This evening I was reading an updated Philadelphia Inquirer online article discussing Mayor Nutter’s fight with City Council to get the soda and higher property tax proposal passed in order to close the School District’s budget gap. After reading the short piece, I decided to read some of the comments that were posted about this issue. One reader that goes by the username of “sdstar” wrote this: Pass the soda tax in a heartbeat. Buying soda is an option, not a law. The argument seems to always revert back to the low income not being able to afford it, which is comical considering they pass nothing anyway using that Access card. I get to contribute my tax dollars towards them enjoying that soda. The property tax was already raised a "temporary" 10%. That was a ploy for people living in nicer areas to fit the bill again for the low income. I'm still waiting for that "temporary" city wage tax to go down that Rizzo created back in the 70's. I'm also amazed that Council is trying to find ways to create money for the school system without even questioning how a deficit of $629 million came about. When Vallas was here in 2007, council ran him out of town because he had the school district in a $73 million deficit. Ackerman takes over and manages to create an additional $556 million in just 3 years but NOBODY is questioning how that was even possible.
After reading this I try to be diplomatic about it; everyone has an opinion and of course entitled to it. I even agree with the comment about Ackerman and Vallas. But what I found it amazing and little insulting was the fact of low-income families’ use of the ACCESS card and the fact of this person’s tax dollars allows these families to enjoy that soda. I read this comment as every member of low-income family drinks soda. To me that is bias and a ridiculous assumption to make I will say, in most of the low-income neighborhoods, there is a lot of inventory of sugary beverages and soda that are being sold, primarily through the smaller or what they call “corner” stores; but it doesn’t mean everyone, who receives public assistance through the usage of food stamps or cash drink soda.
Blaming the low-income citizens of this city just seems as if this person is little bit angry on how the tax dollars are being put to use. Not everyone who receives assistance from the Department of Welfare may have started off with a low-income status. We are in a recession. People have lost jobs, homes, financial stability, and hope of regaining the substantial income they once had. People that may have not needed public assistance need it now in order to get back on their feet. Again, that doesn’t indicate that they drink soda. I’m with Nutter on the increase of the property tax and soda tax, if that is going to help close the gap. But the city also needs to look into other options as well such as salary reductions of city personnel and freezing salary increases. Furthermore, is the soda tax REALLY going to hurt anyone? Look at cigarettes, they raised the prices and smokers are still keeping the tobacco companies in business. What’s the difference with soda? If you enjoy it, you’re still going to buy it, no matter what the price or tax is. Just like tobacco, sugar is an addiction: anyone can have it…not just those with ACCESS cards.
Here is a video from YouTube.com that shows support for Nutter and the soda tax.
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