It’s the issue that has grabbed New Bedford’s attention this summer.
Last week, the Licensing Board, at the prompting of Mayor Jon Mitchell, voted 3-0 to ban the sale of nips in New Bedford. The city follows nearby Fairhaven in its ban, as well as four other Massachusetts communities.
Proponents say the nip ban is necessary because they are difficult to recycle, and lead to discarded plastic bottles all over the place, not to mention encouraging alcoholism and drunk driving. Watch Mary Nicholson of Be the Solution to Pollution and Lynn Coish of Operation Clean Sweep discussed their support of the nip ban in Part 1:
Opponents say adults have a right to consume their legal alcohol of choice and that the ban will unfairly damage local businesses. They are asking for the public to be given a chance to weigh in on the issue and talking about legal challenges. Mark Riley of Freitas Package Store in New Bedford and Councilor-at-large Ian Abreu discussed alternatives to the ban in Part 2:
THE CHAT ARCHIVES
Mayor talks voter records, the unhoused and more
The mayor’s third appearance on the show came on the heels of his pushback against the Trump administration’s Department of Justice request for voter records. But that’s not all. Watch it here.
Excitement now, and more thrills to come at Whaling Museum
Whaling Museum Executive Director Amanda McMullen, Board of Trustees Vice Chair Bernadette Souza, and Chief Curator Naomi Slipp joined Light columnist Jack Spillane on The Chat Friday. Watch it here.
No easy way out of budget crisis
Experts Adam Chapdelaine and Phineas Baxandall joined Light columnist and host of The Chat Jack Spillane to examine the statewide crisis and New Bedford’s predicament: a $32 million budget deficit.
