Selwach: Sharks don’t care about plastic straws!
Letter to the editor
“Plastic will not affect Sharks as they are eating and munching their way through the ocean” – Donald Trump from his executive order banning paper straws.
My name is Richard Selwach, a taxpayer, business owner, and a Chief Seattle Environmentalist who resides in the city of Gainesville, FL.
A few years ago, I wrote an article about the benefits of plastic straws over paper straws that was published in both the Gainesville Sun and the Alachua Chronicle.
Recently, president Donald Trump issued an executive order outlawing paper straws.
Locally, WCJB TV20 news recently covered this story: https://www.wcjb.com/2025/02/11/gainesville-leaders-residents-share-thoughts-order-banning-federal-use-paper-straws/
I have written Governor DeSantis, asking him to issue the same executive order for Florida.
I have written the City of Gainesville about my concerns, and Commissioner Willits responded in essence, “Why should we change our policy or ordinance because of what he (Trump) says?“
Richard,
Thank you for emailing me your concerns. I don’t see anything that suggests we have to change ordinances or city policies just because he says so, nonetheless I will take your opinion into consideration as we approach this issue.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Casey Willits
District 3
Gainesville
I have since written back to the city commission, the mayor, Willits, the city manager, and the city attorney with a public information request.
Dear city commissioners, commissioner Willits, mayor, city manager, & city attorney:
Re: jurisdiction to inspect restaurants falls under State of Florida jurisdiction, not city of Gainesville.
The following is a public information request:
Please provide me in writing, under what legal authority the city of Gainesville can inspect a state licensed restaurant and issue fines and penalties for a legal consumer product, namely plastic straws (a legal consumer sanitary item provided by restaurants in the State of Florida and the United States like cups, napkins, plastic knives & spoons, plastic coffee mixing sticks, and plastic take-out bags for patrons).
The authority to inspect restaurants falls under state of Florida jurisdiction, not local jurisdiction. It is the state of Florida that inspects restaurants for cleanliness, the amount of chairs they can have in a restaurant, how much chlorine in the dishwasher, complaints, etc.
City of Gainesville ordinance to regulate hotels & restaurants and fine them is not locally enforceable because it is a state of Florida jurisdictional matter.
I have provided a link to the state of Florida department of hotels and restaurants for your review. https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/jurisdiction/
In addition, the creation of the paper straws ordinance is a nice gesture to “save the planet”, but it is not a mandate from the majority of local citizens, the state of Florida, or the United States Federal government…it’s the lofty goal of a few local politicians to implement United Nations goals (a foreign government) here locally.
This question is for the city attorney: do elected officials still take a loyalty oath of office to uphold the state of Florida & federal constitutions? Elected officials are supposed take care of their constituents under the laws of statutory construction. There is no mandate from the state of Florida or the federal government to implement a foreign government’s ideals. The United States is a sovereign nation. Our state and federal constitution are in control, not the international covenant on civil or political rights. (The UN constitution).
I suggest placing garbage cans at all RTS bus stops to provide more garbage cans around the city where bus riders and citizens can place their litter and trash instead of just throwing it on the ground.
The paper straw ordinance is just that, it’s not legally enforceable. Please repeal it and take it off the books.
Let’s keep Gainesville Clean and Green!
I look forward to working with you to save the planet.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard Selwach
Papers straws literally suck. If you feel the same or feel that I have missed some points or want to add dialog, please email the GNV city commission at citycomm@cityofgainesville.org to voice your concerns. I look forward to reading and responding to your comments.
Let’s get our freedom to choose plastic straws back!
Trump said, “Plastic will not affect the sharks as they are eating and munching their way through the ocean”… I agree, do you?
Paper straws suck! Email the GNV CC at citycomm@cityofgainesville.org to repeal the paper straw ordinance!
Sincerely,
Richard Selwach, Gainesville
The opinions expressed by letter or opinion writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AlachuaChronicle.com. Assertions of facts in letters are similarly the responsibility of the author. Letters may be submitted to info@alachuachronicle.com and are published at the discretion of the editor.
$7 eggs and you’re worried about straws, when was the last time you even used a straw in your life, wake up!
When’s the last time you stopped to pick up the trash left near the bus stops and other locations prone to such garbage? If you need help looking outside your bubble, the bus stop at the Walmart off NW 23rd would be a good place to start.
wtf are you even talking about. You’re getting robbed blind by billionaires while squabbling over absurd stuff like plastic or paper straws. You’re consumed by a culture war to keep you from fighting a class war. What will wake you up? What will be the breaking point, how much must they steal from you?
I don’t think they’re stealing from me, but if you’re still voting for the fiscally incompetent idiots in City Hall it tells us just how much you care about the City and those who claim to be representing you.
Last I’ve read, the types of things the federal government has been sending money overseas for has nothing to do with United States’ interests. It has more to do with perverted interests.
Maybe you should change your moniker to DumDum.
You voted for it, if Gainesville City Hall is peopled with fiscally incompetent idiots, they’re rank amateurs compared to Musk (paid $42 billion for Twitter which is worth 1/2 that, but fortunately has all those government contracts) and Trump who filed for bankruptcy 6 times before running his MAGA scam aimed at simpletons. Musk just fired a couple of hundred guys who guarded nuclear weapons and then claimed 83% of SS accounts were fraudulent, You in another thread had no problem with Trump firing 5 inspector generals (illegally) who had or were investigating Musk government contracts. So, if paper straws is the result we get from the CC, were miles ahead of what we’re getting with the 2 incompetent and dishonest presidents we have now in the White House.
You got me there … what’s the value of the BioFiasco? City debt vs Musk’ debt? Seems Musk has increased his net worth much more than the City has.
If memory serves me correctly, the Gainesville Sun, yes, the liberal rag that often promotes far left lunacy, referred to the purchase of the Biomass plant as one of the worst in the country.
By the way, Trump often is a knucklehead and freeloader. I’m happy to say I’ve never contributed $1 to his legal, I mean campaign. Only time will tell if he rights the careless upending of this country, but as you’re often quick to point out, the voters will be able to do that in 2028. Don’t think we’ll have to worry about that though, he’s termed out, and maybe, old age will catch up with him the way it did Biden.
No doubt the City should have gotten some of that government start up money, favorable tax treatment, and federal contracts Musk has, not to mention similar deals he has with the Chinese. Somehow I’ll miss plastic straws less than competent administration of federal agencies after the wholesale indiscriminate, self dealing, and political firings the 2 presidents are engaged in. They are now seeking access to IRS personal and business tax data. What could go wrong?
Don’t kid yourself, the City has gotten plenty of money from the Feds.
City’s problem is they wasted it instead of putting it to good use. Just think if they could have utilized the highly intelligent members of the community to create a high capacity, high storage battery before Musk did.
Would have gone a long way in their goal of zero waste/emissions.
I would like to say Musk should stick with government supported technology, but the BS he’s getting away grossly exaggerating all the supposed fraud he’s finding while pretending to be an trained auditor (he’s not, nor are the geek squad helping him) was a deal at $270 million – couch money for him – that is if he doesn’t eventually do jail time for his own fraud. Firing the inspector generals was a first step inoculation.
I doubt the CC has any stock or ownership in paper straws, but hey, who knows.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyjz24ne85o
Jazzman & Dee Dee:
We’ve been drinking out of paper Straws here in Gainesville for 5 years now!
Paper straws suck!
Make Gainesville a “straw sanctuary city”!
Rescind the ban on plastic straws!
Yes, repeal the tyrannical paper straws ordinance. Plastic straws please!
Jazzman & Dee Dee:
We’ve been drinking out of paper Straws here in Gainesville for 5 years now!
Paper straws suck!
Make Gainesville a “straw sanctuary city”!
Rescind the ban on plastic straws!
Yes, yes, jazzboy, we know you are far more virtuous than the other readers of this site. We also know you wholeheartedly support authoritarianism when you agree with it (masks, vax, plastic straws), so we don’t care what you have to say about Trump or Musk. Waste your time if you want – nobody reads your drivel.
Dude, the states of Florida and Texas both require kids be vaccinated to attend public schools, so I guess they are both authoritarian by your standards. I take it you’re one of the snowflakes who thinks “freedom” means ignoring public health concerns and spreading germs whenever and however you feel like it.
I don’t – and haven’t in the past – have a position on mandated masks, though I do know they are effective in helping limit the spreading of Covid and other germs carried by our breath.
I don’t GAF about straws as I rarely use them. If plastic ones are harmful to the environment or certain species, suck it up tough guy and do the right thing.
https://e3.365dm.com/17/10/1600×900/skynews-roatan-ocean-rescue_4141459.jpg?20171029083549
Deedee: you are unhinged. Plastic is everywhere and is recyclable.
The article is about plastic & paper straws in the city of Gainesville and Alachua county.
Have you ever used a straw? Do you like freedom of choice?
Plastic straws work better than paper.
The writer surely is triggering all those with TDS… I hate paper straws more than Trump.
your ignorance is both shocking and depressing. Go look up the statistics on recycled plastic in general, then look it up for plastic straws, so even if this was about the environment which it isn’t, IT IS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
but this isn’t about the environment, this is about stupid culture war to keep you distracted. You all still can’t see that even when people like me scream it in your face, you rather squabble over stupid stuff. Just keep working harder, that million dollars is coming, that billion dollars is coming, you’ll be homeless first, you’ll be in thousands of dollars of debt, medical debt, but keep believing that lie that you’re just one hard days work away from living your american dream
So is the greenhouse gas escaping from your mouth with your outlandish baffoning.
Kamala and the Democrats warned everyone, including Bullwinkle who probably wasn’t listening, that Trump was going to institute Project 2025. He claimed he wasn’t and didn’t know what it was. He was lying, because that’s exactly what all this radical power grabbing and deconstruction of agencies is, including it’s primary authors being placed in leadership roles. Stupid non-issues like what we call the Gulf of Mexico and plastic straws are distractions to the dismantling Congressionally created or approved government without Congressional oversight. The CC may be many things, but it doesn’t just bend over like the Congressional GOP when it’s being assaulted. The GRU hostile takeover proves that.
I use a straw everyday when I consume a beverage at a restaurant. Plastic straws work better than paper straws. Paper straws turn to crap and kink up after a while. Your cheap $7 eggs mostly come in a styrofoam container or egglands best clear plastic-container, the $12 organic eggs come in a compostable carton. What would we do without plastic in our lives? It’s a life saving technology…if you needed and IV, the tubes are plastic.
https://e3.365dm.com/17/10/1600×900/skynews-roatan-ocean-rescue_4141459.jpg?20171029083549
Richard is the voice of sanity in a yard full of nuts.
It’s not about straws themselves, it’s about the bigger issue of government overreach and the principle of choice. Whether it’s $7 eggs or the regulation of everyday items, the core concern here is that local governments are dictating what we can and can’t use without proper backing or public support. The real issue is the precedent it sets for further unnecessary regulations. We need to wake up to the bigger picture: when government starts regulating what seems like trivial matters, it can easily spiral into more control over what we do every day. Let’s focus on the broader issue of maintaining our freedoms and ensuring that decisions like this don’t go unchecked.
The comparison of the city commission’s action on straws as cutting off choice is nothing compared to what Trump is doing with wind power. He’s killing it and it will not be an optional power source unless some Republicans who have backed in the past stand up to his edicts. As his Interior Sec and past governor of N Dakota said “We need all forms of electricity,” Burgum said. “We’re short of electricity in this country.”
States that have set their own climate goals will be hamstrung by this ignorant fools reactionary actions. Compared to paper straws, it’s something real to be upset about.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/02/16/trump-offshore-wind-blue-states/
Windmills kill more birds than straws kill turtles I can guarantee you … The 1st century called and want their invention back …
But it causing sea mammals to beach themselves. Where is the left’ s public outcry about whales, dolphins washing up on the coasts. One good ice storm or hurricane destroy the wind fields and if they use heaters to warm the wind mills they need to use fossil fuels
Strawless savior: agreed. Thank you.
Yeah, we’re living in a veritable East Berlin here, what with the straws and traffic lights. Thankfully on the national scale we’re governed by a new leader who insists on deliberating with Congress before making decisions and doesn’t just sit in his office writing out edicts while plotting punishment for those who disagree with him.
Sure, and let’s start that freedom here in Florida with abortion, which over 55% of voters favored in the last election. From there we can go to making sure citizens get to vote for their leaders instead of having the governor select them from party benefactors.
You need help
Try drinking a Starbucks Frappuccino with a paper straw! You can’t. You have to use two straws, because the first one falls apart.
The Gainesville City Commission has its head up its arse. Willit’s woke response is indicative of this systemic problem at City Hall.
And we wind up drinking all the chemicals the paper was manufactured with as it disintegrates, like chlorine…brilliant! 👍
Gainesville says paper straw in plastic wrapper good. Plastic straw in paper wrapper bad.
And instead of Gville banning plastic straws and feds banning paper straws why don’t we just ban the banning of any kind of straw? May the best straw win
Some people actually need straws. A close friend had his jaws broken and now needs to use straws.
Susan: agreed. Thank you.
Hahahahahaha make plastic straws great again! Hahahahahahahahaha
Richard you are spot on about this matter keep up the excellent work! No amount of liberal virtue signaling will trump common sense (or state law) and the many facts you cite prove that beyond any reasonable doubt.
Karen: Thank you.
Those fat old McDonald’s straws were GREAT! Much easier than rolling-up a dirty old dollar bill. Just cut off 3 inches and have a BLAST! Ahh… the Good Old Days when we had Snow in Florida.
I sent this email to the Gainesville City Commission.
1. Do you enjoy drinking out of paper straws or plastic straws? I like Plastic straws…they work better.
2. What benefits has this paper straw ordinance provided to the citizens and taxpayers within the GNV city limits and what empirical evidence can you provide supporting this? I personally feel I don’t receive any benefits from this ordinance, only lack of enjoyment of the beverage I am drinking when spending my hard earned dollars in a restaurant within the city of Gainesville after a long hard days work. Yes, I can always choose not to spend my money in GNV in the local economy, but that would not be good for the local economy. Is that what you want me to do, not spend my dollars in GNV for some dubious ideological benefit on the other side of the planet? I am a Chief Seattle environmentalist.
3. Please provide information on any other cities in the state of Florida that disallow plastic straws.
A lot of people I talk to express dissatisfaction when drinking a beverage from paper straws and prefer plastic. I spend a lot of money in the local economy and go to restaurants often…it takes me several straws sometimes to drink an iced tea, and feel dissatisfied and lack of enjoyment when doing so with a paper straw. I know I am not alone. If you feel the same, please repeal this ordinance.
I look forward to hearing back from you Commissioner Willits concerning this matter and from the other city commissioners, the Mayor, and city manager.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard Selwach
Pssst, Wa Wa uses those fat plastic straws.
So does steak n’ shake on 13th.
Wendy’s on Main uses plastic straws…
Gainesville take your paper straws and stick them up your straw hole!!
Straws are for kids. I prefer the sweet smell and bubbles in my nose of drinking from a cup. In any case, plastic straws are helping fill landfills around the country and there are other alternatives to plastic and paper (canola oil).
If we’re worried about “foreign governments” taking over Gainesville, watch out for the immigrant taking over American jobs who has business dealings all over the world including in China were he gets preferred treatment for some reason.
Paper straws are just a TINY symbol of the lack of respect the city, county and school politicians have for either the citizens they are supposed to represent or reality.
Our local politicians should be aligning with our state and country, not the Globalists and totally corrupt UN.
Yeah..look what Hanrahan did to our Utility going biomass trying to comply with Kyoto Protocol…She
Ruined our utility and we have high electric bills. DeSantis had to come in and create the Utility Authority to save us. Biealarski and the Utility authority don’t have to comply with the commi zero waste by 2050… we need to comply with domestic policy.
Local politicians need to stay out of Gaza and foreign policy…they need to stay in their lane & fix the roads.
Jazzman: plastic is everywhere. you cannot survive one day without plastic in your life. I think your face diaper has plastic to hook around your ears so it stays on. What would you do without your face diaper! 😷
Go get them Richard. Bring back sanity to our local government. “Go woke, go broke”.
At Publix, they ask paper or plastic for my groceries. I always say plastic because they are strong and I reuse them. the paper straws people are hypocrites if they’ve ever drank from a plastic bottle. Electric cars & Prius’s are made of plastic & have lithium batteries which are bad. The mining for rare earth metal is very polutey.
Gainesville…always thinking of good reasons not to patronize our businesses…🤔💡
City of Gainesville needs to abide by Trumps’ order or they won’t get Federal grant money…Good by RTS city buses..🚌
That’s right! the city & county won’t receive federal funds if they don’t go back to plastic…
Ok. So we lose the city buses and other things from the federal government…it’s healthier to walk or ride a bike you have to pedal.
Ban soda ! Kennedy might do that cause it’s bad for your health…all those empty calories causing diabetes..
Banning soda is just as authoritarian as banning plastic straws. What’s wrong with just letting people do as they please. I don’t need government telling me how and what to drink
GNV was supposed to get a bunch of money for electric car chargers. Is that on hold because of Trumps executive order banning paper straws?
I love that we are saving turtles with paper straws but then the food is served in a plastic to go box with a plastic bag and we drink out of a plastic cup and we order off a plastic laminated menu we eat with plastic utensils wrapped in a plastic cover. Oh and since it’s paper we have to use 10 straws vs 1 because they fall apart, but at least we’re saving the environment and not causing more waist. Thank God we have a paper straw, the plastic straw is what really causes damage to the environment. I’ve spent a ton of time fishing and on the water I see more plastic bags and balloons and other plastic trash over straws. The whole paper straw thing is one of the stupidest liberal BS I’ve seen.
Way to go, Richard!
As someone who idenifys as a leatherback turtle, I can give first hand knowledge on this issue. First off since the introduction of paper straws it has been super hard for me and my turtle friends to party. Do you know how hard it is to snort square groupers with a paper straw? It’s impossible the darn things fall apart causing a miserable party. Second we use the straws to get food out of tight places on reefs being that they are paper now we can’t get the proper nutrients anymore. We evolved to using straws and now with paper we are reverting backwards. Lastly we used them for turtle abortions they were a great tool to extract unwanted babys after a long day of square grouper partying. Paper just is not ridgid enough to do the job, causing a ton of unwanted turtle births and collapsing our turtle economy with child support. In short please bring back the plastic straws poppa Trump we missed you.
Stop using things.
Committ to Zero Waste you pathetic maggats !
We do not need straws.
The majority of the World has abolished Single Use Materials.
Maggats are idiots addicted to waste & delusion.
Drink from the cup without the straw.
Utilize a Reuseable bamboo straw if you have a disability.
STOP USING PLASTIC BAGS !
BRING A REUSEABLE BAG !
Now you just relax sweetie pie, things will be better once you’re back on your meds…
Oh wow, what a groundbreaking revelation! Humanity has been saved thanks to your all-caps wisdom and holier-than-thou screeching. Clearly, anyone who doesn’t adhere to your flawless doctrine is just a brainless maggat (such an original insult, by the way). Never mind the complexities of global waste management, infrastructure, or the fact that ‘the majority of the world’ absolutely has not abolished single-use materials. But hey, keep yelling at strangers on the internet—it’s definitely the most effective way to change the world!
👍 Richard Selwach!
For some, the exercise of power is not enough. It has to be the ARBITRARY exercise of power. The ability to enforce whims. The ability to “show them who’s in charge.” This leads to an endless parade of increasingly absurd edicts and regulations. The Save the World with Paper Straws campaign is but one example. Thank you Mr. Selwach for demanding the source of authority for this ordinance. More often than not there IS no source of authority or contractual nexus, and hence many ordinances are unlawful.
Lex: well said. Thank you .
Right on Richard.
We can use plastic straws and still love the sea turtles. Get down into our local creeks and pick up some trash. I guarantee you’ll find 10x more plastic Publix bags than plastic straws. Put them in the can Gainesville fan.
Another angle to consider in all of this is the cost difference between paper and plastic straws. Paper straws cost waaaay more than plastic ones. The ones I saw at a restaurant supply place were over twice as much as the same amount of plastic straws.
Now, factor in needing to use multiple expensive paper straws to accomplish the same work that single plastic straw could.
Let’s see, who is going to have to make up the difference for those much higher costs? Why, it’s everyone that buys from that establishment, whether you want to use the piece of junk paper straws, or not.
If someone wants to virtue signal, do it on your own dime. Don’t force me to help you pay for it.
George: good point.
This is a critical issue that demands immediate action from Governor DeSantis. The recent ban on plastic straws by local governments is not just an overreach—it represents a troubling trend of regulations that undermine individual freedoms and local businesses. Historically, the expansion of government power over individual choice has often started at the local level, leading to larger, less accountable policies that do not have the support or backing of the broader state or federal government.
In this case, the plastic straw ban is being enforced without any clear legal basis from the state of Florida or the federal government. It is not a mandate from the majority of citizens, nor is it aligned with broader state policy. Furthermore, such bans on legal, widely-used products have been a tool of global environmental movements, often pushing international agendas at the cost of local autonomy.
Governor DeSantis must step in and prevent this overreach before it sets a dangerous precedent. Floridians have a long history of valuing personal freedom, and any move that undermines this should be scrutinized. It’s time to act swiftly to ensure that such policies do not continue to restrict individual choice, especially when they are based on an ideal that is not universally supported or effective. Now is the time for leadership.
Strawless savior: well said. Thank you.
Subject: RE: Selwach: Sharks don’t care about plastic straws! – Alachua Chronicle
Good afternoon Mr. Diamond,
The Executive Order from the President appears to immediately put in place the elimination of the procurement of paper straws at the federal agency level and to ensure they are no longer provided in federal agency buildings. In addition, the order states that within 45 days of the date of the executive order, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, in coordination with relevant agencies, shall issue a National Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws. Any requirements related to state or local government would likely fall under the national strategy once created.
While the County’s ordinance does not mandate paper straws, it does prohibit the use of plastic straws in specific instances. The County Commission of course would be able to consider your request, if it is the will of the majority, without waiting for the outcome of the national strategy.
Missy
Mari K. “Missy” Daniels, AICP
Assistant County Manager – Public Services & Community Development
County Manager’s Office
Diamond Rick @DiamondRick007 • 7h
President Trump, Gainesville FL has stuck us with paper straws for the last 5 years. Contact DeSantis and tell him to do the same executive order you did for Florida. alachuachronicle.com/ selwach-sharks…. Cut off their federal grant money if they don’t abide by your order!
Mr Selwach, aka Diamond Rick,
Thanks for weighing in on straws.
Changes in legislation & policy is occurring at all government levels. …& fairly swiftly.
I know this may not be the answer sought but want to provide some context-
At the local level, some policies related to environmental sustainability have been developed over years. In my 2+ years on the Commission, I support efforts like those. However I always balance those against fiscal advantages / disadvantages, & how those policies can (inadvertently) impact those who are most vulnerable.
So in this case, my inexpert opinion is we should keep the paper straws unless government direction is provided otherwise or we learn new info about the positives/negatives. I don’t like paper straws either & agree that plastic straws work better. Still, this minor inconvenience I don’t think is worth taking commission time currently…..
Better to focus on big items like our financial picture & a balanced budget, public safety, roads, & core services.
Just my thoughts – we may have to agree to disagree on this – but I’m hoping we both feel it’s a minor issue in the scheme of things…. Thanks again for the feedback & for looking out for conditions around Pleasant Street.
Ed
Ed Book
City Commissioner
Arrest and fine litterbugs. That will make our city clean and generate revenue… win win!
Dear Commissioners:
I wrote this letter 5 years ago…we’ve been drinking out of paper straws for 5 years now.
Repeal the paper straws ordinance and the ban on plastic straws.
Fine litterbugs and put trash cans at every bus stop to “keep Gainesville clean and green”!
Thanks, I await the information to my public info requests.
Sincerely,
Richard Selwach
Gainesville
https://alachuachronicle.com/letter-to-the-editor-keep-plastic-straws/
Sometimes, when I read the asinine comments here from obviously uninformed people, I wonder if The Alachua Chronicle should just discontinue “Comments”. I don’t object to free speech – but I have a real problem with “stupid” free speech.
Ricki Dee: You must be referring to Jazzman & DeeDees comments. Liberalism is a mental disorder.
Dear City Commissioners, city manager, & city attorney:
The paper straws ordinance needs to be repealed immediately. It is null & void because jurisdiction to enforce falls under State of Florida.
In addition, President Trump issued a Federal executive order banning paper straws.
Please initiate the process to repeal GNV ordinance and replace it with an ordinance to ban paper straws.
Please outline and implement the process if it just needs a majority vote to repeal, and/or if it needs to be replaced with an ordinance banning paper straws as per the recent executive order of the President of the United States of America going back to plastic.
Gainesville Paper straws ordinance needs to be repealed and replaced immediately to restore citizens rights and time is of the essence so that there are no delays in the city receiving any federal grant monies.
Please have this ordinance repealed at the next city commission meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard Selwach
523 NW 3rd Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
And, this is the last straw!
Dear Mayor, commissioners, city manager, and city attorney:
It is an undisputed fact that jurisdiction lies with the state of Florida and the paper straws ordinance is unenforceable, null, and void.
Please repeal the ordinance immediately.
If not done voluntarily, I will file a WRIT OF MANDAMUS for you to comply with the law.
In addition, the city & county need to contact all restaurants in writing that they may provide plastic straws again for their customers.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard Selwach
523 NW 3rd Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
We never had a plastic straws emergency here in Gainesville to begin with.
Next time I’ll say crisis…
We never had a plastics straws crisis here in Gainesville to begin with.
Case closed.
I may be a couple days late to this but there is a definite health issue/risk when using paper straws that no one is talking about. Consider the following:
Paper straws can contain microplastics and other potentially harmful chemicals.
Microplastics
Paper straws are often coated with polyethylene (PE) or acrylic resin, which are the same materials used to make plastic bags.
When discarded paper straws break down, the coating can disintegrate into microplastics.
Microplastics can also come from the glue used to hold paper straws together.
Toxic chemicals
Paper straws can contain toxic chemicals, such as chloropropanols and heavy metals, that can leach into drinks.
Paper straws can also contain “forever chemicals” called PFAS, which are linked to health problems like cancer, liver and kidney disease, and high blood pressure.
Paper straws can also contain endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like bis(2-ethylbutyl)phthalate and dioctyl phthalate.
Other concerns
Paper straws can also contain dyes that dissolve into drinks.
Paper straws can be difficult to recycle because they are made from paper and plastics.
Some paper straws are only suitable for landfill and cannot be composted
Ed,
This item needs to expedited.
It’s a very simple and easy task to accomplish.
The simplest way to end this issue is add the item to the next meetings consent agenda to repeal paper straw ordinance. You can just bring the item up, vote, end of discussion…next.
Order the city manager to send out letters to all restaurants that plastic straws are ok.
We never had a plastic straws emergency here in Gainesville to begin with.
Thanks,
Richard
Richard aka Diamond Rick,
Agree with a lot of what you have written.
I did some research to ensure the City is not ignoring Fed regulations – I would not do that & follow the rule of law – local, County, State, Feds etc. And researched a bit – web based – to see if one is better for the environment than the other. Vetted sites I looked at seem to confirm that plastic ones are – let’s just say – not good.
Again, I dislike paper straws & prefer plastic ones. Some factors: my opinion only is the inconvenience of using them is offset by legitimate environmental concerns. Choice is a good concern as you have indicated & you can buy plastic ones & use personally – businesses must follow business permitting. Last concern I typically take into account is to balance against fiscal/financial considerations. In this particular incident, that does not appear to be a factor.
The mandate by the Federal Administration is for Federal agencies to switch. At the moment, does not impact City or County, both of who have that ordinance.
Rest assured, it direction is received – I will have no hesitation. I think I wrote this before – we likely agree on many things – this minor one is an exception.
Contact me anytime about anything.
Ed
Ed Book
City Commissioner
Ed,
You’re not listening and missing the point. The way the city made their edict was out of jurisdiction. Like how the city of GNV can’t make a rule for a cease fire in Gaza.
The city & county don’t have jurisdiction, state of Florida does…
I tried to give you the heads up before DeSantis and Cammack weigh in… YOU ARE ABOUT TO
RECEIVE DIRECTION FROM DESANTIS AND CAMMACK! You want to say you are in compliance BEFORE they direct you to.
You want this to go away so you are in legal compliance.
If you gave me a warning and said, Richard, pick up the litter in your parking lot before I write a citation, I will pick up the trash and be in compliance. You say jump, I say how high?!
As SFC chief of police, you don’t have jurisdiction in New York to write a citation.
Just giving you the heads up. Remember that I tried to help you.
I think I have made myself clear, but somehow you and the city commission are missing the point.
Discussions are happening this week with DeSantis & Cammack
I do the pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. We are a nation of laws.
It was Poe who passed this ordinance, you had nothing to do with it. Do the right thing. Repeal.
Rich
The state of Florida has jurisdiction because they license the restaurants and the state of Florida inspects them.
Desantis has jurisdiction.
We’ve been drinking from paper straws for 5 years.
The paper straws ordinance is not enforceable.
The city has NOT responded to my public information requests.
Read the link on who has jurisdiction over restaurants.
https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/jurisdiction/
Did you know the legislature preempted regulation of plastic straws to the state in 2019 and DeSantis vetoed the bill? https://floridapolitics.com/archives/296219-ron-desantis-plastic-straw-bans/
Its Just not paper: excellent comment. Well put. Thank you!
Below is a copy for your personal records of your email message sent to Representative Yvonne Hayes Hinson .
Richard Selwach
523 NW 3rd Ave
Gainesville , FL 32601
(352)376-0892
02/25/25 12:17 AM
To the Honorable Yvonne Hayes Hinson ;
Dear Yvonne,
We’ve been drinking from paper straws here in Gainesville for 5 years. The paper straws ordinance is void because it lacks jurisdiction. Jurisdiction lies with the state of Florida who licenses and inspects them., not the city of Gainesville. https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/jurisdiction/
The city of GNV needs to repeal this ordinance.
https://alachuachronicle.com/letter-to-the-editor-keep-plastic-straws/
https://alachuachronicle.com/selwach-sharks-dont-care-about-plastic-straws/
Please end the paper straws tyranny.
Do what you believe is right. Use common sense. Let’s go back to plastic straws.
Sincerely,
Richard Selwach