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Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Richmond Soda Tax Measures Draw Support, Opposition

In recent weeks, community organizations and leaders have held public gatherings in support of or opposition to a pair of soda tax measures that aim to curb Richmond's child obesity rate. The first measure would impose a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on all sugar-sweetened drinks, and the second measure would advise the city to use the tax revenues for health education and recreational programs. The measures will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Reader Comments:
  • 2
  • 08/02/2012
  • Jeff Okey

Right on Hattie!

  • 1
  • 08/01/2012
  • Hatti Hamlin

How fascinating that the soda tax has become a racial and class issue. I can understand the opposition to an intrusive government, but why would the Black Community take it personally? Are cigarette taxes portrayed as taking aim at minorities and lower income populations? I don't think so. Yet smoking is far more prevalent in low income and minority communities. And, the point is just the same; to make it financially painful for people to maintain unhealthy habits. Someday, we'll look back on this in the same way we now view the efforts of the tobacco industry to block anti-smoking legislation and higher tobacco taxes; as the cynical and self-interested acts of an industry that doesn't care that its profits are derived from selling harmful and even deadly products.



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