My older daughter goes to a Philadelphia public school. She attends an after school program at a local community center run by the city’s Parks and Rec Department. We’re highly invested in our local community. So, the Mayor’s proposed sugary drink tax to generate revenue for Pre-K (NYC has it, why not us?!??), Community Schools, rebuilding community infrastructure and the Philadelphia Energy Campaign, makes me swoon. SWOON, I tell you. Help resource our schools and rec centers, build infrastructure and invest in energy efficiency and clean energy projects? Sign me up!
But, I’m not naive; I understand that there are powerful lobbies that will fight tooth and nail to stop this from happening. And they’ve won in Philly before. As a former New Yorker, I lived through Mayor Bloomberg’s failed attempt to get a large sugary soda ban passed in NYC. I saw the beverage lobby’s creation of New Yorkers for Beverage Choice, billed as a “grassroots effort,” (I think the beverage industry is confused about what “grassroots” actually means) whose message was simply that NYC residents deserved “freedom of choice” to drink their gigantic, sugary beverages. But, thanks to the soda lobby, the conversation quickly changed from issues of health to issues of freedom and Bloomberg’s proposal was ultimately killed by a NYS judge. At the time I was surprised that he didn’t get the job done on that one. Bloomberg got the smoking ban through, the cigarette tax succeeded… but this plan went the way of congestion pricing and New Yorkers still have the freedom to grab that 32 oz Big Gulp. It was a huge win for the soda lobby. And now they’re preparing for another fight in Philly.
So, how do we make sure that Philadelphia doesn’t go the way of NYC and instead, joins Berkeley, the Navajo Nation and Mexico in their successful efforts to get this tax passed? First, we move away from the idea that it will disproportionately impact low income and minority families. Though there may be some truth to that, it’s also true that lower-income minority neighborhoods are disproportionately advertised to by beverage companies. Also, sugary beverages are not food. We’re not talking about taxing apples, pretzels, milk or bottled water. We’re not even taxing diet soda or that horrifying sugar-filled milk that our kids are given in their school cafeterias (although the Mayor and I may have to have a conversation about that; an 8 oz serving of Coke has less sugar than an 8 oz serving of that toxic flavored milk).
But, what is it about this plan of Kenney’s that could succeed where others have failed? First, it’s important to note that this tax, like the one in Berkeley, will be levied at the distributor level and, according to the Mayor’s office, in many cases will not be seen at the point of sale. Second, sugar-y beverages are making us a very sick country, and evidence in Mexico since their tax passed shows that fewer sodas are sold and consumed and bottled water sales are up.
Speaking of healthier communities, let’s talk about what really matters when it comes to this tax, and it has nothing to do with the whining from the beverage lobby. Do you know what makes healthy, thriving communities? Healthy schools. Healthy kids. Resourced and positive learning environments. You know what helps our property values rise? Good public schools. This isn’t rocket science. And Mayor Kenney plans for the estimated revenue of $95 million annually to go, in part, to expand Pre K opportunities and build up neighborhood schools into community schools with partnerships that serve local families. THAT is what’s important about this tax.
So, let’s roll up our sleeves, show some of our purported Philly grit, levy this tax and get started. Because, frankly, I’m tired of seeing Philadelphia recognized as one of the best places to visit. I want to start hearing that Philadelphia is one of the best places to live.
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Do you want to do something to help get this tax passed? Sign this petition or email your council member and show your support.