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U.S. NEWS Saturday 30 March 2019

Ban on plastic bags comes

close to reality in a 3rd state

By CHRIS CAROLA and DA- es now and for future gen- and both plastic and pa-
VID KLEPPER erations of New Yorkers," per bags contribute to
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. Cuomo, who proposed a the solid waste crisis and
Andrew Cuomo and fellow ban in his $175 billion bud- cost taxpayers money," he
Democrats who control the get proposal, said in a said. "While the best policy
Legislature have reached a statement Friday. would be a ban on plastic
deal to make New York the New York's ban wouldn't bags coupled with a state-
third state with a ban on take effect until next March. wide fee on other dispos-
single-use plastic grocery The plan also calls for allow- able bags, this agreement
bags as they worked to fi- ing local governments the represents a tremendous Plastic bags are seen stuck to the branches of a tree in the East
Village neighborhood of Manhattan, Wednesday, March 27,
nalize budget agreements, option to impose a 5-cent step forward." 2019.
officials said Friday. fee on paper bags, with 3 Lawmakers are facing a Associated Press
The ban would prohibit gro- cents going to the state's Monday deadline on a
cery stores from providing Environmental Protection budget agreement. Nego- population. would impose a one-time
plastic bags for most pur- Fund and 2 cents kept by tiations on other aspects of The budget will also con- tax paid when the proper-
chases, something Califor- local governments. Cuomo's proposed $175 bil- tain a provision requiring ties are sold, Cuomo told
nia has been doing since Environmental conserva- lion spending plan are con- employers to give workers reporters Friday.
a statewide ban was ap- tion advocates had also tinuing Friday, with the Sen- three hours off to vote on Revenue from the tax
proved in 2016. Hawaii has been pushing for a state- ate and Assembly expect- election day. would go to transit.
an effective statewide ban, wide fee for paper bags as ed to start passing budget Another provision set for Other pending issues still
with all its counties impos- a way to encourage wider bills Sunday ahead of the the budget would impose being negotiated included
ing their own restrictions. consumer use of reusable April 1 start of the state's congestion tolls to ease criminal justice reform and
Supporters of such bans bags. 2019-2020 fiscal year. traffic in the busiest parts of public financing of political
say they keep plastic bags Nonetheless, Patrick Mc- Lawmakers have also Manhattan and fund transit campaigns.
from entering the environ- Clellan, state policy direc- agreed on a measure that improvements, but details One of the other big issues
ment and causing dam- tor for the New York League would close up to three are still being discussed. of the year — the legaliza-
age to ecosystems and of Conservation Voters, yet-to-be-determined Negotiations are also con- tion of recreational mari-
waterways. said his group was "thrilled" state prisons. Cuomo an- tinuing on a proposal to juana — will not be includ-
"With this smart, multi- that the bag ban appears nounced last month he tax luxury second homes ed in the budget. Cuomo
pronged action New York headed for passage. wanted to reduce the num- in Manhattan worth more said Friday that lawmakers
will be leading the way to "Plastic bags pollute our ber of facilities because of than $5 million. The op- need more time to work out
protect our natural resourc- waterways and streets, the state's declining inmate tion now being considered the details to regulation.q

5th member of Jewish sect

charged in new kidnapping plot /arubatoday/

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal 14-year-old girl and her ment says, and "indicated
authorities this week ar- 12-year-old brother three that there are people in
rested another member of months after they were New York prepared to exe-
an extremist Jewish sect in taken from their mother in cute" another kidnapping.
what the FBI called a new upstate New York and later A message seeking com-
plot to abduct two New recovered by law enforce- ment was sent to Malka's
York children who recent- ment in Mexico. defense attorney.
ly fled the ultra-Orthodox Authorities said Malka gave Authorities charged four
group. several cellphones to the other members of Lev Ta-
Matityau Moshe Malka ap- girl so she could speak with hor in December with ab-
peared in federal court in members of the Guatema- ducting the same boy and
White Plains, New York, on la-based sect, including its girl and taking them out of
Tuesday on kidnapping leader, who is not named the country. The children
and obstruction of justice in the criminal complaint. eventually were found in
charges. The group's leader recently the Mexican town of Ten-
The FBI said Malka and vowed to fight the mother ango del Aire and reunited
other members of Lev Ta- of the children "until the last with their mother in New
hor planned to kidnap a drop of blood," the docu- York.q