By Gary Walker

State Sen. Curren Price (D-Culver City) was one of at least a half dozen state legislators who were the recipients of donations from a lobbying group that strongly opposed Assembly Bill 1998, an environmental proposal that would have enacted a statewide prohibition on the sale of plastic bags in grocery and retail stores.

The legislation, introduced by state Sen. Julia Brownley (D- Santa Monica) lost by a 21-14 margin on Aug. 31.

Price, who voted against AB 1998, received the maximum per-election contribution of $3,900 from a subgroup of the American Chemistry Council, Hilex Poly Corp.

Hilex and Exxon, an American Chemistry Council affiliate, gave the maximum contribution to six other state senators, three Democrats and three Republicans.

The Democratic State Central Committee of California also received $10,000 from Hilex and the Republican Party took in the same amount from Exxon.

“We try to build relationships and support,” Tim Shestek, the council’s director of state and local public affairs, said in an interview with the Sacramento Bee regarding his organization’s contributions to lawmakers on the eve of the AB 1998 vote.

Price said that his decision was based on possible adverse financial impacts to his constituents. “The reasons for my opposition had nothing to do with the intent of the legislation, but rather its unintended consequences on small businesses in my district, as well as its potential impact on seniors and the working poor,” Price told the News via email.

His office repeated that message this week when questioned about the Hilex campaign donation. “Sen. Price voted on the legislation based on its merits and how the extra costs would disproportionately impact the poor, elderly and minority communities,” Fahiza Alim, the senator’s communications director, reiterated.

Culver City Chamber of Commerce President Steven Rose supports Price’s decision to vote against AB 1998. “Paper takes more energy and more water resources than plastic bags do,” Rose said.

A component of the bill would have charged customers five cents for paper bags.

During his interview with the News, Price referenced his environmental credentials, which include a 95% rating from the state’s League of Conservation Voters.

“During my tenure in office, I have worked diligently to build a good working relationship with the environmental community and to establish and maintain a solid record on environmental issues, a track record that I am extremely proud to be associated with,” the senator said. “I also voted against legislation that would have allowed for offshore oil drilling and voiced my strong opposition to the expansion of oil drilling in my own district.

“I proudly supported these positions because I truly believe that the environment is an important public policy concern that, if left unaddressed, will have long-term consequences for all of us.”

Hillary Gross Moglen, a Culver City resident and a board member of the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, like many anti-plastic advocates was caught off guard by the senator’s vote. “It was disappointing,” she said. “If we had been able to pass this bill, it would have had long-lasting effects throughout the nation because other states often emulate California on legislation. 

“Sometimes it takes a bold move by a city to get the attention of the state legislators,” she said.

Discouraged residents who supported the prohibition on the sale of plastic are considering implementing municipal bans in their own cities and some, like Manhattan Beach, have already taken action to ban the non-biodegradable material.

“Individual bans on a city-by-city basis would make it more difficult and more costly for businesses and citizens,” said Rose, whose chamber endorsed Price last year when he won the state Senate seat vacated by county Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.

Even many who back AB 1998 think a regional or statewide approach would be more beneficial than separate municipal bans. “I would prefer that it was statewide, but cities should step up and show leadership on this important issue now that the state has decided not to act and I think that Culver City should be one of them,” Gross Moglen asserted.

To date, Culver City leaders have remained silent on a city ban on plastic.

The Westside Cities Council of Governments Environmental Committee will have an information gathering session in October on the merits of a regional ban on plastic, said interim director Maria Rychlicki.

“To me, it makes sense to institute something on a broader, regional scale as you can to try and make it less confusing for everyone,” Rychlicki reasoned. “When changing consumer behavior, you can never go too quickly.”

Gross-Moglen concurs. “The bigger the swath, the better,” said the League of Conservation board member.

Rychlicki’s organization is a joint powers authority created by the cities of Beverly Hills, Culver City, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, the city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County that examines topics and policies of regional importance.

Rose said Price’s point about possible financial hardships on merchants resonated with the business community. “During a recession, government should be an economic driver,” the chamber president said.

Gross-Moglen took issue with the senator’s statement that low-income residents and merchants would face undue financial burdens. “I respectfully disagree,” she countered. “People’s habits can change.”

A group of Culver City residents are in the midst of planning an event that is designed to generate momentum for a local ordinance for a citywide ban on the sale of plastic on Oct. 10 at City Hall.