Felder & Hikind Denounce New Plastic Bag Tax

“I am completely opposed to the legislation introduced by Coucilmembers Chin and Lander requiring retail and grocery stores to charge at least 10 cents for paper and plastic bags at retail and grocery stores,” said Senator Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn). “New Yorkers cannot afford the basics, and now the City Council is essentially telling the average New Yorker whose in trouble, ‘not only are you suffering, but we’re really going to stomp on your head by charging you 10 cents extra per bag.’ This is nothing more than a tax and an attempt to make money. People are already overtaxed and overburdened. While the City Council is busy seeing green, New Yorkers will be seeing red. This scheme hearkens back to 2008 when Mayor Bloomberg wanted to charge six cents for the use of plastic bags. Back then, I took on the City’s budget director at a hearing on that proposal as well. It was a tax five years ago and it’s still a tax today.”

“We don’t need to impose on people and create more difficulty for struggling New Yorkers,” said Assemblyman Hikind (D-Brooklyn). “It is the wrong place and the wrong time for this initiative. Doesn’t the City have anything else to worry about? This proposal is outrageous. The City should stop telling New Yorkers what’s good for them and let people make their own decisions.”

{Matzav.com Newscenter}