Jeff Goldblum Visits Sacramento to Push Ban on Restaurant Plastics

Actor Jeff Goldblum is stumping for a statewide ban on single-use plastics

Jeff Goldblum, whose previous forays into the restaurant world include harassing a tardy waiter in David Cronenberg’s 1986 classic The Fly, told reporters that Wednesday marked his first visit to the California state capitol. He was there to support two identical bills proposed by state legislators, both of which are intended to ban single-use plastics like restaurant carry-out containers, cutlery, and stirrers, the Associated Press reports.

Assembly Bill 1080 (which is from San Diego Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez) and Senate Bill 54 (from Santa Monica Senator Ben Allen) would both require California to take significant steps to cut single-use plastic consumption by 75 percent within the next decade, including restrictions on use of non-reusable plastics in restaurants and cafes. Both were expected to face a vote last fall, but amid heavy opposition from industry groups, the measures were tabled in September.

Legislators have the option to revive the bills this month, which is why Goldblum — who spoke with lawmakers and representatives of Governor Gavin Newsom’s office — made his extremely Goldblum-sounding pitch Wednesday (that’s some of it in the video below).

During his presentation, he sang the praises of a variety of sizes of reusable straws (use of single-use straws are already regulated at sit-down restaurants statewide, one should note). “Thick, thick slurpy smoothie,” the Thor: Ragnarok star said, brandishing a wide metal straw. “Thinner, more liquidy water, or lemonade,” he said regarding a thinner-gauge one. “This is the last straw you’ll need to have for the rest of your days. Well that’s good. Can you imagine all those straws?”

And in other news...

• Popular burrito joint Taqueria El Farolito has shuttered its Fisherman’s Wharf location. [Hoodline]
• Some Cow Hollow businesses are peeved that chain burger restaurant Shake Shack will soon open in the neighborhood. [SF Chronicle]
• Berkeley-based fake meatery Memphis Meats has closed a $161 million funding round, with the plan to open build a new production facility for its faux chicken, duck, and beef. [SF Business Times]
• Those wishing to winery-hop in the East Bay city of Brentwood will soon be able to take a free trolley from venue to venue. [East Bay Times]
• After six years in business, South Berkeley’s Moxy Beer Garden has shuttered, conflict with its landlord is reportedly to blame. [Berkeleyside]
• Visitors to San Francisco restaurants will see new color-coded signs from the Department of Public Health, all intended to indicate the cleanliness of a spot. A green sign means the spot passed a health inspection; a yellow sign means diners should use caution, as the restaurant only passed provisionally; and a red sign means violations at the the venue have forced a closure. [KRON 4]