Letters: Soda tax - unfair burden or worthwhile plan

ISSUE | SODA TAX

An unfair burden on small businesses

As the owners of a small family business that has been in Philadelphia for 95 years, we feel compelled to speak out in opposition to the proposed 3-cents-an-ounce tax on soda and other sugary drinks ("TV ads attack proposed soda tax," Saturday). Mayor Kenney voted against this tax as a City Council member - what has changed?

We have supported him, thinking he understood that small businesses are the backbone of the city's economy. Instead of levying more taxes on businesses and citizens, he should be focused on eliminating the wasteful practices of the government bureaucracy.

While we believe in the value of early education, clean and functional recreation centers, and many other worthy services that city government is charged with providing, levying more taxes without eliminating the perks that Council members pass for themselves is unjust.

Should this tax be passed, we will stop buying soda and sugary drinks and will no longer serve them at our tavern.

|Anne and Meg McNally, owners, H&J McNally's Tavern, Chestnut Hill

Educational, health benefits are worth it

Republican City Committee Chairman Joe DeFelice's commentary against Mayor Kenney's soda tax makes it clear: Big Soda makes big money on the backs of poor families and wants to keep it that way ("Mayor Kenney's soda tax is one big gulp of folly," Sunday).

For once, we have a tax that would support families, a proposal that would enable children to enter kindergarten prepared to learn. For once, we have a tax that would be large enough to bring about the benefits of reduced obesity and increased education. Even if the tax revenue from sales of sugary drinks declined over time, the money saved through decreased costs of special education and disciplinary problems would be sufficient to maintain the costs of continuing pre-K.

This tax would also continue the pressure on drink manufacturers to formulate more healthy alternatives. Most importantly, this tax would nudge people to make more healthy choices.

Big Soda or pre-K? For an educator, the choice is clear.

|Marsha Weinraub, chair, psychology department, Temple University