The U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution Monday
encouraging cities across the country to phase out city spending on bottled
water, but the American Beverage Association called the measure “sound-bite
environmentalism.”
That moniker may be an apt description. As local executives,
mayors are not bound by resolutions passed at the conference. But a majority of
the estimated 250 mayors present voted in favor of the symbolic measure, and mayors
have been taking actions for months at the city level by ending bottled water
contracts.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who wrote the resolution, said
cutting civic spending on bottled water is fiscally responsible.
“Our public water
systems are among the best in the world,” he added.
Still, the ABA interpreted the decision as an indication
that the conference is out of touch with American families.
“It’s disappointing that some mayors find it more
important to spend their time attacking a healthy beverage at a time when
families are suffering from floods, rising food and fuel costs and threats to
their homes and jobs,” said Kevin Keane, a senior vice president of the
American Beverage Association.