New Yorkers have their voices heard on a City Council bill to add a fee for plastic bags at the grocery store. It happened at a town hall meeting on the issue in Brooklyn. Lori Chung has the story.

"We should not have to pay for a bag when we get our groceries," said one woman at the town hall.

It's a possible change in law some residents at this town hall meeting hope doesn't happen, even as the City Council looks to vote on a bill to impose a five-cent fee on plastic bags.

"We have to make sure that we take responsible steps to make sure that plastic bag usage decreases and we want to find out if this is the best way to actually do it," said Brooklyn City Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo.

Cumbo organized this forum to give people a chance to learn more about the plan before Thursday's vote. Supermarkets and retailers would be required to charge for all single use bags, money they would keep, which advocates say will discourage waste and help the environment.

"You see a really dramatic change in change in consumer behavior, suddenly people start bringing reusable bags to the grocery store or just not getting a bag if they're only getting an item or two," said Jennie Romer, founder and director of plasticbaglaws.org.

But not everyone agrees that a fee is the best way to help the environment.

"I'm totally for recycling," said Sabine French. "I'm totally for protecting the environment; I'm totally against the idea of imposing a five-cent fee that's going to remain in the pockets of the business owners."

And, many were concerned about who could be burdened the most.

"It targets low and moderate income communities and it's also going to have a grave impact on seniors," said community activist Russell Cheek.

"I think it needs to go back and get restudied and for this to just come down two days' notice, Thursday it's already being, that's like a slap in the face to New Yorkers," said another consumer at the meeting.

If the City Council approves the bill if would go into effect in October, but officials say there would be a lot of outreach, a lot of education and a lot of free giveaways of reusable bags before that happens.