Will City Council Back Mayor Kenney's Proposed Soda Tax?
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Now that his former colleagues are digesting Mayor Kenney's budget address, the question becomes whether they will back his big ticket item: the sugary drinks tax to fund universal pre-K.
Many say universal pre-K is probably "the boldest anti-poverty effort" the city has undertaken in years, but Council President Darrell Clarke says few on council are universally aboard, until the issue is fully vetted.
"At the end of the day, you have to figure out how you pay for initiatives."
Clarke says in the past, when a tax on sugary drinks came up with former Mayor Nutter, some questioned whether the city could pre-empt the Commonwealth and enact such a tax.
"I'm sure there are high priced lawyers working on behalf of the industry right now looking into that."
Councilman Allan Domb, who has been a real estate broker for 35 years, owns a deli, and is a limited partner with restaurateur Steven Starr, takes no position, yet.
"So no matter what, those interests, I put aside, and I make the right decisions for the city."
(Tawa:) "You've had conversations about this with Starr?"
"Yes, and he's a big supporter of pre-K."
Councilwoman Janney Blackwell is against the measure, feeling distributors would pass along the costs of a three-cents-per-ounce soda tax to consumers.
"I'm concerned about neighborhood children being able to partake."
Councilman Al Taubenberger says it could cost jobs at local bottling and distribution companies in the Northeast.
'They employ a lot of people. A lot of my neighbors work there."
He thinks a soda tax is inherently unfair.
"I'm not a proponent of targeting one industry to fund a citywide program."
Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez notes it would affect small mom and pop bodega owners in her district, and the people who frequent them.
"They're going to push all of this to the consumer. As much as I wish folks would stop drinking soda, I've got to be realistic about the mother who goes in on a weekly basis and buys some of those things."
One thing is clear. Councilman Bill Greenlee is against resorting to another real estate tax hike to pay for Kenney's initiatives.
"Most of us, me included, are very, very, very, very, very reluctant to consider that. Was that enough verys?"
