Life Making Ideas to Share: Wellness and Green Living

Is the Mayor of San Fran penalizing water drinkers?

In a recent Newsweek article, Karen Breslau spoke with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who signed an executive order banning the use of city funds to purchase single-serving plastic water bottles.

I don’t drink anything but water (other than an occasional lemonade) and I prefer filtered or bottled water to Boulder’s ‘less than pristine’ tap water. So, I guess I am not eligible to become a San Fran government worker.

But, really, what does this mean to the Bay area government employees who share my same drinking habits?

Ugh, it’s back to the water fountain for them!

Are government buildings going to have filtered water dispensers available for employees to get a glass of clean water along with the “stainless-steel recyclable containers” the city is offering people?

Or will we see the mayor gracefully trying to avoid water up his nose as he bends over a fountain with too strong a flow? And what about the health risks associated with putting ones mouth on a faucet where the water pressure is too low!?

I can’t believe – once again – it will be easier for someone to get a sugar laden, high calorie soft drink than a refreshing drink of water.

I agree, the environmental footprint needs to be taken into consideration, but why just bottled water, why not all drinks sold in individual plastic bottles?

If the government of San Fran was really looking to reduce the effects, shouldn’t they make any individually sold plastic bottle a no-no?

And has the current mayor forgotten about the Twinkie Defense case of 1978, when a former San Francisco city supervisor killed the then-Mayor and “claimed that he was not responsible for his actions because he had OD’d on Twinkies.” (see Twinkie Abuse) – oh, the terrible things sugar can do!

I’m only half joking here. Obviously there was more to the ‘78 case, but it does make you wonder about the effects of switching over from healthy water to soft drinks. Weight gain, being the least of the problems.

But the real question here is why just water, why not eliminate spending of funds on all individual bottled drinks? If they can save $500,000 from bottled water, imagine what they’d save on all single-serving containers!

Maybe the extra funds could go towards making sure their tap water is really clean as he suggests!

What do you think of all this?