Gristedes manager says plastic bag fee hurts customers
The City Council’s vote to impose a 5-cent fee on plastic and paper shopping bags in stores isn’t sitting well with one supermarket manager, who charged that lawmakers are unfairly “nickel and diming New Yorkers.”
Bob Capano, the manager of a Gristedes supermarket on the Upper East Side, said the council’s May 5 vote “will cost New Yorkers more time and money” at retail stores and supermarkets.
“Cashiers will now have to count each and every bag used by customers so they know how much to add to their bill. This will cause delays and longer lines at registers when customers just want to get home to their families after working all day. This fee on each bag adds up, especially for seniors, those on fixed incomes and middle-class New Yorkers trying to make ends meet. It already costs a fortune to live in New York City and residents and businesses have enough stress and aggravation,” said Capano, a former Bay Ridge resident.