By Jordan Wolff

One week into the ban on plastic straws and bags in Hamden, some businesses aren’t complying with the ordinance.

Under the rules, which went into effect on Sept. 12, Hamden businesses may not offer or sell plastic checkout bags to customers and should only offer single-use drinking straws upon request by a customer.

A survey of more than a dozen restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores showed that most have switched to paper and reusable bags, but some aren’t following the rules on straws.

For example, reporters observed on Sept. 20 that the McDonald’s near Hamden Plaza and Dunkin Donuts on Whitney Avenue are still giving straws with iced coffees in the drive throughs. Common Grounds on Dixwell Avenue and multiple Dunkin Donuts are keeping straws by the milk and napkin station, but the ordinance states that businesses are supposed to keep straws behind the counters.

And some stores, including Krauszer’s, are still charging 10 cents for plastic bags, which is also in violation of the ordinance..

Leslie Balch, director of health at the Quinnipiack Valley Health District, confirmed that these actions do not comply with the new rules. Businesses not in compliance will be notified by a Hamden Litter Enforcement Officer on potential citations and fines..

However, Balch noted that most retailers and restaurants have cooperated so far.

“From what we’ve been able to observe within a week, we’ve seen a lot of really good compliance,” Balch said. “We have the advantage of the state law, and the idea which we like to promote of bring your own bag and decrease single-use items. So, we’ve seen a great acceptance of it, without a lot of complaints.”

Quinnipiac businesses such as the bookstore and Starbucks also have to comply. A reporter noted that the bookstore is promoting paper and reusable bags and that Starbucks employees will only give plastic straws if asked by the customer.

Yet some Hamden business owners say they feel the ordinance won’t have any resounding changes, and worry that it has upset many customers.

“The ridiculous ban, it doesn’t make sense to us,” Karen Brown from Glenwood Drive-in said. “It was rushed.”

One of the biggest complaints is  that customers don’t want to purchase reusable bags, or pay for single-use bags if they choose to use those.

“Single-use bans are not going to have any effect other than annoying people who have to now buy bags,” said Kim Taldridge, co-owner of KayCee Farms.

Hamden isn’t the only town that has enacted the ban in 2019. With a 2021 state-wide ban looming, 15 towns have decided to act right away.

Balch knew it was only a matter of time before Connecticut officials addressed the issue of plastic waste.

“It is my belief that the state has entertained the possibility and looked at the idea for the past couple of years,” Balch said. “Many of the towns in Connecticut decided rather than wait to see what happens, they would embark on the research and everything involved with doing it on their own. That’s what Hamden did.”

The Hamden ordinance was passed in February due to the efforts of Hamden Councilman Brad Macdowall, who has a strong focus on conserving the environment.

Many business owners are in favor of the ordinance.

“We’ve always been using only paper, it just makes more sense,” Venice Bakery cashier Katie said.

Venice Bakery isn’t alone.

“We only use paper bags, brown and white,” Linda DiSorbo of DiSorbo’s Italian Bakery said.

 Hamden Scuba employee Kevin O’Sullivan believes that both paper and plastic bags will always present a challenge

“We need to find a balance. The reason we went to plastic in the first place is because we were chopping down too many trees to make paper bags. Single-use is the problem, and for most people that is plastic.” 

Despite not being allowed to purchase plastic bags, the QVHD clarified that residents can bring plastic bags into stores.

Moving forward, Balch wants residents to understand the environmental purpose of using plastic bags and straws.

“What we want to do, is not for the enforcement but for the value of seeing a change in our habits,” Balch said. “As soon as the state law came in, we’ve already seen a change and I think we’re going to be fairly successful.”

By Nick Slater

U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill sentenced Ray George to prison for tax evasion on Tuesday.

George, who has owned and operated Ray & Mike’s Deli for nearly 22 years, was sentenced to nine months in prison, one year of supervised release and fined $5,000, according to a press release.

In the 2012 and 2013 tax years, George underreported his income, failed to pay over $200,000 in taxes and used the Ray & Mike’s business account for personal expenses. He pleaded guilty to the charges in May.

George has paid the IRS approximately $480,000 and is scheduled to report to prison on March 17, 2020. 

Letters from employees and friends, addressed to Chief Judge Underhill, paint a different picture of George.

One employee, who has been working at Ray & Mike’s for 19 years, wrote about George sponsoring events and teams in the Hamden community.

“For the past five years, Ray has been a sponsor and done Survivor Lunch for the Relay for Life in Hamden,” she wrote. “[Ray & Mike’s does] a softball game fundraiser every October for breast cancer, and Ray donates all the food and drinks.”

Carl Sargolini, former president of Hamden Youth Hockey and current vice president of the Hamden Fathers Baseball/Softball Association, has known George for over 15 years, according to his letter.

“Anytime either organization has needed support, all we had to do was ask Ray and he provided it,” he wrote.

But George’s impact on the community applies to more than sports. He creates jobs for many young adults that are looking to find their passion. Christopher Ford, who has known the George family since Ray & Mike’s opened, wrote:

“[Ray & Mike’s] has always been a place where Ray gave young adults a place to work and grow while they take the time to figure out what it is in life that they want to do,” Ford said. 

Jason Silvestri, who has worked for at the deli since 2007, wrote about Geroge’s character.

“Now, 12 years later I am employed at Yale New Haven Hospital,” Silvestri wrote. “However, I am still working at Ray and Mike’s Deli for the sole reason that Ray is a great guy and is always there for his community and employees.”

Read: Government requests prison sentence for Ray & Mike’s owner

Read: Ray & Mike’s owner to be sentenced Tuesday

By Nick Slater

In its sentencing memorandum, the government asked Chief Judge Stefan R. Underhill to impose a period of incarceration on Ray George, who pleaded guilty to tax evasion in May.

George is facing between 12 and 18 months in prison, a fine between $5,000 and $55,000 and up to three years of supervised release, according to the memorandum. 

The government’s request is that George receives a period of incarceration of up to 15 months. Additionally, the government is asking that George pays full restitution for the taxes he failed to report in addition to a period of supervised release after prison. 

“George’s crime was certainly not a crime borne of necessity,” the prosecutors wrote in the government sentencing memorandum.

The government pointed out in the memorandum that the Ray & Mike’s owner is a multi-millionaire with an investment portfolio worth over $3 million. George’s real-estate and rental holdings are worth over $1.7 million. Ray & Mike’s Deli was also valued at over $500,000, according to the memorandum.

The memorandum also states that George’s net worth is $4.3 million. The government uses all of these figures to demonstrate how George’s “scheme” was deliberate and not borne of the need for cash.

The government argues in the memorandum, that a prison sentence for George would not cause Ray & Mike’s to close. The prosecutors suggest that George could make arrangements to keep the deli open. 

These suggestions include hiring new employees to act as managers or promoting a current employee to act as a manager. Either of these options, according to the government, could be paid for by George’s $240,000 salary.

The government uses the extended duration of George’s offense as grounds for incarceration. 

“[George’s] crime was not one of limited duration,” the memorandum states.

During the 2012 and 2013 tax years, George failed to report $638,170, according to the memorandum, which resulted in a tax loss of $220,663. 

“If tax evaders were to face no real incarceration, then criminal tax fraud would amount to basically a loan from the Government,” the prosecutors wrote.

George is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 17. Stay with HQ Press for updates on George’s sentence. 

By Nick Slater

Ray George, owner of Ray & Mike’s Dairy and Deli, is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 17.

George, 53,  pleaded guilty to tax evasion in May. In 2012 George underreported his income by over $365,000 and in 2013, he underreported by nearly $275,000, according to a press release from the U.S. District Attorney’s Office. George also failed to pay approximately $220,000 in taxes.

The Federal Sentencing Guidelines suggest a sentence of 12 to 18 months for George’s offense. The Guidelines also suggest a fine between $3,000 and $30,000 and up to three years of supervised release. The Guidelines also states that, in 2018 “roughly half of all tax evaders were sentenced to probation without imprisonment.”

In his sentencing memorandum, George’s attorney proposes a sentence less than the guidelines suggest. In fact, George’s attorney requests no sentence and no further fines, and gives multiple reasons explaining the request.

George paid the penalty for his offense, along with interest, which totaled to over $479,000, according to the defendant’s sentencing memorandum. Therefore, the attorney reasons, an additional fine is unnecessary.

Since George is a first time offender, his attorney argued that the likelihood for re-offense is low and that George is not a danger to his community. Not only did he accept responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty, he has also been cooperative with the IRS throughout the case, according to the defendant’s sentencing memorandum.

The last reason George’s attorney requests no prison sentence is because of the effect it would have on his employees. George has owned and operated the deli for almost 22 years. His employees would experience “severe financial hardship” if George was to be imprisoned, according to the memorandum.