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Heated public comment and legal questions follow proposal to review Saint Petersburg straw ban; council member withdraws item
Summary
Council member Corey Givens brought a new-business item to revisit the city's single-use plastic straw ordinance; dozens of speakers urged keeping the ban, legal staff clarified ADA exceptions and federal executive order scope, and Givens ultimately removed the item after public comment and council discussion.
Council debate over the city's seven-year-old ordinance limiting single-use plastic straws drew a large public turnout and extended discussion before the item was withdrawn.
Council Member Corey Givens introduced a new-business request to consider "lifting" the regulation and referred it to committee. That proposal prompted many members of the public and a broad cross-section of local environmental and business advocates to speak in favor of keeping the ordinance.
Speakers emphasized local control and environmental concerns. Thomas Patrick, representing local organizers behind the original campaign, told council: "Removing this ban doesn't solve anything. It just…
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