Union City is about to ban Styrofoam take-out food containers used by restaurants. The council approved a ban last month on a first vote, and is scheduled to make it official tonight.

Fremont considered a similar ban earlier this year, but four council members opposed it. In Fremont’s case, city staff members issued a report that a Styrofoam ban wouldn’t help the environment much since the city doesn’t collect recyclable containers at most restaurants. Also the Chamber of Commerce wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about the ban.

Union City’s Chamber, which gets $40k a year in public funds, kept its mouth shut about the Styrofoam ban, and city staff members recommend it.

Fremont Councilmember Bob Wieckowski, who pushed for the Styrofoam ban in Fremont, said he would push for it again after the November elections. “This fight is not over yet.

According to the Fremont report, 14 California cities have Styrofoam bans, not counting Union City, who’s ban goes into effect July, 2009.

CORRECTION: The Candle Lighters already dispersed the $47,500 they raised last year. The meeting Wednesday is to hear proposals for how to disperse the money they will raise this year. Since they don’t know how much they’ll raise, they cand’t decide just yet, which nonprofits will be funded.  

This Wednesday the Candle Lighters are going to vote on how to divvy up the $47,500 they raised last year from their annual Halloween Ghost House extravaganza at the Chadbourne Carriage House. Several worthy causes have requested a share of the money, but one seemed out of place.

The Fremont Chamber of Commerce is asking for $4,000 to buy electronic presentation equipment. It’s not a large request, but it stood out to me because the other groups that are asking for money that would help either fledgling non-profits or needy people, not a nonprofit that runs the highly profitable Fremont Festival of the Arts.

The Tri-City Homeless Coalition is asking for $10k for mattresses and bunk beds, Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments is asking for $8,500, Kidango, which provides day care, is asking for furniture and other items, the Fremont Senior Center wants money for new couches and the Fremont Family Resource Center wants money for bike lockers. The silent film museum and a production studio also requested funds.

I went to the chamber’s web site. The first item in their mission statement reads that the chamber will be recognized by its effectiveness, “As a lobbyist for business, achieving a positive business and regulatory climate.”

So I called Chamber leader Cindy Bonior. She said the chamber serves not just business interests, but the community as a whole. Read the rest of this entry »