California marks the 10th anniversary of the plastic bag ban, but the celebration is short-lived as statistics show an increase in plastic bag use since the ban was implemented. Despite the intentions of state leaders like former Governor Jerry Brown and Speaker of the California Assembly Toni Atkins to reduce plastic pollution, the ban seems to have backfired due to loopholes that allowed for the production of thicker, reusable plastic bags. Moreover, a recent rally in Sacramento led by San Diego Sen. Catherine Blakespear highlighted the need for new legislation to ban all plastic bags from grocery stores in an effort to combat the rising trend of plastic consumption.
In a separate development, San Diego Unified School District faces scrutiny and a leadership shakeup following allegations of mishandling sexual harassment complaints. Superintendent Lamont Jackson was dismissed after a report substantiated claims of sexual harassment against him, though the details of the allegations remain unknown. The district has previously come under fire for its handling of sexual harassment and assault complaints, with the recent federal investigation revealing repeated failures in responding to such claims.
The district’s response to the investigation suggests improvements have been made since the review period, but recent incidents involving educators like Charles De Freitas, an associate principal arrested for child pornography charges, raise questions about the district’s policies and practices under Jackson’s interim leadership. As the Board of Education faces criticism for allowing a culture of abuse to persist within the district, a moment of reckoning looms, requiring trust to be restored through meaningful actions rather than dismissing the issues as old news.
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Photo credit voiceofsandiego.org
