The California environmentalists who backed a November ballot measure to reduce single-use plastics withdrew it just ahead of the Thursday deadline, following fierce negotiations with lawmakers and others on a bill that aims to achieve many of the same goals and that is supported by some influential environmental organizations.
The three signatories of the initiative said in a joint statement late Wednesday that they would withdraw it if the Legislature passed Senate Bill 54 and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it into law…