work to reverse the damage we have done, much due to our convenience, or to laziness in making a different choice. In the end, it is all about the world we will pass on. That came through again and again at this meeting, as others spoke, and ultimately supported the ban.

The statements of these council members each took about the same amount of time as did Ms. Parella’s.

I wish your reporter had found some space in his reporting to reflect those thoughts and those facts.  In fact, the “feel good” move in this case (as alluded to in your editorial) would have been to acquiesce to business as usual, and pass the problem down the road once again.  

If I were dependent on your publication for information, I would now know how you feel about this issue, but have no idea what four of the decision makers had in their minds. Balanced and responsible reporting would be nice if you are to be considered a “news” paper. I hope you will make that choice, and that news articles will reflect a fair representation of what has occurred. If you prefer to present opinion pieces instead of actual news reports, then I hope you will declare them for what they are.  

Your editorial, I believe, used that space appropriately to reflect a personal opinion, albeit an uninformed one. I hope, in the future, opinions will be labeled as such, and news will be reported as it should be.  

That would certainly feel good.

Anne C. Kellerman

217 Hope St., Unit 8, Bristol

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