In regards to the article “Businesses, Kirkland residents prepare for plastic bag ban”:

I am so glad to hear that Kirkland is implementing a ban on plastic bags. Born in Kirkland, I now live in Bellingham for part of the year where we already have a plastic bag ban. I think there were some facts that were not touched on in this article though.

The five cent price tag is completely unnoticeable when compared to the devastation plastic causes to our environment.

Plastic impacts the environment in a catastrophic manner, specifically our oceans. Plastic bags are killing our wildlife, including birds, whales, dolphins, sharks, and sea turtles that ingest and choke on the plastic we put there. Our country uses the most plastic bags in the world by an alarming margin.

Thank you Kirkland for doing your part. I hope that Kirkland residents embrace using paper and reusable bags as we have.

And to Paige Gifford, I’m sorry that helping the environment is “ridiculous” and “stupid” to you. I’m sorry that working towards a healthier planet is “kind of a pain in the butt.” You know what’s more of a pain in the butt than having to order different bags? Choking to death on plastic.

Jessi Navarre, Kirkland