Wicked Local Concord reports Town Meeting last night passed a possibly unenforceable measure to prohibit the sale of drinking water in plastic bottles within town borders.
I agree that most use of bottled water is wasteful. However, Concord is a town that has a lot of bicyclists, hikers, and tourists coming through during the warm-weather months. Sometimes you just run out of the water you brought with you and need a refill. If the local convenience stores can't sell bottled water, are they expected to refill customers' own bottles for free?
And you'd assume wrong. Your average Concordian (as opposed to Milldam shopowner) probably no more likes people from away than their ancestors liked ol' Henry David traipsing through the woods.
But back in my cub-reporting days, the town took the following actions:
Banned restaurants from using paper plates in an attempt to keep out a Papa Gino's (Papa Gino's went out and bought china).
Voted down a new visitors center in part because of fears people from Maynard would drive several miles just to use its restrooms.
Ordered police to keep the Sudbury Minuteman out of town on Patriots Day for fear they would show up drunk (crafty Sudbury Minutemen showed up by boat that year).
Now, I'm sure Concord is better these days (they finally let the visitors center be built and the town survived), but then again, this is the town that showed its respect for Thoreau by putting the town dump and allowing a trailer park right across the street from Walden Pond.
Having moved from Philly I can say that I feel there's a serious xenophobic streak in New England that I totally didn't expect. This combined with the region having a giant puritanical hangover and the "new england reserve" (aka social awkwardness + xenophobia) makes for a very unwelcoming place. I think you're right in your assessment.
Yes, I know it's a bad to generalize, but after three years I'm qualified to have an opinion.
As I recall, there is a nice fountain in the center of town that is great for refilling the bottles on a hot day.
That said, we all know that we can't take bottles of water on aircraft - so why should tourists be expected to carry their own bottles in? I carry an empty one with me, but it is a bit of a hassle when travelling.
As written ("ban the sale of drinking water in plastic bottles"), this now rules out all office deliveries of water for water cooler rentals. It could easily be construed as including flavored waters (vitaminwater, etc), (i.e. at what point is it a "drink" and no longer a "water"?). This kind of knee-jerk stupidity needs to end.
BAN THE SALE OF WATER IN PLASTIC BOTTLES IN CONCORD (By Petition)
ARTICLE 65. To determine whether the Town will vote to ban the sale of water in plastic bottles in Concord starting January 1, 2011, or take any other action relative thereto.
From the Town Meeting warrant, which also had an article to outlaw the practice of prohibiting clotheslines in deeds (hmm, I wonder how that did?).
Dedham didn't allow fast food joints for decades because they didn't want people throwing trash out their windows as they drove off. So McDonald's opened on the Dedham line in West Roxbury. They finally broke down and allowed Krispy Kreme in on route 1, and we know how that ended.
Although I think 100% of Concord homes are connected to the town water system, I know parts of Carlisle do not. Carlisle has also had problems with their water supply in the past, and many of those residents might depend on bottled water if old wells ever have problems again.
Sure hope Concord has better water mains that Boston. How many bottles of water do you think those 2 million residents bought when their "perfectly good and reliable" public drinking water system blew out?
The sad part about this is that the proponents actually think they have accomplished something to be proud of, but they have have accomplished nothing at all.
Typical scenario:
Someone wants to buy something to drink. They're in a store, maybe a sandwich shop, sub shop, and ask for a bottle of water.
Sorry, we can't carry water.
OK, I'll take iced tea/soda/whatever - in yet another plastic bottle.
So, what have we accomplished again??
If you really want to make a statement, ban all plastic bottles. Or, lobby the legislature to impose the 5 cent deposit on all containers.
The bottom line is they had an agenda: They didn't like the bottled water industry, so they decide to attack it using this illogical argument.
If Concord didn't have the typical attitude toward public facilities like water fountains and restrooms that the rest of New England seems to have, then I might believe that they were sincere rather than Taking A Moral Stand.
Unfortunately, they don't seem to believe in dirty outsiders touching any of their stuff. Nor do the schools have working bottle fills like they do in places that are honestly interested in getting people to use tap water. Oh no! That would mean funding infrastructure to complement our Grand Moral Stand - can't have that!
Comments
why would it?
Be enforceable? Sure you couldn't ban it outright, but it's easy to find stores that sell it and fine them.
Illegal
I think he means unenforceable, as in illegal. The bottling companies will have something to say about the commerce clause on this I'm sure.
Can this really work in Concord?
I agree that most use of bottled water is wasteful. However, Concord is a town that has a lot of bicyclists, hikers, and tourists coming through during the warm-weather months. Sometimes you just run out of the water you brought with you and need a refill. If the local convenience stores can't sell bottled water, are they expected to refill customers' own bottles for free?
You assume Concord wants that ilk
And you'd assume wrong. Your average Concordian (as opposed to Milldam shopowner) probably no more likes people from away than their ancestors liked ol' Henry David traipsing through the woods.
OK, I shouldn't be prejudiced against an entire town
But back in my cub-reporting days, the town took the following actions:
Banned restaurants from using paper plates in an attempt to keep out a Papa Gino's (Papa Gino's went out and bought china).
Voted down a new visitors center in part because of fears people from Maynard would drive several miles just to use its restrooms.
Ordered police to keep the Sudbury Minuteman out of town on Patriots Day for fear they would show up drunk (crafty Sudbury Minutemen showed up by boat that year).
Now, I'm sure Concord is better these days (they finally let the visitors center be built and the town survived), but then again, this is the town that showed its respect for Thoreau by putting the town dump and allowing a trailer park right across the street from Walden Pond.
well
Having moved from Philly I can say that I feel there's a serious xenophobic streak in New England that I totally didn't expect. This combined with the region having a giant puritanical hangover and the "new england reserve" (aka social awkwardness + xenophobia) makes for a very unwelcoming place. I think you're right in your assessment.
Yes, I know it's a bad to generalize, but after three years I'm qualified to have an opinion.
Refills?
As I recall, there is a nice fountain in the center of town that is great for refilling the bottles on a hot day.
That said, we all know that we can't take bottles of water on aircraft - so why should tourists be expected to carry their own bottles in? I carry an empty one with me, but it is a bit of a hassle when travelling.
Stupid
As written ("ban the sale of drinking water in plastic bottles"), this now rules out all office deliveries of water for water cooler rentals. It could easily be construed as including flavored waters (vitaminwater, etc), (i.e. at what point is it a "drink" and no longer a "water"?). This kind of knee-jerk stupidity needs to end.
The exact bylaw
Amended to stick a "drinking" before "water:"
From the Town Meeting warrant, which also had an article to outlaw the practice of prohibiting clotheslines in deeds (hmm, I wonder how that did?).
It passed too
Final Update includes all of the vote results by article number.
So what about ...
Seltzer?
Dedham didn't allow fast food
Dedham didn't allow fast food joints for decades because they didn't want people throwing trash out their windows as they drove off. So McDonald's opened on the Dedham line in West Roxbury. They finally broke down and allowed Krispy Kreme in on route 1, and we know how that ended.
Concord Water
Although I think 100% of Concord homes are connected to the town water system, I know parts of Carlisle do not. Carlisle has also had problems with their water supply in the past, and many of those residents might depend on bottled water if old wells ever have problems again.
I dunno, I don't see this passing.
Boil order be damned
Protest + state of emergency = almost perfect irony.
If only concord were affected. I'm sure a crack team of journalists would have captured the emptied shelves there too.
oh well.
Kudos for the effort either way.
Boil Orders
Sure hope Concord has better water mains that Boston. How many bottles of water do you think those 2 million residents bought when their "perfectly good and reliable" public drinking water system blew out?
Interstate Commerce
Has anyone in Concord ever hear of interfering with interstate commerce. Bet they still sell cigarettes in Concord. How messed up is that?
Misguided
The sad part about this is that the proponents actually think they have accomplished something to be proud of, but they have have accomplished nothing at all.
Typical scenario:
Someone wants to buy something to drink. They're in a store, maybe a sandwich shop, sub shop, and ask for a bottle of water.
Sorry, we can't carry water.
OK, I'll take iced tea/soda/whatever - in yet another plastic bottle.
So, what have we accomplished again??
If you really want to make a statement, ban all plastic bottles. Or, lobby the legislature to impose the 5 cent deposit on all containers.
The bottom line is they had an agenda: They didn't like the bottled water industry, so they decide to attack it using this illogical argument.
Public Works
If Concord didn't have the typical attitude toward public facilities like water fountains and restrooms that the rest of New England seems to have, then I might believe that they were sincere rather than Taking A Moral Stand.
Unfortunately, they don't seem to believe in dirty outsiders touching any of their stuff. Nor do the schools have working bottle fills like they do in places that are honestly interested in getting people to use tap water. Oh no! That would mean funding infrastructure to complement our Grand Moral Stand - can't have that!